WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 June 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). A FORECAST OF FASHION iL FASHION NOTES~FROM LONDON. A RUSH FOR SPRING CLOTHES. ' London, April 20. Most years one can safely put off getting one's spring clothes until May. We are generally shivering in our furs at this time of the year, and to put on anything thin would be to contract a chill to a dead certainty. This year, however, the skies have been cloudless for days, and the sun as hot as in June, and we all want our spring clothes as soon as ever we can get them. So dressmakers and milliners are having an enormously busy time. There is a great deal going on socially, and everybody wants something to wear. FASCINATING SHOP WINDOWS.

Of course shopping is the order of the day, shopping or shop gazing. The shop windows are most fascinating, for all the new styles are being displayed to the best advantage, and the spring colors are more delicate and artistic than ever, it seems, this year. YELLOW THE RAGE.

} Just at present yellow seems the rage. All shades of yellow, primrose, daffodil, old gold, down to browns. It probably will not last long, as it is not becoming to everybody, but it is very much in evidence at the moment. Nothing lights up in the sun as well as yellow. People who find it trying get out of the difficulty by trimming the bodice with another color. Black looks very well with yellow, or delicate shades of pink or blue. DECLINE OF TAFFETAS.

Some of the new materials are very soft and supple, and as they are- perfect for draping they are going to be very much worn. Sponge cloth is one of these. Taffetas seem rather out of favor for the moment as a dress material. We shall probably take it again in the autumn, and, of course, for wraps and mantles it is still largely in demand THE PANNIER SKIRT. The pannier skirt is evidently within measurable distance of us. Some very charming models are being shown now and it is prophesied that before long we shall all be wearing them. The panniers on each side are not always quite alike; one may be short and rather full, and the opposite one longer and lower. Many people, no doubt, will adapt the tunic skirts of last year, as to convert the long falling tunic into a pannier would not be at all difficult to anyone who has done any dressmaking, and understands the art of draping. At present the panniers are of the same material as the rest of the dress, but we shall probably have them soon of something that either tones with it or affords a contrast. ' BANGLES ROUND THE ANKLES.

A story comes from Paris that Mile. Polaire, in some of her delightful stage costumes, has been trying to launch the fashion of wearing either a blue or a green bangle round one of her ankles, to be worn, of course, with a very short Directoire skirt. This fashion, however, does not seem likely to catch on. For one thing, the skirts are being worn so much longer that the bangle would hardly be seen. For evening wear dresses are being made quite long, and even trailing on the ground. RIBBON BROOCHES. Trimmings on bodices and blouses are becoming more and more popular. Little ribbon bows sewn on to safety pins are replacing brooches. When employed for fastening lace and that sort of thing, they look extremely well. Flowers, chiefly roses, made of satin or silk are much in favor, and so are tight little 18th century posies of flowers. These may appear either on hats or blouses. They make a good finish on a fichu blouse or on lace, or at the waist.

EGYPTIAN BELTS. Tooled leather belts are to be seen in all the shops, and are in endless variety. no two of them being alike. Many of them are worked in Oriental or Egyption devices, and are most attractive, being worked in replicas of old Egyptian ornaments, the scarab more often than not making a centre point in the design. They are edged with leather fringe. These belts are very much admired, and one result of their popularity is that the waists are coming down again, and are less "Empire" than they have been for some time.

HUSBAND BEATERS. The brilliant sun we have been having all the week has made a parasol almost necessary, and the shop widows are full of them. Here, again, we note a tendency to old-world fashions, for they are becoming rather elaborate. The tall Pompadour sticks are much in evidence —"husband heathers" they used to be called years ago—and they are generally tied up with a large ribbon bow. AMMONIA FOR DIAMONDS.

A few drops of ammonia on the wrong side of a diamond will clean it immediately and make it very brilliant. Then polish with powdered calcined magnesia. Plain gold ornaments are best cleaned with luke-warn water in which a heapedup dessert spoonful of salt is dissolved in every half pint. Sour beer is a good medium, too. JEWELLERY.

Opals are as much worn as ever, and despite the fact that they are believed to be unlucky, they seem to gain rather than lose in popularity. Many people who possess them do not know how carefully they should be kept. They should never be cleaned with hot water, as there is a danger of the heat cracking them and making them loose in their setting. Cold water with a pinch of borax should be used. Turquoises, of course, should never be allowed to come in contact with

water, or else they will change color. Pearls also require great care. Soap destroys their brilliancy and tends to dissolve them. Should they begin to lose their color, place them in a box containing powdered magnesia, and they will improve. Rings with stones to them should not be brushed, as this often loosens the stones. A piece of washing soda the size of a walnut disolvcd in a cup of hot water is good for washing most of them. Leave them in for a few minutes, and then polish carefully with a sponge cloth.

CZARINA SERIOUSLY ILL Berlin, April 15. Private telegrams received here from 6t. Petersburg state that the health of the Czarina has become alarmingly worse. It is stated that the Empress is suffering from painfid heart cramps, which are causing the greatest anxiety, and posed cure at Nauheira, as she is too weak.