The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-24

That hop sacking is one of the new
 est fabrics for coats when they are
 made of wool
 That whether you will have sleeves
 at all in your new spring coat or wrap is a mooted question. Some of the
 new suits are made with Eton coats
 without any sleeves There are vel veteen sleeveless coats made with smart belts that are specially designed
 to wear with silk or cotton gingham
 dresses.
 That there is one consolation for
 soaring prices, for it is an undisputed
 fact that the more you have to pay for
 an article, even when this increased
 price is no more than fair, the more
 considerate and helpful sales people
 are in serving you. Since shoe prices
 have been high it is surprising how
 seldom we are urged to take shoes
 that we do not care for. And when
 we must pay s3 yard for wooden
 bought for scarcely more than half
 that price. no one urges us to decide
 in hurry. Shopping now becomes d
 serious matter, as well with the sales peoples as with the shopper. That capes are due for 8 period of popularity. Wraps for rainy days and
 motoring, even, are made in cape fash
 ion. And although the vogue has not become craze. it is likely to be taken favorably by smartly dressed women. That rag bonnets are the latest thing for motoring. They are made of silk rags sewed and braided or mint ed into all-enveloping hoods for the motorist. Of course, very attractive color schemes may be obtained in this way either by using silk scraps or diff ferent colors or by dyeing them after they are braided.
 That wooden mountings are the lat est thing in handbags. The whole frame of the bag is made of wood finished in a dull unvarnished brown, and the bags mounted in these frames are made of silk or velvet. Many in teresting shapes are achieved by means of carving the wood
 That silk gingham is used for col lar and cuff sets on frocks of serge and other heavy fabrics. The gingham used is usually in small checks. The collars and cuffs are edged with tiny pieated frill.
 That hats this spring frequently show crowns of flowers. A large pur- pie hat Is made with a crown of vio- lets. A hat of georgette crepe shows a crown of geranium blossoms. That in deciding on the length of the skirt for your new dress you have considerable leeway. A prominent French dressmaker says that nothing should be shorter than six inches from, the floor. Some of the distinctive even,- ing and afternoon frocks are consid- erably longer this year and street and sport frocks are worn shorter than this with perfect impunity.
 That fine and small design mark the thin fabrics of the spring. The vio- let's which seem to be even softer and sheerer than they were last year are almost invariably printed in exceeding ly small patterns In fabrics as trans parent as voille the small patterns are perhaps an advantage as they break the surface very effectually. and so appear less transparent.
 That waistcoats are surely to be much worn this spring as an 3snpor- tant accessory in the smart womans wardrobe. since the neclxwear counters in most shops show them in most tempting cut and color. The fact is, owing to the wool shortage that makes necessary a curtailing of the amount of fabric in the wooden suit for spring, the Eton coat and other types of short coat are coming in with vengeance. the coat in front will help to piece out this stubby little coat. Clever women will find an excellent way of remodel ing last years suit by shortening the ccat-or having tailor do so for them and brightening 1t and rejuvenating 1. by adding waistcoat.
 That for some. reason or other petti- coats in gay colors are in demand this spring. If you cannot afford one of taffeta or messaline, there are very pretty sateens in bright colors, some of them with printed flowers. They are fairly scant and unlike the petit coats of yore. usually short enough to need no alteration for the average woman.
 A Six-in-One Article From the Popular Science Monthly