FROCKS FOR TO-MORROW.
By “THE LADY DRESSMAKER.”
One sign of high summer in London is an odd one, and that is the presence of handsome furs in the West-End shop-windows, where they may be seen any day after June has once begun. I used to think people bought them, even when the thermometer was registering 68° in the shade; but I have found cause to think that they are simply displayed in the window as a measure of safety, for light, sunshine, air, and dryness are the chief enemies of the moth, and both May and June are the worst of months in which they do their deadly work on the costliest of our raiment. In the shops where furs are kept, they are beaten with tiny canes, and exposed as much to the air and light as possible. So we may take a leaf from this open book, and perhaps save ourselves loss and disappointment. Of course, I do not mean that furs should be faded by exposure to the sun; but if they were really good and undyed, a little sunshine would not hurt them, though too much may do them harm.
This year furs were used up to June, as the weather remained cold till then; but there was not enough sun to do them harm. Nevertheless, I lean to the idea that they are best left off early, both for the health of the furs and of ourselves, many people being inclined to wear them too long. In the present month they will need attention—shaking, airing, and beating, and a general careful looking-over.
THREE NEW GOWNS.
One of the most frequently remarked peculiarities of the present day is the kind of wobbling way adopted by many women and girls when they walk. They go from one foot to the other just like a duck. Now, I know I have said this before, but I am desirous of saying it again, because I am told that the matter is even more serious than I fancied, and that there are many more operations in the hospitals now than there were for various foot troubles. Also I have been informed that the number of chiropodists has trebled in London during the past three or four years—really since the pointed-toe shoes came into fashion. There is no doubt, as we look at one of these ungraceful walkers, that the reason lies either in their present or their past foot-gear. One of the most usual sources of trouble is our universal fashion of wearing too heavy shoes or boots, with too thick soles. In fact, they are altogether too thick and heavy for warm weather. A lighter shoe would be equally good and serviceable, and even if it did get damp and need changing, we could manage this easily on our return home. Follow two rules in the choice of your shoes. Choose those which do not compress nor curl your toes under when wearing them, and remember that a shoe is as bad when too large as when too small. A thin stocking is better than a thick one; and I have seen many people recently who have obtained ease and comfort by dismissing merino, wool, and spun silk, and adopting cotton for winter, and thread for summer. I think a thick cotton stocking quite as warm as a thick woollen one.
