The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-26
BY MARY DEAN.

1t goes without saying that no wom-
an is we'll dressed unless she is well
corseted. To be we'll corseted nova
days means more than it once did,
for never was the feminine whale
boned armor more nearly perfect
The exact dimensions of the Milo
waist may not be approved by fashion,
but no more is the wasp-like taille OF
ancient beauty. The correct corset
gives the figure a comfortable round
ness, which, seen from the front or
rear, seems fairly small. But glance
at it amidships, as it were, and you
will discover how much the straight
front and lowered waist-line have done
for comfort. All sorts of devices are
used to give ease to the body While
striving for graceful lines, and one OF
these. in a corset of special make. is
a system of lacing at the side fronts.
The length of the corsets is decided
by the requirements of the wearer'
slight figures needing those much cut
out at the hips. and stout ones de-
manding an almost straight bottom
line II the figure Is Of unusual heavi-
ness the corset bottom extends well
over the hips and in some cases many
inches below them. The garter straps
are invariably attached to the pendant
tabs at the front, and this popular
method of wearing the stocking sup
ports is an aid not only to comfort,
but to looks. The straps drawing the
corset front taut, the abdomen is Incl
dentally held in and the figure forced
into a correct carriage.
Among the many corset models sub
mitted for summer approval are TWO
which strike the ease-loving soul as
possessing unusual virtues. For praise
the instrument of torture as you Will,
It is an instrument of torture still.
That is, in its usual shape-and to the
unusual wearer-for the woman who
prefers untrammeled muscles to
stylish appearance is as rare as
white blackberry.
One of these corsets admits both
grace and comfort, for 1t is no more
than a narrow girdle in soft satin rib
bons, with only the front steels and a
cluster of whalebones at the back.
Beautiful lowered and striped rib
bons are used for these models, some
of which lace at the back. They are
all the support necessary for the usual
figure, and when the other underwear
matches in color. as it now frequently
does, the effect of them is very orna-
mental
The second corset gets its inspira-
ton from the Louis Quinze period, the
line of the waist following the stiff
of that time. The materials are I'M
bleached coutille and brocaded satins,
shirred ribbons begaying one texture
and rich laces the other. For bridal
purposes the tops of many corsets are
hung with fringes of delicate white
flowers. The looseness of the prevail
ing bodices admits of this dainty friv-
oHty, and when the charmer is ex-
posed in a shop window "Ohs" and
"Ahs" are heard from all sides.
Femininity is nothing now If not eX-
quisite in under rigging, and plainness
of make must be abetted by the most
delicate hand stitchery to stand mus
ter. Colors, too, are no longer ia
booed as formerly and many a palely
tinted grown often lifts to show stock
ings and petticoats in the same color.
This one color scheme is observed in
the French sets accompanying some
toilette of unusual elegance, for a spe-
cial occasion.
Silk In a stocking Web and almost
stocking fine, is employed for a num-
Der of the colored underwear sets,
which include a night-dress chemise,
drawers and petticoat. The fiounces
adjoining the bottom of the skirt are
of thin Louisine, finely killed, and, of
course, in the same tint as are the laces
and ribbons elsewhere used. In fact
the presence of white lace on colored
silk underwear is to place it at once
outside the 400 circle in the lingerie
world. The tinted thing must show
no vulgar contrasts: 1t must fall cling
ingly and-hearken well here-be with
out sound. The rustic which once
proclaimed hidden splendors no longer
heralds the true child of fashion. The
sails of the woman CONNIE IL faut, eIe-
CANT, sophisticated, seductive, pass as
silently as those of the ships in the
night. leaving behind just the mystery
necessary for complete charm.
But to come down to probabilities.
remember that the bargain season Is
on the world and look out for odd I'M
dergarments in lawn and nainsook.
Pretty nainsook chemises, with the