Fashion and Things Feminine.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 147, 18 February 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

Fashion and Things Feminine.

REfLECTIONS ON DRESS

The fitted lining is once more a vogue, after having been discarded for a few years Many of the season s bodices are moulded or draped over a fitted lining, which is, however, devoid of its old-fashioned complement ot bonings and sometimes, also, of many seams. The old-fashioned element plays a leading part ill dress of to-day. and quaintly pretty are the Victorian flounces, gathered ,-k rts, and short, loose coats of taffetas that are among the most popular fashions. The modern girl adapts herself quickly to changes of fashion, and looks very smart in her short, simple skirt and h : gh boots, with spats or spat effects. A trifle that is of great importance to ch c toilettes to-day is the net veil. A-suredly the most convenient veils are those with an elastic run through the upper edge. The long veil may be adjusted in a trice by the aid of the elastic, and. according to present fashions. the lower edge may be gathered up tight under the chin or hang straight and loose. Never before, perhaps, have veils been of such supreme

importance as they arc ties year, though they have always had a certain following, for they are practical as well as ornamental and help, in a most influential manner, to keep the hair tidy. Neckwear is another item of importance, and it grows higher and higher. (Jtt'te the most novel of ruffes is of pleated cambric, held high by means of a little band of black and white ribbon. threaded through the pleats and tied under the chin. The pleats of the ruffle rise to the ears, and it is this height that gives the chief note of smartness to the collar. It is strange that high collars should have conic in with hot weather! Concerning cool dress, an example illustrating a simple and fashionable style, is shown in the accompanying picture, and is suitable for striped or flowered muslin ox- voile. A pretty scheme for the development of the dress would 1 e forget-me-not blue and white striped voile, or grey and white or cherry and white, with black taffetas sash. The blousebodice is double-breasted and u fastened and trimmed with big, round buttons in the colour of the stripe, and similar buttons travel on to the skirt, which is plain in front and gathered the sides. The sleeves to the bodice are raglan-shaped, and are only threequarter length. They are turned back with hem-stitched mu-liii cuffs and a flat collar to match trims the neck. This model, copied in striped flannel, would be useful as a river dress. The lovely hat illustrated is made of black and white striped silk, and is trimmed with a bunch of cherries. SUMMER FASHIONS FOR CHILDREN. The slecvc'css overall frock is one of

By IDA MELLER - - Copyright.

children, and according to the material of which it is made, suits all occasions. For hardy wear, the sleeveless overall of serge, made with a yoke and worn with a blou.sette of washing material, is a popular style for schoolgirls, while more dainty overalls are of flowered delaine, tussore and other material, cut with big arm-holes and low, round necks, with sometime- a p ping introduced. On hot days, children are wearing cool, simple coats of thin material instead of frocks, and this is a vogue that the air" child appreciates very much. One such coat and an over-all frock are illustrated, and they are both sin pie fashions that can easily be copied in the home work-room, and are suitable for little girls of four to seven j ears of age. Xo. 1 is an overall frock that might be copied in linen, tussors. or fanev delaine. It is sleeve'ct>s and fastens at the back with buttons and buttonholes, and is worn with a blousette of washing silk or lawn. The paper pattern, comprising half the front and one hack, is indicated 011 the diagram, and should be laid 011 li or 2 yards of -12-inch material, folded ; n half lengthwise. the straight edit" of front laid to the fold and the back cut out in duplicate. Dotted 1 lies on the diagram suggest pie-its in the material. Xo. 2 illustrates a flowered pink muslin coat-froc-k for a little girl of four or five- years of age. It is simply made with a plain band at the neck and similar bands finish the sleeves. The fronts are buttoned. The paper pattern comprising one front, half the back and one sleeve, should be laid en li or 2 yards of 42-inch stuff, folded in half lengthwise, the straight edge of back being laid to the fold and the other picas cut out ;n duplicate. HOW A GIRL MAY EMBROIDER LACE FOR HF.R BLOUSE. Even the girl who cannot crochet and knows very little about fancy work, can enrich 'ace insertion, or any kind of lace for that matter, that she intends to use as a dress or blousetrimming, by embroidering it with ribbon. A two-inch insertion with a runn ng floral design showing small roses, buds and foliage, lends itself admirably to treatment and may be effectively used in strips for a raglan or other yoke. The "tools'' required are some pale pink bebc ribbon and some small pieces of thin green silk. Thread a needle having a large eye, a darning needle preferably, with the ribbon, and draw it through the lace, from the wrong side to the right. Then twist the ribbon and draw it around the needle sis tinns. and place the needle through the lace again quite near to the original hole. Pull 't through rather loosely, so that it will, m reality, form a large French knot. Cut tlie green silk into small squares (one inch square), and fray out the edges until only a very little piece ol tlie sol:d silk remains in the centre. Then catch this up with a few stitches and sow it to the base o - ' the ro>-e. Forget-me-nots would look well done in small knots grouped in clusters of live; mimosa can be worked with yellow ribuon, and pretty extra touches can bo gn'en to any flowers embroidered by sewing on crystal brads, veiy small and in opalescent hue*. Small leaves to roses end other flowers can. of course, be embroidered with t'liy gathered pieces of the green silk. Fancy work of this kind is pleasant for leisii'-o hours. It is work that can lie picked up at any minute, yet when it is finished it affords a lovely trimming for an afternoon blouse or on evening one. Plain dotted net can al-o be worked with little blossoms, placed over the dots at irregular intervals, not too clese together, and the blossoms can be joined with a running thread of green, representing stems that are worked in darning stitch. Xo doubt a girl's imagination and cleverness will soon suggest many more good ideas for enriching lace with embroidery when once she has .started on 1 he work. COM I* I. EX I OX AND FRECKLE WASH ES. An old Italian recipe for obliterating the injurious effects of salt air and sunshine upon the complexion is to bathe the lace with the white of an egg, well beatin. Let it dry on the .'■kin and rinse it oft after a quarter ot an hour. ii:is treatment must he repeated three or lour times and always at night before retiring. The w;-iii 'ii of ancient Rome were wont 10 plaster their faces at li ght with a poultice made of bread-crumUi and milk, which on being removed :n tiie morning Kit a freshness and white, ne-i that highly delighted them. The. juices of several it'll ts, hut preferably the raspberry, were looked upon as ,01 ereign washes for the skin, and milk was relied upon to impart a velvety .softness. Buttermilk is. of course, recognized to-day as one of the finest washes for the complexion and it is much recomr.";. tided ior the cure of freckles. For the purpose also, a simple lotion lhat is used with suceo-s -,s composed el equal parts of fresh lemon iuce and rose-water. Mix those together and the following day decant the clear portion and strain it through muslin. In the endeavour to avoid or check the spread of freckles, the complexion should be protected by a slight "mask" before it is subjected to the heat of the sun. An old-fashioned cosmetic for the nurp-'so. eost'ng little, : s prepared as follows : —Tak. a quart ei iosewatei'. orange-flower "water or < Mer-Umver water and add to it. drop by drop. st:r----l not compound) tuieture of oenzoin. Tiiis emulsion smells delicously and is eoiiipVte m its 'if or may have the add lion of one or two drop; cadi of t'licture of myrih and glyceric. I >;>11 some of the lotion 0:1 the face to i.uTi a him. and finish off with a dating of todrt powder, wiping off any I.tigering trace, of the same. RELIEF FOR TIRED FEET. If the feet are tii\d from long standing. a bath of salt and water is •■xeelhnt f-'i' them. Put a handful ot common salt into four quarts of hot water, place the feet into th:s and let them soak. At the same time splash tlie water up to the knees. A\ hen the water has cooled, rub tlie feet dry with a rough towel. It is also advisable, when the feet, are swollen from a long walk or much standing, to bathe them 111 water in which (harcoal has been boiled. The water must be strained before putting the feet into it. Swlhng and fatigue J : . ■: 1.1 i■, 111 d'-IMV.U by ths footbath,

which should be followed by friction with a good >kin tonic. If the feet, are dusted with antiseptic powder, this will also help to kecf them from smarting and aching. MAKING TOUGH STEAK TENDER A housewife explains from experience how to make a tough steak tender. "To begin with,'' she says. "I wipe over a -t< ak that is tough with vinegar twice during the day and keep it in n cold place. Then I w pe it with a clean, dry cloth, lay it on a platter, and pour over it five spoonfuls of salad oil and the iuice of a large lemon, after which 1 set it aside in a cold place for five hours, turning it constantly, so that it may absorb every drop of oil and lemon: then 1 leave it for a few hours I. nger. When finally ready to cook, I hold up the steak for a second or two. to let the oil drip off, but I do not wipe it. A steak so prepared should be. boiled and prove quite juicy and tender. I begin my preparations, of course, as icarly as possible in the morning, or over-night if the steal; is delivered late." A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK. Art tin 1 little, do that little well, and For thy conduct know The biggest man can do his biggest work No better than tust so. —I. S. Rlackio.