Fashion and Things Feminine.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 181, 9 June 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

Fashion and Things Feminine.

A SMART UTILITY DRESS. One of the great helps to a woman's wardrobe i- a dress that will adapt itwlf to practically any occasion, and lend itvjlf to a little change here and there, so" that variety can be introduced from time to time and the character of the dress be in perfect harmony with the sartorial needs of the, moment.

The adaptable dress, up-to-date and fashionable, i>, in face, a great economy, and as the majority of women are, at the present time, anxious to exeielse the utmost economy in mat-

tors of the wardrobe, it behoves them to include among their new ceason'3 apparel a smart hut inexpensive drese that shall fulfil tne purpose of two dresses and prove a g'ood and serviceable friend throughout the coming months.

An '.ide'a for a very pretty and practical dress, that, by a change of blouse, could b? rendered suitable for any occasion. is offered by the accompanying illustration.

For the development of the dress, nothing better than navy blue taffetas, eolienne, or merv can be suggested, with voile or ninon to match lor the blouse, which latter could be e.vchanged at times for a blouse of white muslin or lace, cut low in the neck or provided with a high collar. Hie Mouse illustrated is arranged with ; in front and on the sleeves, which latter are finished with taffetas cuffs of the new shape.

The taffetas skirt is gauged over the hips and has a little upstanding fn!t above the waist. The bodice is made with shoulder straps and re vers. 11l i-3 is a smart little dress to at would prove a boon t):> the economically disposed woman and, by the aid of a paper pattern, could be easily made by the home dressmaker. Pattern, without blouse, 7d.

COSTUME FOR A GIRL. Girls are very well suited by prevailing fashions in tailor-mades, whose keynote is simplicity, and the girl of ;a:bouH fifteen or sixteen years ot ag<> will find something very attractive, simple, and becoming in the costume sketched. The original is in navy-blue suiting, and th" costume consists of a plain skirt and short, loose-fitting coat, both garments buttoning in front. The skirt is cut on the umbrella pattern and fits nicely over the hips, while admitting ot' width below. From 3$ to 4 yards of 43-in. material will be needed for ihe costume.

The paper pattern is in seven parts, and for the benefit of the home dressmaker some hints are appended on how to cut out and make up the costume. The pattern pieces include half the skirt, half the back of coat, one front, one sleeve, in two parfs (upper and under), the collar, and half the waistband that is sewn to the skirt. Lay the half-skirt pattern on mater-

ia I, op.Mie.l ou'<; to its tull width and doubled, so that tho pattern is cut out in duplicate. It is important that the t.i'orit should be parallel with the selvedge, as it must be cut on the straight. Place the pattern on the material as indicated in the diagram. Tlie pa item pieces of the coat and belt

By IDA sYiZLLER

Copyright,

should le laid on tiie material folded in half lengthwise, th,e straight edge of back and of belt lining laid to the fold to avoid seams. Tile other pieces are cut in duplicate. In making the skirt, stitch up the* centre-back seam, and stich up, also, ;tha -froUlt seam from the foot to just below the hip*, leaving a placket thonce to the waist. Tack up the darts, mount the waist to a foundation-band, and try on. Turn up the bottom of the skirt, then remove the garment from the figure, face the raw edge ot the hem with binding, and machinestitch it; stitch also the darts, and face-up the placket, providing buttons and buttonholes. Line the material belt with canvas and sarcenet, machine that of the skirt, work a buttonhole in the rounded end of right front of belt, and add a button to the left front, which need jot be rounded.

The coat, after being tacked together, tried on, and stitched, should be lino.i. The lining nmst be cart on th? coat pattern but seamed apart. There will be .sufficient Avastc from the costume material with which to face u]i the fronts of the coat on the inside, to the depth oi some two or three inches. Provide euttonholes on the right front and buttons on the left. The collar would look pretty faced with striped silk.

An alternative scheme to button and liifttonhole fastenings is to use stud fasteners and allow the buttons to lie purely decorative, providing them with imitation buttonholes in braid. Pattern complete. Is 3d.

A VELVET TAM-O'-SHANTER. Worn with the dress illustrated is a new tam-o'-shanter of black velvet, is tli.e most fashionable hat for girls, and can be made at home quite easily. Tbe small sketches to the left of the figure show the crown and band of the cap separate and also indicate the patterns in the flat, laid upon three-quar-ters of a yard of velvet; Tli.e band must be cut on the cross of material, and will require to be cut in two pieces if narrow velvet is used. Grown and band should be lined with soft silk and the band should also have an interlining oi' buckram or canvas.

BEAUTY IX CHILDHOOD. There was a time when no baby went out without a veil, and this .frequently, was of tine wool. There seems little nowadays to justify such a proceeding from il:e standpoint of health, but as far as tho skin itself is concerned, the protection thus afforded had certain points in its favour. The tender skin of a very young child may suffer very much from exposure, unless precautions have been taken to safeguard it from injury. Tho veil protected the skin from high winds a*id fierce sun, and this was important: but a healthier and better treatment is to protect a child s face by a mere film of pure cold cream, well rubbed in before the skin is exposed to the open air. The cream should be supplemented by a dusting of fuller's earth or some such simpie nursery powder. When a child's skin is inclined to be very dry and rough, which is unusual, of course, but happens sometimes, a pure toilet cream, suited to nursery use, should be carefully applied once or twice a week at night. It is astonishing to find what an improvement is brought about in this way, and cases which are known where the cream treatment has beon regularly done from early childhood right on to womanhood and on again well into middle-life, account lor some wonderfully pure and beautiful complexions. Unquestionably a large degree of power rests in tfie nurse's hands as to the future of the complexions of her little charges, and it oitcn happens that the time and trouble expended in later years oil improving the complexion go simply to cure conditions that need never have arisen if proper care had been exercised in early days to avert them.

HOW TO ARRANGE A HANGING WARDROBE. A good idea ior the tidy girl, who likes to keep her clothes fresh and smart to the last- and is dainty in her ways, i.-, to arrange a hanging wardrobe on the following lmes. Fix a pole the entire length of the wardrobe across the in-ide of the latter, and 011 this hang a number of coat-and-skirt hangers covered with silkette. or some such material. Then attach to the hook of each hanger and gather closely to it a 'Tag of the silkette a> long as a dress. Ihe bag should he left open at one side lor a to Ik? slipped into it, and provided with ribbons (or other fasteners) in two places, with wliuli to tie the bag together. The bottom must be sewn across so That the loot ol the dress will be protected. Everv garment for the wardrobe should have its own special hanger and for preserving it from dust, and it is an excellent idea io keep at one <nl of the pole the everyday frocks, and graduate on to better dresses and those for evening wear, which should be at t!y other end of the pole. The owner can thus easily find, even in the dark, any dress required.

TO PRESERVE THE SHAPE OF SHOES. Shoes dttpcnJ so much for their beauty on a good shaix 1 l>eing retained, that it is worth while having always at hand a set of boot-trees. hen the shoes arc removed from the feet, they should be, while still warm, slipped on to the tre.es and any dust rnbljcd off immediately with a flannel cloth, which it is advisable to keep always handy for tli? purpose. The shoes will thus be ready for wear on the next occasion, an d«.i this way they are kept in much better condition than if the dust is allowed to remain on them.

TO KEEP PARSLEY FOR WINTER USE. To preserve parsley for winter use, pick and tie son.e fresh parsley in bunches, and bod it for three or four minutes in boiling water, in which a little salt has been melted: drain the parsley from the wafer 011 a sieve and div it very quickly before the fire. Then put it into bottles. When required for use, poak parslev in warm water for a few minutes, arid it will 1 e ready for a garnish.