WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 200, 3 May 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

1 (Conducted by "Eileen"). LONDON FASHION NOTES. I CAPES RETURN TO FASHION. w „ London, March 13. West End shop windows bear still the ; scars of the fray of ten days ago, and women shoppers are eyed even now with more than a little suspicion, but things are gradually settling down under the repairer's hand, and spring goods smile as if nothing had happened. A number of both suffragettes and suffragists have, it may have been noted from the cables, banded themselves into a body to offer practical evidence of their sympathy, not only with the ''cause," but with the tradesmen who have suffered, by way of collecting money to pay for repairs. The Courts at Buckingham Palace, though it is a well-known fact that Queen Mary sets her face against extremes in fashion, and, indeed, is not much inclined to pay attention to fashion at all, are, nevertheless, generally fairly good guides to coming styles, and, judging from the last two Courts, therefore, it may be taken as a certainty that panicrs, if not ■here yet as a general fashion, will certainly be shortly. Ninon, net, and real lace (which, of course, such method shows to best advantage) so far are the only -materials employed, and these are generally over silk or satin. There is r little to chronicle that is not merely emphasis of the last few weeks' decisions. Frills, for instance, have become frillier than ever—every conceivable dress that will admit them shows them in plenty on sleeves, shoulders, decolletage, basques and round the foot of skirts.

REVERS. 'Uneven revers are evidently to have their day, and two or three more variations have sprung into being during the week. Occasionally there is one rever only. Revers on otherwise severely plain house gowns are again seen. VESTS. V-shaped vests of white lace over net or chiffon have, for the moment, completely ousted round or square ones. TUNICS. Tunics appear to be at last going out. A very few evening gowns show them, some having them turned under at foot, with the effect of a long, flat panier, and numbers of reception dresses have double skirts cut squarely, rather in the manner of tunics; but the wholesale apparent . inability on the part of designers to ! think beyond tunics is altering, j NECK RUFFLES. The balmy spring atmosphere is responsible for the appearance of all man- ] ner of dainty trifles for the neck, ruffles} of soft-colored, shaded ostrich down or! feathers and bands of pleated tulle being favorites. The latter could quite easily be made at home, since only fairly stiff tulle is required, in Whatever two or three colors the wearer fancies. To a white gown they would lend a very chic touch. A pretty one seen this week was of two rows of box-pleated black tulle over one of white, the ruffstanding | stiffly up at the Tight of the neck and slightly turned down on the left. The ' right was fastened: with loose bows of > black velvet ribbon. FRENCH MILLINERY. French millinery shows an unvarying desire to sprout, it is to be noticed, from most of the French models displayed. One large one of this week has one side, from the middle of the crown to the edge of the brim, fashioned in royal blue glace silk, the other side being of black, j and the under brim treated in the same j manner. From out the roof of the crown springs a blue osprey in the form ] of a flourishing palm tree.

FICHUS. Fichus of lace on dark dresses are now beginning to be worn stretched tightly—not, so far, at all a graceful fashion POINTED BODICE. A trying style is the long, pointed bodice which some couturieres are trying to bring back to favor. Fortunately, so far, however, high waists are by a long way the greater favorites. Long may they continue. She of the generous hips, of the too thin, too stout, too short, or too small figure, must all beware of the style, for it seems specially chosen to reveal defects. One woman, and one only—the extraordinarily well shaped and proportioned slender woman with small hips—dare wear a pointed, longwaisted gown with impunity. PUDDING-BASIN HATS. Pudding-basin hats, in straw or shot folded silk, are much seen. Generally their only trimming is a small, bright wing sprouting out from any quarter the minnier chooses.

ANOTHER REVIVAL. Already capes .are seen, and it is expected that the fashion will again become general. Those so far made are for afternoon wear, and are of the same material as the frocks with which they are worn. Reversible satin is a favorite material for these gowns, and the cape is generally lined with a contrasting color, and reaching just below the hips, square cut at the back, and with points at the sides. Some of the lovely new shot silks are sure to be utilised for capes, and will give just the necessary amount of warmth at this rather treacherous season. j

A POPULAR COLOR. Mustard color is very popular just now, and employed discreetly, it gives a very smart touch to a gown or hat. A rever or revers and cuffs of mustardcolored friiv.o on a black or Jiavy £own, with a dark hat trimmed with one mus-tard-colored plume, has an excellent effect.

A USEFUL SHOE HINT. White kid shoes which are too soiled to wear, and which are still of good shape, may he renewed for evening wear by painting them with gold paint. Do this carefully and smoothly, and the shoes will look like new. 'FLOWERS FOR THE COMPLEXION. In the health notes in. a well-known journal there appeared recently an interesting article on the effect of a moist indoor atmosphere on the skins of the inhabitants of the house—moistness not indicating dampness, but a healthy state. Ventilation must, of course, be insisted on, this doctor writes, but a delightful method of making the indoor air soft and moist is to have always plenty of freshcut flowers about—better still, growing plants, which, greedily absorbing water ; throw it out as a vapor, which is harmless, and yet has valuable health-giving properties. Other plants should be substituted from time to time. It Is perhaps too much to say, this oracle states: "Fill your rooms with beautiful plants and flowers, and you will become beautiful," but there is quite sufficient truth in it to make it worth a trial. Certainly, a moister indoor atmosphere will help up to obtain a healthy skin, and will render us less liable to chapped hands, and with so pleasant a method at call it would be silly to neglect it.