THE LADIES’ WORLD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2406, 22 January 1909, Page 7

THE LADIES’ WORLD

THE DEMOCRACY OF ENGLISH DRESS.

In a recent number of the ‘‘Pictorial Comedy” Mrs. T. P. O’Connor, m an article entitled “The Democracy of English Dress,” hurls indictment alter indictment a tithe dress, and lid less at , the woman of to-day with special stress upon the Englishwoman; “Nowhere.” 'says the writer, 1 cheap and pitiable finery "worn so much as in. England. The shop windows are full of it—cheap lace that will scarcely stand one washing, cheap cheap open-work stockrings, and cheap blouses, ill-made and badly cut,, that are dear at any price. And what does all this cheap tawdriness lead to? Complete untidiness in the dress of the working women. Badlv-made elaborate clothes' call for continual sowing and mending. And what working woman has time to do continual sewing? Some years ago, proceeds the writer. I wanted a secretary,, and an applicant appeared in an enormous hat, with floating veil, a sliort-sleevcd blouse, and long cotton, gloves. Nothing in the world would have induced me to engage her, for her very garb indicated a complete want, of judgment. No French or American working woman would'have dreamed of such an inappropriate get-up. On the stage in England costume is studied with splendid results; the smart Jady’s-maid or chambermaid, neat, trim, tidy, is as charming in effect as her mistress,,, hut the dress is different. The'chambermaid is the chambermaid (on'.the stage), and the lady is the lady. Not so, however, in real life. Maids do wear caps, and many of. them loot well in the afternoon iirC'lcan collars and cuffs, but there is no uniformity of dress even among ...them —none whatever. What many English womcii have not yet learned in dress is appropriateness. That is the initial step hr being a well-dressed woman. She should wear sensible shoes (not .French heels, generally slightly twisted tts one side) and stockings (not opeu-wQrked), a plain tailor skirt, a neat pleated shirt or blouse, and a neat cellar and tie. For every day hats flowers are impracticable, .is they soon fade and become shabby. Quite early in the morning you will see an English lady shopping in an exquisite muslin dress, transparentwith lace and embroidery, a long, jewelled chain carrying a hunch of golden toys, and a. row of pearls around her neck. An elaborate- hat and parasol complete a costume only permissible after three o’clock. Or, at the seashore, where serges and tweeds .and simple blouses look at tlieir best, the English girl wears clothes as elaborate as if going to an afternoon reception. The same tiling applies to the river. Once upon a time the dresses there were at least of the simplest—pique skirts, shirts, and straw sailor hats. Now all the world is dressed as if for a garden party. There is no difference between the “costume for the morning, the afternoon, or the evening—no difference, except that- a. dinner gown is cut low at the neck. But all are equally elaborate and all are equally inappropriate. The duchess, tlio wile of the middle-class grocer, the mid-dle-class damsel, the actress,., the sliop- _ girl, the flower-seller, all wear a perfect hodge-podge of materials, laces and jewellery. There is a slight abatement in strings of false pearls—will esc are being left to the wheelers of /^perambulators—but otherwise I she no reform anywhere. One longs for repose in women’s dress; a Quakerish simplicity is a relief to tlio eye, like Lady Blanche Hosier’s cottage bonnet and plain coat and skirt. "Would more women dressed in the same way. HOUSEWORK AND THE HANDS. The woman who does her own housework is often very much concerned about the condition her hands get into. Says an American journal:— After a siege of dishwashing or scrubbing the wrinkled appearance of the fingers may be improved by dipping them into vinegar, it it very foolish, economy to use the strong alkali soaps any more than is absolutely necessary on account of the hands. If it must be done, it is necessary to treat them •afterwards with, cold cream or glycerine and rose-water and cover them thickly with some healing lotion every night, wearing a large pair ot gloves t-o protect them. When an odour is left on the hands after dishwashing or preparing vegetables it may be destroyed by dipping tlio hands into mustard-water. Stains caused by picking over berries or pa ring vegetables may be removed immediately by holding the partly closed hand over a burning sulphur match. Other stains may be removed with lemon juice and' salt or with pumicestone. It is wise to rub the fingers f smooth, after sewing., with a bit of pumice before the little pricks have time to absorb dust and stains. One who uses a soft pencil or charcoal constantly in drawing should use trie treatment prescribed for the gardener, covering the hands thickly with cold cream or vaseline before scrubbing thoroughly with a nail-brush and hot water and soap.

V/HAT COLOR DO MEN LIKE? At a concert last spring, says a writer in an American journal, the man who escorted me criticised the voices and the anuearance of the singers,; particularly their clothes. A verv lovely blonde girl was attired in white, i and, to my mind, was almost an angelic vision. “Oh, wouldn’t she look stunning in black!” breathed the man at my side. This incident would have been for-gotten,-had it not been repeated in New York, who another man took me to see the “Bostonians” in their latest parody of “Robin Hood.” -The heroine in a shimmering silver costume was' striking high C and holding my rapt attention, not.only by her vocal ability, but by the ease by which she wore her perfect gown. As the '‘music died 1 down I noted' a look of regret on my friend’s face. “Oh, why didn’t she Avear black?” lie asked sadly. I talked it. over Avith a friend,, and Ave decided to ask every man whose opinion avc valued Avhat Avas his favorite color. Every'man Jack of them said black! . \ . ; After this it is interesting to. mid the same journal in the same issue saying if one is to have a single evening or. dinner dress, by all meahsjlet it he • Avhito. As' a young collegian said with an .admiring glance, to an extraordinary pretty girl in a white gown, “Almost any girl looks well ui white. So, in fact, do her elders, even to

the grandmother with silvery or white hair. The white evening gown lor a drl should have two waists., and if there is ia choice of trimming as ‘between real and imitation lace or chiffon, let the less expensive and simnle sort be used for the low-cut waist. For this also there should be several rosettes of different colors of soft ribbon, chiffon, or velvet, for useron various occasions requiring tlio, same dress. As a rule, it i.s in better taste to have the girdle or belt of white, though sometimes a girdle matching tnc rosette will be effective.