WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 152, 23 November 1914, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

LONDON FASHIONS. .- TOPICAL COSTUMES. London, September IS. The West End is a changed thoroughfare and as indicative, in its way, as any other part of the metropolis of the time of groat crisis we are passing through. It would be an exaggeration to say that as much French and Flemish is being talked as English, but certainly those languages are more conspicuous there than our own just now. Refugees of all descriptions throng ihe streets and the patience and kindly good nature of the English police and of tram and 'bus conductors must be very ■grateful to the unfortunate visitors. Various suffrage societies and other bodies have provided interpreters who meet the refugees at the stations, and, .as far as possible in this busy time, pilot them to ' their destinations. .London must seem just now the eldest daughter of the Mother of Nations that she has been called.

How different these poor guests from the light-hearted, beautifully gowno! tourists 'hat Brussels sends us usually! 'Brussels is noted as the city of the nio-sl beautiful shops in the world, anil its women will appreciate, that distinction. Fur trimmed garments are beginning to make their nppe:.ranee in Loudon shops, ami it is evident that skunk, and its close imitator, bear, and sealskin are going to be as popular this winter as last. Ermine is seen also.

■ So far on transparent blouses, of ninon over ninon, there is usually a narrow stand-up collar, at the back of the neck only, of fur. Now that it is an cstabished fact that •transparent blouse.:;—that, with their graceful draperies, become the majority of people if the right combination of colours are chosen—are to be again fashionable, it is a wise precaution to note that dead white as a foundation is not often successful. The great charm of ninon is it; se.'ine;,;, and :•. hard, dehni!" background detracts at once from its peculiar misty oilVel. Probably everyone knows that the ninon lining should be treated strictly as a lining and made up separately from the rest ami that, as with all springy materials that have to be machined, a layer of paper at the back of ihe stitching is ;\ real comfort to an otherwise often exasperated worker!

Tulle, as before, bus, in this between season, (oi.io io the milliner's aid and is Li-ir:-- much worn, made iiito high wired bows, as v.-iiing fur dark flowers, or double k):if<- pleated frills on upturned V\'-th'".'t do'ibf however, a toque that had its birth in I'aris is the mod.- ol the mom.-rt, and this a largish mod,-!, very sharply tuni.-il from right to left at ono side. H is generally mam- of pam:e ' velvet, and oe-ashmaHy lias a 'Hut, demure bow of ribbon Ivinu 1 nhno-it on-the hair at the right. The double edge of cut lint inihomnuel tulle- that iiiiishod a great many round, in fashion. A iiiil half-bell stitched on at tin- normal waistline at the back distinguishes some of the plainer of the new I'.avy "much seen. Smooth feather t001'..-., such as used CHEAT ENTHUSIASM. X.-ws comes from England of the tremendous enthusiasm of women there, and their great desire to do soniethiii!; to help their "country in these terrible days of war. It was'stated by a hospital authority at a hospital which was nsse.l for a few volunteer nurses that "If Kitchener had asked for half a million women he Would have been over-sub-scribed by first post.'' In dozens of different ways the women are helping way. Nurses are clamoring to be sent to the front, and women are begging to be allowed l.i enlist. Others are 'providing beds and preparing for receiving wounded into their houses, and, of course, comforts for the soldiers are being made by thousands of women and girls, while one lady has offered to undertake the work of any tram conductor, coachman, shop assistant, or other married worker with children, provided the worker goes to fight for his country, and she will give the money earned to the wife of the man and his family. II is quite evident that, Tlritish women are just as enthusiastic and patriotic a-'- the men have proved themselves by their keen volunteering for service.

notes. The little village of Knapton, in Norfolk, has celebrated a new form of harvest thanksgiving. Instead of the usual floral decorations, gifts of fruit and vegetables were sent to the church, and as a result a waggon-load of foodstuffs were shipped to Belgium, in response to the appeal of the Belgian Minister. As showing the great need of thousands of garments for the British in hospital, Sir Alfred Keogh, the British Bed Cross Chief Commissioner in France, telegraphing last month to the London headquarters, said, "Send with the utmost speed to Kouen, in addition to articles now on their way, shirts, pyjamas, pillow-slips, macintosh sheets, slippers, and socks. Send thousands of them. You cannot send too many." A Sydney girl now in Kngland, who had intended coming home for Christmas, says now that she cannot desert "the iMotheralnd when in trouble. She remarks that people in England are growing more confident,. They are discussing the new plays and the autumn fashions. Several noted French modistes have settled in England, so that the new styles will be Anglo-French, and a complete change from former fashions. Besides, it is contended that London iV Jiions of late can vie with those of as:y other country, and American women have lately done their shopping in London with the best results. German toys are no longer desired in English nurseries, so the Women's Emergency Corps has started, at Old Bedford College, a toy factory, employing f»'rls already hard at work with fret-saws, needlepoints and drills (writes a London correspondent). They are making model buildings, and field ambulance waggons, among other things, and big stores in London have placed orders. Gollywogs are being made to the design of an English girl who has been working in Paris, and who came to London in search of employment. This doll is made of stockingette, with French knots for eyes, and with curlv hair of wool carefully sown into the head. It is called "Tippcrary Tommy." The stockinette used to come from Germany, but is now made by a firm which was going to close down when this chance of revived business offered. Though the girls employed are all learners, they are paid at the full union rates while they are being taught, and they are likely to be kept busy for some considerable time. There are also some wooden figures after the style of Caran