The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-08
Dainty Underwear
/. and Negligees.
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NJ G{sti55J4$ by MA NlANION. 3 =
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Every true woman ls q lover OF dainty
underwear The eager shopper who de-
olared she could resist all the fluctuations
Of silks and laces, but was sure to fall
victim to the lovely things In negllgees
and French musllns, represents large
slsterhood. TO be showily gowned IS often
vulgar. TO be richly dressed is by no
mems always an enviable stato but TO
be enabled to indulge in the exquisite
garments Of nainsook and lawn that are
so ternptlngly offered Is to know true lux
sury. Developed along athleHc lines as We
may, wear as many masculine ties ana
shoes as we will, the inherently feminine
remains and shows itself In just suoh de-
tails as these. Somewhere IN tletlon there l,
Is a heroine who, being Of sanity turn
Of mind, felt 1t duty to dress with So
vere plainness in spite OF her wealth
but who could never resist the tempta-
ton Of a silken underskirt, and that
sane weakness, If such 1t be, exists IN
every real womans nature. Inns present
age Of luxury has but developed the ten
dency that already was there. Fine as
we think ourselves, exquisite as many OF
the new under garments are, Our grand
mothers and great grandmothers Knew
the sumo tastes, felt tho same charm and
expended hours Of time In fine weaving
and in that painstakng stitching Of which
We. who live lin an age Of machines,
know little, * at oil, with results beau
tiful and attractive IL somewhat more
practical than those which come from
the use Of flmy fabrics and much lace,
4 This present season offers large va
riety and O wide range Of choice IN UNI
derwear as@in other things. We live In
an age Of luxury and 1t Is as apparent IN
these things rs In the multiplicity OF
our gowns, the .simptuousness OF our
furs, tho splendor Of our Jewels. The wo-5
Sleeping garmeaEs in dsncately fashioned
,,nderclothng as she does II, her tailored
gown, her Paris hat and her well-ftted
gloves. Happily that prettiest OF all gar
ments. the chemlse, has returned to fa-
vor. There was O time when 1t was held
over bulky and, therefore. undesirable,
but we have learned to use soft fabrics
aud have done away with the objection.
Fine French nainsook, linen batiste.
French muslin and null are the materials
now chosen. AS the entire ohemtse can
be gathered up into the hand Its folds
cannot mean any measurable increase IN
size. Favorite models are In sacque, or
French, style, without fult1ess at the
necl1-->and are<finished with berthas Of
lace or are themselves inset With lace
or are embroidered. At the lower edge
is a. frll so that the garment serves as
a short petticoat as we'll as covering Tor
the body.
BY far the most exquisite Of all the
styles shown are those embroidered in
French style onto the material Itself.
These are often out quito plainly and
edged only with !. q narrow lace, or are
made with shaped falls, or herthas, In
which case these last are embroidered.
Beautiful as lace Is, nothing means the
perfection of this work. Such specimens
as are offered for, sale are embroidered
on the other side, where labor, even of
the most sk!lful sort, costs far less than
here, but 1t is by no means intricate and
any clever woman oan do It who has the
time to spare. One dear little bride Of
the winter occupied all the leisure Of her
engagement in Just such work with the
result that her trousseau was the envy
of all her girl friends. yet represented
only modest outlay. While am most
earnest advocate Of moderation In such
matters and due regard for the eyesight,
which is of more value than many fine
garments, her example Is good one and
goes to show that the needlewoman's art
Is being revived. Pointed falls or berthas
are exceedingly pretty and are much used.
AS stated above, the favorite lnces nre
German Valenciennes, or, II one can afford
the luxury, the real, but cluny Is used
and some renaissance Is seen, although
this last Is far too perlshable to be
comm ended. No matter how dainty our
undergarments may be. IN the very nature
of things they must be able to bear
laundering. Anyone who has attempted
ioult 1t Is to make It look roally we'll and
how completely and how readily it is
ruined by tho use Of the iron. Il
Corset covers are Of several sorts, but
none is so popular as the French model
that Is drawn up snugly at both neck
and waist. It has Its variations. In some
instances It Is out below tho waist, In
others II Is cut Off at that line and
scanned TO smooth circular portion; but
but two seans. those under the arms and
the neck ls cut round or square as pre-.
ferred, Again fine embroidery knows no
rival. The handsomest and the most az
ractivo covers are 80 fnlshetl, but lace
Ii used In pTotusion neYerthe!sss, Inn
edgo, and with eyelete in the design
through which the ribbon Is Threaded
Where lace trimming is used. beading IL
applied, and tho ribbon Is threaded In and
out OF Its openings, An exceedingly snowy
DOVER Is one mass Of lace insertion and
row OF beading threaded with ribbon,
Tar daintler to my eye. as well as more
practical arc those with q lace edge and
iine embroidery worked In for several
Inches below Tho use OF e. corset cover
Is 70 CONCEAL the qarset. Ihese flmy
must needs fall OF that end unless some
lining is used, Garments that ara TOO
fine for 1859 fall OF their pllrpose and ean
never DO truly elegant, lot them be made
as they may. Anoyeity y tho handker-
and dainty feminine II IL, Two hand
kerchiefs OF ordinary sligo are. required
with lace insertion tojoin tho pieces, Tho
exact method IS a little diniculs to make
clear With the pen. but the handkerohiefs
are cut into trianGles. Joined hy means
Of the Insertion and are nraWH w WIN
,ibbona. ANY pretty, hno ones Will an-
swsr. but those with hns eMoro!dery on
this edges are preferred. stu another