Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-03

WISE planning and buying are the
w first factors in efficient manage
ment of the family wardrobe and fur
nishing fabrics 1t is important to take
advantage of the seasonal sales which
reliable stores offer at stated times to
avoid carrying over heavy stock to the
next season. Some of these are the
regular white goods sales, different fur
nishing fabrics. and the sale of dresses
and suits at the end of each season.
When shopping for the family take
with you o small memorandum book
containing such information as meas
urements for different garments for
each member of the family and the
amounts of materials required for diff
ferent articles. Some of the measure
ments which you will find useful are
length of dresses, nightgowns and slips,
length of shoulder straps and the dis
tance between the straps in front and
back, and waist measure for step-ins
and boomers, so that you will know
just how long to cut the elastic. Each
woman in making her own record will
probably find other measurements which
she will like to keep on file. Also take
measurements of windows for curtains
and draperies and all furnishings where
fabrics are used.
The dyes used to color a cotton fabric
determine in many cases the Satisfac-
ton to be obtained from it. Whether
or not they ore fast colors is matter
which must be considered. but dye
that is really fast would remain perma-
nently on a material under all condi-
tons, but no dye yet has been discov-
cred that will do this, and such perma-
nency is not needed for ordinary pur-
poses. However, it is necessary that the
dyes shall last during the lifetime of
the fiber end withstand the conditions
under which the fabric is to be used,
but not necessarily under all conditions.
For instance, a curtain fabric need not
be fast to perspiration, but in order to
give satisfaction it should be fast to
light. When buying material the con-
ditions un6er which it is to be used
should be considered.
Color may have been introduced in
fabric either by dyeing or by printing.
The chief difference is that in dyeing,
the material Is soaked in a dye solution,
while in printing the dye is part of
paste stamped onto the fabric or yarn
by rollers of printing machine. Usu-
ally, dyed fabrics retain their original
appearance much longer than printed
ones do, although the quality of dye
The best way to protect yourself from
unsatisfactory dyes is to take a sample
of the fabric home and submit It to the
conditions under which it is to be used.
For example. cover part of the sample
with cardboard and expose the rest to
direct sunlight for at least a week. Re
move the cardboard occasionally, and
compare the exposed and the unexposed
portions Another test would be to wash
and notice whether it fades or net.
Clothes Closets.
A light airy closet prolongs the life
OF clothes by keeping them clean, in
good shape, and by making the neces-
sity for pressing less frequent. clothes
closet should contain rods and plenty
OF hangers, shelves. and racks for shoes,
so that nothing need be kept on the
floor. Dust should never be allowed to
accumulate on the walls or floor. Rods
for hanging garments should be at
about shoulder height of the person
who uses them, both for convenience
and to prevent the clothes from trail
ing on the floor. Special provision
should be made for children, or better
still, special closets, with rods and hang
ers adapted to their needs. Wooden
hangers of all types and sizes can be
bought cheaply, but they should have
no rough surfaces to catch and pull
clothing. Rubber bands wound around
the ends of the hangers will keep
clothes frcm slipping Narrow shelves,
metal racks, or shoe bags on the inside
OF the closet door are suitable for shoes.
Shoes will keep in shape If shoe trees
gre provided fer each pair.
New devices are now available to add
to the beauty and convenience of a
closet or wardrobe. There are new ring
hangers, prectily covered in chintz or
silk, through which lingerie or sweat
ers may be slipped so that they will
not suffer from stretching on an ordi-
nary hanger. New skirt hangers re-
semble tie familiar trousers hangers.
and there is a combination type of
hanger to hold a dress and its slip.
There are also cylindrical bags covered
in chintZ. When travelling, or if for any
other reason you find yourself without
dress hangers. you need not be dis
couraged. A good substitute can BE-
made by rolling newspaper the width
of the shoulders of the dress or coat.
tie both ends to keep it in place, then
tie a string around the center long
enough to allow for a loop to hang it
up on a hook.
Order in Closet.
When arranging the clothes in a
closet. there should be a certain order.
The best garments should be kept at