WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 201, 22 February 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

| (Conducted by "Eileen"). ! FASHION NOTES. A CREED FOR BARGAIN HUNTERS. London, January 5. "I will not spend more than I can afford; I will not buy things I do not want; I will not lose my head over the remnant counters" —is suggested as the "burden of the lay" that should be recited by every bargain-lover before she sets out to have her own way at sale time.

The advice is capital; but, alas! we all know how far advice walks with us on. the road to temptation that holds as its goal a sale, where are set out all sorts of odds and ends—a medley of small things costing "next to nothing,'" that cover their superfluousness under the guise of the idea that they "will be \ bound to come in sometime." It' is just I the same this time as ever—so much the same, indeed, that someone has opined that the love of a bargain is so certainly born in most of our sex that it is probable that Boadicea. in her peaceful intervals, joined in existing rushes to bargain days where woad such-like beautifiers of her day were set out to tempt at less than usual. It is generally the little things—the odds and ends—that tempt us to break all our- good resolves, since, on the one hand, they dangle themselves before m with promises of usefulness that niosl. of them are not at all capable of carrying out, and, on the other hand, they dangle themselves before us with promises of usefulness that most of them are not at all capable of carrying out. and, on the •other hand, they siltnee our self-re-proaches with reflections that, even if they do turn out to be delusions and snares, we haven't spent much good money on them. Anyone knows into what the remnant habit can accumulate. As >I write I think of one good lady who has bulging boxes of remnants—weird things, some of them, too, that the shop assistant must have chuckled to see depart!—every one of which was brought under the conscientious impression that it must certainly come in useful some time or another. There is no doubt I that margain-collecting is perfectly capable of development into what might be I termed one of the lesser vices, given full rein. This year, as the weather has been and is so remarkably.mild, furs of all descriptions, from elaborate motor coats to fur mounts for hats, are to the fore among bargains, as are also thick i coats and skirts, travelling coats and | winter hats, that should see a long run : of wear yet.

FLORAL SILKS. Floral silks seem to be again coming into favor for evening gowns or for trimmings for these, and it is well for the home dressmaker to know how much can be done with floral ribbons, especially in these days of transparencies and veilings, when a panel of broad floral ribbon can be made to look just as effective as the much more expensive floral silk. One pretty evening gown I saw this week, suitable for a young girl, was of white charmeuse under very pale blue marquisette, the skirt tunic opening over a panel of floral ribbon in delicate blue and pink shades, and the decolletage having a wreath of tiny pink satin rosebuds, which also finished the simple sleeves.

A BLACK AND SILVER CONFECTION. Another very striking gown, suitable for an older person for afternoon wear, and costing many guineas, may contain a useful hint as to coloring. The foundation was of silver—apparently some sort of silver tissue, under black ninon— f 1 | he skirt "frill" being composed of ft eou- \ pie of rows of black marabout, with sil- • ver insertion between. The collarless 1 neck was round, and was ornamented !over a fine, narrow cream tucker with coral beads sewn on in a single row, the same finishing the elbow sleeves, j which were of black ninon over silver, edged with silver ball fringe. From J the centre of the decolletage to the hem ) of the skirt there ran a line of little silver tinsel knobs, and the left side of the decolletage had a very French touch in the form of a slanting' imitation pocket edged with an upward turned flat frill of satin to match, the coral beads. PETTICOATS AGAIN. Fashion decrees, it is gaily said, that 1912 shall be memorable in the calendar of the fair for the return of the petticoat—a circumstance hailed with immense satisfaction bv employers and workers in dozens of English and Irish lace and silk looms and underskirt factories. The wholesale trades are anxiously awaiting this promised change in feminine modes. French manufacturers estimate, we hear, that the hobble and harem craze has cost them £3,000,000 or over—a stupendous figure. It really serves them right, however, these French people, for >t was their pet couturieres who called the awful styles into bein» The only pity is that England followed and punished thousands of workers who had done nothing in the world to deserve the shocking loss of employment that resulted when women reduced their underclothing to half its amount, and had that half made as skimpily as possible. It is a very good plan, after having bought one of the soft silk underskirts that are now worn, to line it, in the front width with sateen, as this will make it proof against the quick wear of the knees at every movement. THE SINGLE TOUCH. It is a good plan for the woman who is capable of making her own dresses and yet feels somewhat shaky on her taste m blending color, to decide on a gown whose foundations are black or white, if she finds that white suits her, and decorate from there on. Thus, a gown of white satin under a tunic or complete veiling of black tulle, or ninon, can be made a very distinguished-looking if no other trimming is permitted except ou the decolletage. which (hen might have under its veiling, a band of almost any color silk, from royal blue to silver from scarlet or emerald to mole color' and in any of these look anything but home-made if it fits well. The danger to the home designer is to add to that > single '-touch" which, at the fingers of ' an artist, is found to have made a gown " into a creation. 1 SPORTS COSTUMES. 1 Sports costumes have, this year, been ] brought to what our earlv Victorian ancestresses would have called an elegant ' simplicity, so serviceable and at the ' same time smart and warm are they One very dainty rig-out designed for ski-ing this week, had a short skirt of r thick vipux rose serge, a woollen golf c jacket, scarf, long gloves and woollen t gaiters to match, completed by a fascin- <■ atmg sports bonnet-shaped like a Dutch I motor bonnet -to match. Another c was fawn, and they could be bought in " all c010r.., and would do just as well for ° golfers or followers of any sport