FOR PROSPECTIVE BRIDES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 59

FOR PROSPECTIVE BRIDES.

By Nancy Oakley. When the very special bride-to-be in whom you are interested announces her engagement, you’ll certainly give her all sorts of little surprise gifts for her trousseau. And if she’s a very close chum, or the daughter of a friend—if you are of her mother’s generation instead—you’ll probably give her a shower of one kind or another, and get all her young friends together to give with you. It’s more fun to plan a sort of' ensemble giving, by means of a shower. By the way, the word ensemble is being used so hard this season that it might just as well be stretched to include a shower, as well as all the other meanings. And, following up the ensemble idea, why not make it an accessory shower, planning the gifts beforehand so they will go together, and also with some special costume or costumes you happen to know are to be in the bride’s new wardrobe? There are all sorts of possibilities in the idea. If her going-away suit is to be dark blue you can plan to give her a dark blue kid envelope purse, with one of the stunning new stitched trimmings that will match her new spring shoes. Bags and shoes are often trimmed with lizard this season, or they have suede trimmings, in a self colour, and you can give her neutral beige stockings with these, as that’s good style too.

Then, of course, you can give her cos'.ume jewellery. Pearls are the most mporta'nt thing for round her pretty hroat just now. And, of course, when we say “ pearls,” .we’re not insisting on the kind that come in Tiffany boxes and white velvet. But pearls in one form jr another she simply...must have to be unart and charmingly feminine. Beddes, pearls—or any other white jewellery, such as white jade, carved ivory, or crystal—harmonise with bright colours, dark ones, and pastel equally well, so she’ll be able to wear them with several dresses and suits. Bracelets are popular this year, too, and as for earrings—that’s another “ must.” Several pairs, if you can direct the accessory shower that way. And be sure to make it a continuous surprise, by wrapping everything up, and having it arrive—package after package in an exciting succession—during the shower tea, by messenger, and to the accompaniment of much ringing of the doorbell and signing of receipt hooks by the astonished bride. Some of the jewellery accessories, if they’re small enough, could be wrapped in silver foil, and stuck up into a big bride’s cake from underneath, after it’s baked. Then have the guest of honour cut the cake, and see what happens.

If, instead of a shower tea, you want to make it a shower bridge, you can tuck some of the gifts—but be sure you insist that they shall all be small—into empty card boxes, then seal them up as if they contained a never-before-opened deck. Alake an excuse to have the bride open them, of course.

A box of candy, passed about the table during play, can contain several more, wrapped in silver and gold foil, to look like the other bonbons. And, of. course, the prize, or rather the prize for the guest of honour—an old custom which you can revive for the occasion—will contain several more of the shower gifts, with the various givers’ names and good wishes attached. Or you might make the occasion a real bridge shower, and give her cards, score pads, pencils, heavy bridge cover for playing, and linen set of cloth and napkins for after-bridge tea. It’s fun, sometimes, actually to set one of the tables with all these gifts, and pretend it’s part of the hostess’ party equipment. The bride is seated at this particular table, and when the first deck of cards is opened, out falls a sealed envelope addressed to the bride. Inside are all the givers’ names, and a list of tlieir gifts. Of course, everything is removed and packed before the game begins, and cloth, cards, and so on of the hostess’s substituted.

Have you seen the fascinating new organdie bridge and tea cloths, with matching napkins, in all the lovely pastel blues, pinks, yellows, and greens which the shops are showing now? If ever there was a real made-for-a-bride gift it’s one of these dainty things. They’re quite simple to copy, too, if you’re at all clever with your needle. Just big squares of organdie, in the colour you choose, with two-inch-wide hems, hemstitched around all four sides, and the centres reinforced by a double thickness of the organdie, hemstitched in place. This gives more body to the cloth, so it will lie flatly on the table, and also deepens the colour, making a charm ing two-toned effect. If you give her this, be sure to see that some other friend chooses four salad plates, and still another friend four teacups and saucers, that harmonise with the organdie. Some of the new flowered designs in china can be found to blend deliciously with these pastel shades. I saw a table set the other day with deep peach organdie, and plates that had a design of two tones of deep and periwinkle blue. The tall glasses for iced tea were the darker blue of the pattern, with crystal stems, and there was. a little dark blue glass compote holding coloured candies that lent just the last, perfect touch. —Ladies’ Home Journal.