FROM A PARISIENNE’S NOTEBOOK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 20 July 1929, Page 10

FROM A PARISIENNE’S NOTEBOOK

FASHIONS, FRILLS i and FQRBOOWS

DRESSES FOR DAY WEAR

(Hv, Yvonne Rodier—For;'“The Mail**)

Dressed are divided into two distinct categories for day wear. There is the practical “sports” type for walking, shopping, and so on; and there is the fluffy,, snarl house dress ..of flounced printed crept 1 or: mousseliue de soie. Though g-ec'.v in evidence at the beginning o' >.e season, the basque .is now- less, favoured. Outstanding points to lie noted in the prevailing dress silhouette include the defluiy,ly heightened and pouched waistline,’ :fhe lightly defined.., swathed 1 thips*,. and' the preponderance of large bows. These are “placed” according to /the _ dictates of the Parisienne, yfcho -^ratise^to 1 li&vi! too niu'chjhunchmess anyi?hdfe, k fashion Or uo fashion! If the big ly,-placed, she insistd on/'itS 'tKminai tionj being determined to keep the line* of her dress as comfbrffcble as hereto• fore.'V ' :r L.;<'• '■‘Soft tweeds are much to the fore both for coats and ttijordd dresses,-and neat, ‘taut waistcoats of white man are quite ft White piqtie reappears in bias bands on iblqe and bla'ek'serges, as .'wejTas oil black wool crep'd' /frocks word hnddr 1 the 1 lietv sevenneigWhs bldcW coats.-fhe newest coat frodk Kars a; bright.; scarf draped round tttT-{ttoat,! Hid-'end'd" passed through a deep, glit in the revers.

POPULARITY OF SCARVES /Apropos of scaryes,-' their ; popularity sfe&ys no sign otfwa§inf& every diyMifess has its scarf,•Awbich is of of, three stfoiigly' contrastingiidb oute- ‘vfrien the dress‘is self-toned.: High collar^-bii fashiolfoble phort -silk coats have sdatf ends which fie into big boivs in frdnti.’ • Coat-dresSes ’• of*’- black satin with softly hanging panels .of white- have niany advocates. Another well-liked

novelty 7 is : a plain woollen skirt of Scotch 1 plaid, unravelled ; it j its lower edge, accompanied by a similarly trimmed, unlined coat. Flowers for wear with tailor-made dresses arc made of line straw, with “eyes” of coloured silk. The nasturtium is Fashion’s favoured choice, and is reproduced in chiffon, in velvet, in straw, and in suede. JEWELLERY TOUCH The very newest _dress jewellery is made of wood incrusted with silver, ivory, and gold. Dress jewellery is only worn, however* when there is absolutely no other decoration. The prevalent flowered chiffoiis, for instance, obviously need uo jewellery touch. Plain georgette or ehiffen gowns, on the other hand, call foj its ornamental aid. ' ’• EVENING GOWyS Evening gowns are much'longer than day dresses, and a favourite neckline is the square-cut. there is the deep,-pojpt>'behind* and tire rather high effect in front. Invariably, floating panels and-draperies lend grace to the skirts, and,there is a refreshing; absence of'hard lines about the neck and shoulders. Satin mixed with' net is used for evening gowns of black, white, blue, and other colours. LINOLEUM HAS MANY USES SAVE THE SCRAPS Linoleum is useful for many purposes other than covering floors. L'ever throw away odd pieces, therefore, be* cause almpst evefy ■fro nth in the hpusc may benefit by them.' In the bathroom', for instance, you might nail a wide strip of linoleum all round the walls, to a height of, say, four feet. When a checked pattern is employed, all the effect of a tiled surround is obtained- at. much smaller cost. The lino can be"wiped over every day; it will last indefinitely and it

will look extremely effective. Red and white linoleum combined with .a white wall treatment and a red-painted bath, will produce a fascinating eoloursclieme. especially if the curtains are carried out in eherry-and-whilo-chccked gingham, and the bath-towels are chosen to mutch.

Coining to the kitchen regions, if the table-fop be covered with plain linoleum, the result will be almost as satisfactory us if an expensive porcelain top were used. The lino will be easy to keep clean, and will protect the wooden surface. The dresser might be covered with similar lino, and a wide dado all round the room, like the one in the bathroom, will help to simplify cleaning operations. Then all the windowsills in the house might well be given linoleum coverings; in cream, or in colours to harmonise with the different furnishing Scbehies, they will look fresh and cheerful, and flower-pots can be placed im them; with impunity. Small , brassHeaded flails, driven in about ari inch apart, will prove the most satisfactory method of fastening the lino in position. >• •" '■' '' ‘

Here is yet another notion—use the linb; to make tablemats! They can tie made either circular or square, in any size yofl fancy. Just mark the outlines /and cut the-mats with a special knife .{Hat is Attainable from any oil-shop. •The 'ciltout mats may then be stencilled in some gay conventional fruit or flower pattern. Imagine how attractive' red ahd blue and yellow decorations would look on mats of bright green lino! But, of course, any special colqurs to suit your china ware can be employed. . “f----“WASH-60WL” COMPLEXION AIDS

- Certain -siihple “wash-bowl” beauty aids are excellent .for keeping the skin in .good condition without encroaching too much on valuable time.

A pale, sallow skin, for instance, may be greatly improved by means of a generous supply of rice-water. Simmer a good tablespoonful of rice in a quart of water (soft water for preference) for about half an hour over gentle heat. Strain, bottle for use, and bathe the face each morning and evening with a little of the lotion. If you use it with plain water for washing the face, take an equal quantity of each, afld do not use soap. For generally toning up a pale skin, removing blemishes, and imparting a delicate pink tinge, rice-water is invaluable. . -Bi-carbonate of soda should figure generously ifi the sports girl’s toilet. Put as much as will lie on a three-penny-piece into a bowl of boilingwater and steam the face over it. Now add two drops of tincture of benzoin and bathe the face when the water is sufficiently cool; rinse in cold soft water, and finally pat the skin dry without rubbing it. This treatment will have a soothing effect which will last for several hours.

MOMENTARY MUSINGS I wonder if the day will ever dawn when women will be really flattered — and sweetly so—by the sincerest form - of flattery? When imitation of any of their gifts of charm, inherent or acquired, will kindle a lieartglow instead of inspiring the indignant comment: '. “Copy-cat!’’ | Is it really impossible for women to ; rejoice in the vision of a general level-. ling-up of feminine taste, attractive-| ness, and mental elan, as the result of i ugliness essaying to emulate beauty, and homeliness aspiring to art? | “My dear, have you heard Mona’s new speaking voice? Every cadence is a careful imitation of Joyce’s Celtic timbre. . .” “I ask you, did you ever see anything more blatant than Maud’s painful attempt to copy Dora’s , style ? From carriage to coiffure, my j dear. I ’assure you it’s a perfect scream!” “Did you see how shamelessly Hester -has carried out Margery’s colour-scheme in her own room? I wonder she has the nerve to ask'Margery to tea!” t Such are the remarks .all too frequently heard on feminine lips. Is there, .uo appeal to our sense of. pathos

in tlie humble iitteilipt of the wrong people to follow the right example ? Js there no appeal to our artistic imagination in the prospect of such example being so sedulously and patiently followed that ugliness at last gives place to beauty? Wouldn’t, we all rather listen to cultivated voices than

harsh- or uncdu‘catcd accents ? Wouldn’t we all prefer to see feminine taste expressed in terms of culture apd refinement by the many rather than the few? Surely!—M. de F.