Feminine Interests Make- Up For “Backless” Gowns

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 934, 29 March 1930, Page 23

Feminine Interests

Make- Up For “Backless” Gowns

OTOROHANGA -SUB-BRANCH OF PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING Th« president, Mrs. Arthur Tait. took the choir at the annual meeting of the Otorohantra. sub-branch of the Plunket Society, held in the society's new rooms, yesterday afternoon. The balance sheet which was adopted ;howed that £SOO had been raised to provide the society’s portion of the annexe to the town hall, and after pavins costs of erectinfc and furnishing- the Plunket and rest rooms, there was a credit balance in hand of £79. Officers elected were: President, Mrs. p. T. Wyllie: vice-presidents, Mrs' Arthur Tait, Mrs. \V. K. Lawson; secretary. Mrs. H. W. Smith; treasurer Mrs. W. .T. C. Patterson; committee! Mesdames H. C. Alexander, e. It. c. Blomfield, W. T. Bowyer, H. G. Corbett* O. A. Palzieli. Fletcher. S. J. Fnrtescue’ C. B. Gilberd, C. Irvine, V. L. Fairbrother, VV. R. McAdam, F. O. Ft. Phillips. R- T. Rhodes. Mrs. A. Banks was appointed caretaker. The thanks of the society were extended to the officials of the Otorohansa Town Rand for the use of the band room prior to and during the erection of the Plunket Societv's own rooms.

CROQUET AFTERNOON AT DEVONPORT CLUB

The members and friends of the Devonport Croquet Club spent an# enjoyable afternoon on the club’s green yesterday. The occasion was specially arranged by the president, Mrs. K. Duder. who was assisted by Mrs. Herron. Miss Finlay, and Miss M. Duder. The prizewinners were as follow: A grade, Mrs. Harvey; B grade, Mrs. Spicer; consolation, Mrs. Hughes. Miss Boyd: hidden number. Miss Patterson. Among those present were: Mrs. Paiairet. Mrs. P. Prime, Mrs. Creagmile, Mrs. Swan. Mrs. Newell. Mrs. Spicer (secretary), Mrs. Crowe, Mrs. Bruce. Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Seaton, Mrs. Mrs. Poster, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Pacey. Mrs. Bailey. Mrs. C. Prime, Mrs. N’ewbegin, Mrs. War: en, Mrs. Angove, Mrs. Lydford. Mrs. Lacy, Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Holmden*, Miss Beere. Miss Marks, Miss G. Duder, Miss Patterson, Miss Alison, Miss Boyd. Miss Burton. A SLIM ANKLE HOW TO ACQUIRE IT A slim ankle and a weli-arched instep are essential to a beautiful foot and, although the line of the instep cannot be altered or improved, a slim ankle can be cultivated. When the bones of the feet and ankle are large, however, nothing can b e done to improve matters. But if your ankles are fleshy or swollen through standing too long, the size can be greatly reduced by massage, bathing. with a reducing lotion, and exercise. The massage should be given with firm, hard strokes from the instep toward the calf, extra pressure being exerted when stroking from the heel upward on either side of the bone. To make the reducing bath dissolve 4oz of Epsom sails in a foot bath of bot water. Soak the feet and ankles >n ; his Co fro n 10 to 15 minutes, dry and follow with a massage as described above. The following exercises will also be °f great help in effecting a reduction. on a moderately high chair and stretch the foot out on a level with the knee, placing the heel on the edge another chair. Twist the foot from the ankle firs toward the right, then toward the left, forming a semicircle. Repeat, several times. Bend the foot from the ankle as far forward, with the toes facing the knee, as it will go. bend backward, then to the right, next to the left. Return to original position and repeat from 10 to 15 times.

WAIKATO NOTES ' „ K A tc !i ie ’ of P une «Jin. is the guest i I of Mrs. P. FL Stewart, at^Hamilton. Miss Jordan, of Te Kuiti, is the ton' St ° f Mrs ’ s - Graham, at HamilB RIDGE AT LYCEUM CLUB j On Thursday evening the bridge committee of the Lyceum Club organised a very pleasant bridge evening for ' withT m ! >erS ; , The lounge was gay i tu bowls of brown and golden blosj sums, blending well with the lights and furnishings. ! . T J le Prize winners were Mrs. Friedj lander and Miss "Wyatt. | Those present were Mrs. H. J. rreenslade, Mrs. P. R. Stewart, Mrs. I (Dunedin), Mrs. E. P. Cowles, j y lrs - * orke, Mrs. T. C. Reynolds, Mrs. A Speedy, Mrs. Selden, Mrs. L. Day, Mrs* J. Staples. Mrs. E. Reeves, Mrs. Sinclair Arthur, Mrs. J. Standrin, Mrs. E. Walders, Mrs. T. A. Pemberton. Mrs. C L. MacDiarrnid, Mrs. S. Graham, Mrs. A E. Cox, Mrs. F. Vickery, Mrs. * • D- T infold, Mrs. Gordon Smith, Mrs. TI. .Hume, Mrs. L. Shepperd, Mrs. 11. Luxford, Mrs. Hoovey. Mrs. J. Gray, , Mrs. T. Insoll, Mrs. A. W. Green, Miss j M. Stevens, Miss B. Derenzy, Miss G. vVyatt, Miss L. M. Nicholls. Miss L. I Valder, Miss Bow’ker, Miss M. Campi hell, Miss K. Eggleston. Miss O. Eggleston. Miss C. Wallnutt, Miss Jordon I (Te Kuiti).

HOW THEY DO IT

SECRET OF WOMEN WHO DEFY TEMPERATURES How do women manage to withstand the sudden changes of temperature, changes which give a good cold to many a man in his heavy garments? It has always been a mystery how women keep warm when the thermometer falls —hare arms, bare throats, and flimsy frocks would scarcely he called the proper raiment > for protection from rain and cold ] winds. , “Fat is the secret of it all,” says a 1 physician. “Fat is the main cause of the heat supplied to the human body. “Why woman has more of it than man I cannot say, but perhaps nature decided it thus to meet certain emergencies. Or perhaps it is because woman is less active (dare I say it?) than man. “Another, but minor, reason why women are better able to stand the ] cold," he adds, “is that woman has i tried the experiment (dictated by i fashion) of exposing the skin as j much as possible, and allowing it to ■ function as it was intended to func- ! tion.” A prominent scientist said that not ! only was it a question of a more genj erous proportion of fat, but many other factors contributed to woman’s ! natural warmth. ! “Women keep cheerful, look on the ] bright side of things, arid care more ; for their bodies. Comfort of mind and body has a great deal to do with ! keeping warm,” he said.

LIPSTICK IN THE HEART OF A ROSE A lipstick hidden in the heart of a I rose or carnation—made of rubber I a nd worn as a buttonhole—is the I latest novelty among rubber flowers. : The little tube is held by a wire which passes through the heart of the flower into the stem. Several English debutantes carried bouquets of rubber flowers at last seaj son’s Courts. Orchids, lilies, sweet peas, anemones, poppies, violets, roses 1 and carnations are now being cleverly : copied in rubber. They can he washed j in warm, soapy water. SCENT IN CONCENTRATED CALYX Most of the flowers are scented by a wad of cotton wool soaked in concentrated perfume and inserted in the calyx, but in a few cases the petals are' impregnated by spraying. The scent lasts for three months and the flowers, which keep the freshness of their petals for six months or so, may i then be sprayed at intervals with • their owner’s favourite perfume.

New Silhouette Remains Slender

Capes Play a Prominent Part DISCREET FEMININE TOUCHES | Of course everyone is a bit confused over all these changes in fashion. And perhaps the easiest way of all to; get our new bearings is to understand the new silhouette. Once that photo-1 graphs itself upon our consciousness,: we can begin to feel our way about) and discover for ourselves the rights: and the wrongs of the new situation. I For, indeed. without knowing the | right and the wrong of things we j never can wear clothes. Now the new silhouette is quite as i slender as before. That is where so ! many women are going astray. They I have misapplied all the flounces and j feminine touches and destroyed their | effect of slenderness. The smart woman, however, looks every bit as slender as her predeces- 1 sors, and a bit taller —and this new j tallness comes front the longer skirt! and the raised waistline. If only j wo’men understood that these new j proportions are more slenderising \ than the old ones, they would cease j rebelling. ARTISTIC AND PLEASING The new silhouette is slender, then,: quite like the old —a bit taller, but—: and this Is the new theme—it is not straight and without shape. Instead j there is a nip-in t.o mark the waist- j line, with its resulting curve outward to slightly mark slender hips, and then quite low there is a flare to artistically balance and offset the nipin at the waistline. Really, the silhouette is extremely artistic and pleasing. It is a joyous triumph when rightly handled. No matter how 'many bows or howmany flounces, bow many frills or how many drapes the new gown has. It still must suggest this silhouette. Therein lies the dangers and the mistakes. It is not a question of this or that being smart —it is a question of this or that as applied with success to the new silhouette. If it can be fitted into the general scheme of things, it is good. If not, it is wrong. SHORT SLEEVES AGAIN Now along with this new silhouette has come certain details which fit in artistically with the whole. One is the cape. Capes of every size from the weest wings over the shoulder caps to long wraps of coat proportions, are all definitely in the mode. They go nicely with the real waist- ! line. Too, we have short sleeves j again, and they carry with them a'■ j delightfully new touch. Perhaps the i i most feminine of all are the very tiny I cap or puff sleeves. These make i their extremely feminine and saucy j | appearance on informal evening | frocks with most triumphant success, j And then they lead on to new long! j gloves. For a quaint little sleeve is so very reminiscent of historic cos- j I tumes that inevitably tlie long gloves j | come forth to accompany it. HATS FIT IN WITH DRESS DETAILS Hats, of course, must lit in with all! these new details, and so they droop S and indulge in flattering brims and j resort to all sorts of feminine tricks, | but always with a reserve which ; ! modern dressing has taught us. Per- j haps the most distinctive part of the! autumn costume, aside from its ex- j tremely different waistline and hem, i is the treatment of neck and cuffs.! These, have been as barren as a j desert for ever so long now. But! this season all the best imaginative j genius of the creators of fashion have j combined to create individual, interesting and decorative necklines and sleeves. That is the feminine part J of the mode. And a quite safe guide j to the newest chic is simplicity of j silhouette, with the feminine touch admitted discreetly only at neck, cuffs and waist top.

Nearly a hundred different beauty treatments for the back are given every week in the larger London salons to women who follow the fashion for wearing lowbacked evening gowns. “Prominent shoulder blades, too much flesh, and skin blemishes are the three most common faults which we treat every day,” writes a specialist in an overseas journal. “Women whose backs are too thin massage with a feeding cream every night. The fat back is reduced by special bending exercises, and for skin blemishes we give instructions about diet. The normal “backless dress’ treatment consists of bleaching cream with nightly massage, a stinging stimulant to be used once a week, and foundation cream and liquid powder as the dance make-up. STARTLING WHITE NECKS “American women are paying great attention to the make-up of their necks, for the latest evening gowns worn in New York have square necks, not low backs,” said a beauty expert who has just returned from America. “They use a new liquid powder for arms and neck. This gives a matt surface, but dries to a white which is almost startling in its brightness.”

KEEP WAVY HAIR NICELY SET | Unless the hair has a natural kink it is always rather difficult to keep it i nicely set in good deep -waves. ' The use of a good setting lotion will help to preserve waves, especially if it , is sprayed liberally over the head, and ; the waves pinched in with the fingers every morning. Allow the lotion to dry and comb through the hair with a fine comb. It is a good plan, when the hair is extremely straight and difficult to wave, to set it freshly every night by spraying it with the setting lotion, j After pinching the hair into position, | slip on a shingle cap and wear it till : next morning. These caps can be j had very cheaply and are quite soft and comfortable to wear. Although it lasts longer than either i water or iion waving, permanent wav- ! ing must also be “put in” again from i time to time. If your hair grows so quickly that it constantly needs trimming, three months is the longest you could expect a permanent wave to last without renewing.