Fashion and Things Feminine.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 239, 5 January 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

Fashion and Things Feminine.

By lOA IftELL&R

A SIMPLE FROCK. Quite one of the most attractive of to-day's fashions is the cape, which is developed in many pretty and original ways. The latest idea is the little wrap that presents a cape back while the fronts v. more in the form of a sac-coat type, ()■■ are more in the form of a bolero. Cut with extremely short fronts is a wrap of the kind made of black taffetas and displaying a moderately full cape at the back, the cape reaching to slightly below the level of the waist. The back of the iittle garment is considerably longci tii.in tho front, and tho latter is trimmed with buttons and ]oop.s of black silk cord. Panniers sbiro favour with canes among the newer fashions, and are very smart-looking. They are, it must

jHt confessed, .better suited tor outdoor wear; nevertheless, there are some very charmmg fashions for the street that are developed in shantung and other soft fabrics and exploit the pannier effect. A novelty that the girl with an appreciation for colour will doubtless accept is a skirt of serge silk, striped in mixed colours on a dark-blue ground. This extremely modish little skirt is scalloped and bound with dark-blue silk-braid at the foot, and is gathered to a hip-yoke dn a way that admits of a natural frill-heading. The blouses worn with the skirt, from time to time, should be of white washing silk or of a colour matching one or another of the stripes, and if the colour is somewhat bright, the blouse might be toned down In a veiling of dark-blue ninon. Now to discuss the simple little frock illustrated, which is suitable for serge, silk, or linen. It is just one of those plain styles tliat suits any material iwith a substance.

There are two ways in which the frock might lie made up. Either the skirt and bodice might be joined at the waist and the frock be slipped on all in on"; or the bodice could oe entirely separate from the skirt and be stitched to the top of the belt. The effect, even in his case, wonld be that o f a one-piece dress, but some women might prefer to have the skirt and bodice separate. Tlio frock fastens in front, and is i lvally charming design for navy-blue linen, taffetas, or serge. It is simplicity itself, and the only touch of trimming about it is reserved for the belt which is handsomely braided. A soft linen collar appears at the neck.

V HOME-MADE RUSSIAN BLOUSECOAT. There is a certain picture.sque style about a Russian blouse-coat that renders the garment a .particularly becoming one to girls, whether it be mnd-j of washing material or otherwise. Those concerned with home dressmaking n.ay be interested in the pic-

tn re of tile Russian blouse-coat here with and of the sketch of the paper pattern in tho flat. There are only three pieces of the pattern, and the«c represent half the blouse namely, one

Copyright,

fiont, one sleeve, and hall the seamless back. The quantity of 44-inch material is 3j yards.

, (The diagrams show how to dispo-e of the pattern pieces on the material This latter is folded in half lengthwise to receive the back pattern, and the straight edge of latter is laid to the >'old', so that the entire back can bo cut out in a single piece, .while the other pattern pieces are laid on the material opened out to its full width and doubled, each pattern l>eing cut out in duplicate. There will be plenty of material from the waste wherefrom to cut out the sash, of which no pattern 's given, as it is simply a straight, folded band of material with slanted ends. Tho blouse fastens at the left side and the little notch at the neck in diagram indicates the centre-front. The left front need not be cut so wide as the right one. When tk' pattern piceces are cut out, fronts and back must be seamed together and the sleeves made up and put in. The neck is finished with a band of material that can be cut on tho coat pattern. Dotted lines on the front and back patterns in diagram in cuate the position of the neck-border. The blouse-coat fastens with three buttons and cord loops, and similar buttons and loops trim each sleeve at the wrist. A NOVEL IDEA. A novel idea was hiq upon by a housewife during the recent spr'ingcleanning period. In trying to freshen up her floor coverings, *he found it impossible to give an air of newness, or even cleanliness tc sonio faded-looking matjting that covered the floor of two bedrooms. Therefore, setting her wits to work, she conceived the plan of dyeing the matting, and thus reviving it in appearance Having cleaned it thoroughly, she proceeded with a wide paint-brush to put on a coat of dye, making the floor in one room a soft green, and in another "old"' blue. It took two coats to each floor to do the thing well, but she niw well repaid for the trouble she took, which resulted in a delightful change in the appearance of the rooms treated. \ BED-SOFA FOR THE SITTINGROOM. Where there is no spare l>odrooni, it is useful to provide the sitting-room with a sommier that is a nice lounge in tho daytimo, and may be used as a comfortable shake-down for a friend at night. The ordinary sofa, that in an emergency is used as a bed. is rarely comfortable for the latter purpose. One of the best ideas is to buy a cheap camp-bedstead with mattress and spring frame, and cover the mattress with a tapestry or art serge case, or if the rcom is of delicate colouring, with .1 case made of biscuit-coloured furnishing fabric, striped or spotted. Such a case as this I recently observed on a sommier in a daintily furnished draw-ing-room in a small flat. The casing consisted of a top-piece cut to the length and width of the mattress belonging to the camp-bed that formed the sommier, a drop-piece and a flounce. The drop-piece was piped (a' thick, rich-looking piping) top and bottom, and ran round both ends and tho front side of the covering; Out tho flounce was only used along the front and end of the sommier, the top l>eing pushed against the wall, so that no flounce was really required at those parts', and material was saved. Tripes were stiched to the back corners of the casing, and these were tied to the back legs of the sommier to prevent the casing slipping and crumpling. A nice cushion-back was made with spare pillows stuffed into a case matching the covering of the sommier, and cushions in tapsetry cases of a different kind were banked up here and there. Tlm casing could, of course, be slipped off in a trice. SUN AND THE COMPLEXION. There are certain simple precautions that can always be taken to relieve tho burning sensatjion that attacks a sensitive skin when exposed to the sun. On no account should the face be washed with soap and water when smarting and dry from sun-heat or from a motor ride in dusty, windy weather, for such treatment will only increase the harshness of the skin. The best treatment is as follows: —

First, put on the face a liberal quantity of cold cream, and rub it thoroughly into the skin with the lingers or an o'ld, dean, handkerchief. Then, after the irritation lias been somewhat lesscued, the face should be thoroughly washed in rain-water and cleaned, 't rain-water is not procurable, the tapwater should be softened by the addition of a teaspoonful of borax. Dip the face and afterwards the hands in the water, soap the hands with cold cream soap or bluttermilk soap, and rub thorn'with a gentle motion over the face. Dip the face a second time into the water, rinse thoroughly., and dry with a thick, soft towel. After the facial bath, appiy a simple lotion, slightly a-tringent. This tivatment will lie found to be very refreshing. If preferred, soap may be left out ol the recipe, and the face be cleansed -imply will; cold cream and soft water. The use of a good cleansing cream before a facial bath and a suitable lotion afterwards, has a really wonderful effect iii improving the complexion. Many a bad complexion is due to nothing mure or less than neglect of a proper cleansing process. A clean face. it should lie remembered, has a good effect upon the spirit- as well as upon the appearance. A girl may wash her face two < r three times a day, out yet fail to perform the task in the most successful manner. STKAWBERRIES STEWED FDR TA HTS. A few strawlierries may be made go a lon» way if stewed for tarts. To prepare them, make a syrrup with one pound of loaf sugar and a quarter of a pint ei' water; add the whites of on<* or two eggs, let the syrup boil, and skim it until only ;1 foam rises; then put in a quart of strawlierries free from the stems. f.< t them boil till they look clear and the syrup is quite thick, when they will be ready for use. Throe strawberries to a small, open tart, about the size of the top of a teacup, "ill suffice. This method, j therefore, of using strawberries is an ' economical one. TO TAKE RUST OUT OF STEEL. The betiniv of «Uv] is mined for thfl

I time when rust appears on the surface; but fortunately rust can be removed by a simple process. Cover the steel with sweet oil, well rubbd in, r.nd forty-eight hours after use powdered pumice stone or some such substance and rub with this until all the rust disappears. A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK. Only a word of sympathy spoken To hearts overburdened with care; Only the clasp of the h:ind a<= a token That we in their trouble would share; Only a pause to render assistance To those overcome by the way, These are the d.eds that ennoble existence, And turn the worlds darkrt:« *o day. —George D. Gelwicks.