Feminine Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 909, 28 February 1930, Page 5

Feminine Interests

Women the World Over

mother superior in recognition of her 51 years of rvice in the hospital at Martinique S nd the Orphanage of Laos, Indorhina the Rev. Mother Ursula, of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, has heen presented by the French Government with the decoration of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Mother rrsula. who founded the Orphanage of Laos, has been its superior for 25 years. RUMANIAN DIPLOMATS Two women have recently been appointed in the Rumanian diplomatic service. Miss Milescu, an authority on the history of the Middle East, and Miss Mihaescu, who achieved marked success at. the University in Paris. Both are 26 years of age. Miss Milescu is entering the confidential department of the Foreign Office in Bukarest, while Miss Mihaescu will be employed in Sofia, Bulgaria, as a secretary of legation. ELECTED PRESIDENT Tradition was overthrown recently ■when Mrs. R. J. Myers was elected president of the Junior Scientific Club at Oxford University. She received 48 votes —seven more than her male opponent. This is the first time that a woman has been president’of any Oxford club, although the membership includes both men and women. SUCCESS Landing in Bombay 14 years ago. with £2O and a desire to earn her own living. Miss Vida Robertson is now editress of “The Indian Railways Gazette and Planters' Journal.” Recently she took a holiday to visit her family in Melbourne. IN SHANGHAI The only woman dentist practising in Shanghai is said to be Dr. Antonia Kazimiroff, a Russian refugee who fled from St. Petersburg at the conclusion of the Tsarist regime.

A POET’S WIFE Pictured here is Mrs. Edgar A. Guest, wife of the "People's Poet” I

THE ORIGIN OF THE BRACELET

There is an old tradition that the bracelet is descended from the armloops upon ancient warriors’ shields. Others have held that its origin was on the fair wrists of captives. ... In any case, it is certain that this timelionoured ornament is one of the earliest and most effective in the

whole armory of feminine decor. The variety of design developed from such simple beginnings is astonishing to observe. There are slender circlets of platinum, and great, exotic bands of ruddy gold. There are linked bracelets . . . bracelets with diamonds, or rubies, or emer aids, with pearls or semi-precious stones . . . bracelets rich or unembellished. costly or moderate in price. And all, in some mysterious way, enrich the subtle contours of the arm and hand. For this reason the bracelet occupies a. position of honour in the clever woman’s jewel case. There is- virtually' no costume with which it is not identified. Whether it is a magnificent diamond link band for the evening, or a set of tinkling gold slave bracelets for tea, this touch of decoration is effective.

GRACE COMBINES WITH PRACTICABILITY

Some women have been groaning about the new mode, foretelling that , it is impracticable. But if these groaners will consider a moment they will find that they have little to worryabout in correct fashion. They maybe judging from some of the incorrect fashions they have seen on living people moving about or on models in some of the stores. ’ Hem-lines dipping along the street certainly give an idea of being impracticable, but such dresses are onlyworn by those who have not conscientiously studied the mode. The dragging skirt should never be the case. A longer skirt —and who can deny- that a few inches over the knees is not a timely- measure—will mark the new models, "but no uneven hems will be worn by well-groomed women in the street. Belts tied high in flapper fashion i appeal to no woman of taste, hut certainly the designers do not advocate this. They offer instead the higher

waistline, raised by devious and subtle means, as a boon to those all too many women who, in spite of the “daily dozen,” have hips. The new mode is kind to hips, lor they are inconspicuous under a dress that starts at a high waistline, moulds the figure slightly, and widens into a low flare. | Then, again, the new colours are so practical. Black may not be considered a colour, nor may it sound new—but it will look new, for it will be worn, not with vivid contrasts, but with more black, accented by a few jewels. This combined beauty and practicality- is achieved in a gown developed in black flat crepe—the smartest of smart fabrics this season. The hemline of modest length is even and flares gracefully by means of circular cut. The hips are geutly molded by the diagonal hip yoke and the waistline is raised by a narrow belt. Stitched trimming to be cuffs follows the same diagonal idea, and the buttoned tabs in front lend interest to the design. SKIRT-LENGTHS While evening skirts remain long, or long in spots, daytime ones are trying hard to come down in the world also. For formal afternoon gowns, long points or dipping backs are often • shown, especially in thin materials. • One might say that the more formal : the occasion the longer the skirt. ■ Skirt lengths and waist-lines are mat- - ters for adjustment to the special model and the individual figure, and - it is hard to make rules for either of • them.