WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 41, 10 August 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). FASHION NOTES FROM HOME. London, Juno IG. Tho newest jabota necessitate a neckband, and the latest collar, an all-round Toby frill of pleated lase, is mounted on a narrow guipure insertion. It seems probable from these that collarless necks will not be so popular as they were last year. The grandfather frill still holds its own, and in its newest form it consists of a triple frill of point d'esprit net, falling like a gossamer cascade down ono sido of the corsage and providing a charming finish to the simplest frock. Wedgwood hats, made in tho exquisite Wedgwood tints, and themselves copies of inverted Wedgwood vases, are offered as Coronation novelties by one well-known London milliner. They are in various shapes, just like Wedgwood vases, and are in soft blues, pinks and greens, and they are even finished with Wedgwood plaques and Wedgwood cameo hatpins. Much too tasteful and pretty to over become widely worn, surely! Beaded embroideries, though bound to lose their original ultra-smartness by too great popularity, are still in vogue, and this form of elaboration is also seen on cotton voile, marquisette, and silk blouses, "French knots made of cotton in imitation of beads are a satisfactory means of working out new patterns oh washing shirts, used in some cases in solid designs and in other instances employed to produce an outline effect. Pretty washing petticoats for this summer's wear are made of soft oottqji materials with a white ground striped or dotted with color anil finished with a scanty flounce embroidered boldly in the color of the dot or stripe. A piquant method of finishing ofT the collarless. neck of a gown is to run a silver cord round the top, and tie in a bow which may be worn either at the back or the front. The woman who likes her dresses delicately perfumed will find the following lavender sachet powder excellent:—Dried and powdered lavender flower 10oz., pow-; dered benzoine 30z., Cyprus powder tioz., oil of lavender 1 y 2 dr. Cyprus powder, it should perhaps be explained, is reindeer moss carefully picked over. Some enthusiasts on the subject of wardrobe perfume have the entire walls and ceilings of the wardrobe and dress cupboard lined with violet perfumed flannel. Other sachets are made of a thick layer of cotton wool strewn with perfumed powder, and a fastidious woman covers them with silk in harmony with the perfume. Alt the pads are backed with ribbon, and the edges are only fastened lightly in order that 'V sa:-het may be easily opened to ri ikw the perfume.

EXIT THE HAREM SKIRT. What has become of the notorious harem skirt? Is it living or is it dead? This question has been running through the miir,ls of women throughout the world. Tho innovation was hooted! wherever it publicly in the] European capitals, and Paris, which or-1 dinarily becomes quickly accustomed to the most fantastic kinds of feminine apparel, refused absolutely to accept it. i The failure of the garment to appear at the fashionable racecourses of the French capital has aroused wide comment. A few women, seeking to attract atten-| tion, occasionally dare to wear it at a roller rink or in a box at the theatre, but the mass of feminity avoid it, with the possible exception of a few of the milder models, which it is impossible to distinguish from the conventional skirt. The harem skirt is not seen on the streets. With a view to solving the mystery as to what has become of the garment, a correspondent visited several leading costumers, and even firms which tried to launch the skirt on the market. They all admitted that things had not gone well. "The harem skirt," said M. Drecoll, "was intended merely as a house gown. It was killed by enemies, who put out hideous models, and it was doubly killed by the department stores, which sold | cheap imitations." j "My grandfather made and tried to launch the harem akirt 40 years ago," said John Worth, "hut was unsuccessful. Then, as now, the women did not want it. It may be acceptable to the inmates of the Turkish harems, who recline on cushions all day long, and who do not go out save when veiled and cloaked, but it does not go in the Occident. I consider it quito lifeless for tho present. Certainly it is practical, if nothing else." "It was intended for street wear," explained a member of the firm of Bechoff, David and Co. "A few fashionable women are still wearing it indoors' and at receptions. My wife recently wore it at a Royal reception in St. Petersburg, and was much complimented. The mass of women will probably never adopt it, but I believe that really aristocratic women will continue to use it for ball gowns and house gowns." I

The latest freak fashion from Pariji is the "hoop sleeve." The hoop is placed at the middle of the forearm, and its diameter is 7in. The sleeve is drawn in at wrist and elbow.

GIFTS TO THE QUEEN. London. June 23. ITor MajoMv the Queen oil Monday! afternoon rcei-ived a number of Coronation gift, five of the£e being from the ancient and worshipful companies of the City of London. By her Majesty's own request the gift of the Gardeners' Company took the form of a large bunch, 1 Lady Heimionc earnations. This va- • is one of the most beautiful of the' I'coies of carnations, a rich sali:i color, with broad, smooth petals, ' unusually robust constitution. «. ■ ;.">'t will be given for Coronation Day. id another for Royal Progress Day. A flower stand, replica for the Jacobean basket which forms part of the company's crest, was also presented. From the Glovers the Queen received a pair of embroidered gloves, which, it is hoped, her Majesty will wear at the Coronation ceremony itself. The Fanmakers presented a Ho'niton lace fan, in which the beautiful design, by Mr. Woolaston Rheid, is so intricate that it was found difficult to obtain workers to

execute it. The design consists of the Royal crown and cipher, together with | the arms of England, Scotland, Wales . and Ireland, with the rose, the sham- ' rock and the thistle. The stick is of yellow tortoiseshell, with the crown and cipher on it in gold. From the Needlemakers the gift was a selection of all kinds of needles in a gold case, with the crown and cipher on one side and the arms of the company on the other. The case is of 18-carat gold, delicately wrought, and enclosed in crushed morocco leather case bearing the Queen's cipher and crown, set with finest diamonds, and the arms of the company. The Queen was particularly interested in the gift of the Cardmakers—two packs of playing cards specially designed for the company by Mr. Seymour Lucas, R.A. Since cards were most fashionable at the time of Henry VIL, the cards were made fifteenth century in character, and embellished with elaborate designs. Three galleons at the top are supposed to indicate the King's experience in naval matters. Two merchant ships loaded with wealth are intended to convey luck and wealth to the coming reign. The inhabitants of Richmond, Mortlake, Kew, Ham and Petersham gave a cheque for £7OO, to be given to tho lioyal Hospital, Richmond, to endow a bed. From Grenada came three pieces of needlework, with devices emblematic of the chief industry of the island (cocoa), an afternoon tea cloth of emblematic Coronation work and Irish lace, and two table centres of Coronation work and Irish lace, and two table centres of Coronation work and Irish crochet—all the work of Grenada women. A casket containing the gifts was" made from local mahogany, with a lining of local cedar. It was locally carved and fitted with silver oranges for feet. The address was locally illuminated at the Roman Catholic Convent of St. Joseph. From St. Lucia 20 drawn-thread handkerchiefs in a sachet (the latter made at a local convent of local woods enclosed in silver) were received; and from Cyprus specimens of Cyprus silk from English ladies of the island. St. Vincent presented a parasol, and a specimen of needlework was sent from Barbadoes.

DO GIRLS LIKE COMPLIMENTS? Have you ever studied the significance of compliments? A historian might find some valuable hints in the history of soft nothings. I heard a very pretty girl the other night taking her dinner partner to task for offering her a compliment which, according to her, "was in its 57th season at least." It had some-' thing to do with eyes and stars, and she would have none of it. I asked her afterwards if she always rejected base coin of this kind. ;rul she said she did. unless it made lur too angry to trouble. "When a man tells von you are as beautiful as the morning, when you are onlj- rather nice-looking, with a sunburnt neck, eiUier he believes it, and then's he a fool, or he doesn't believe it, and then he's a liar." This drastic summary seems to be rather ungrateful, so far as the fool is concerned, but I notice that the girl of to-day is extremely impatient of compliments which outrun her own estimate of herself. On the other hand, she loves to be told she is a good golfer, or a. fine shot, or a good companion. The focus seems to : have shifted from her appearance to her I capacities, which is a healthy thin«.— | The Gentlewoman. °