Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-18
LENTEN FANCY WORK.
MAKING GIRDLES FOR THE
SPRING AND SUMMER.
Linen and Ribbons Both to Be
Used Late
Shapes.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
While the making of fine raiment can
hardly be termed a penitential task. the
wise virgin will not permit the forty days
of rest from social duties to represent
blank in the history of her wardrobe. She
will mingle with deeds Of mercy and the
making of garments for the poor, the fash
ioning Of some dainty little trifes for her
own use. And among these she should
count several ribbon girdles, which promise
to be extremely desirable for spring and
summer wear.
They will be worn with all white CO.'S
tunes. and also to set off fabrics which
show delicate colorings on a white ground.
The variety Of tints In plain ribbon, the pc
culiar combination of colors in a single CIR
die and the magnificent designs OF the flow
cred ribbons present a most bewildering
array to the discriminating shopper.
Whatever the ribbon selected. the general
shape of the girdle remains the same. high,
stiff and shaped distinctly to the figure.
Generally it is pointed both back and front,
for very few figures will carry the round
cincture.
From the orient come ideal girdles for
wear with an all-white costume. the silks
for which the far east Is famous. being
done in heavy embroidery. Some of these
are embroidered in silver or gold thread.
Others are embroidered in all white, and
are set off by gorgeous clasps and buckles
studded with oriental gems.
Heavy linen girdles are also shown for
wear with wash waists, and these are en-
broidered In eyelt work, and finished with
great pearl clasps or buckles. These pearl
buckles have supplanted metal on the wash
belts and girdles.
Ribbon girdles all follow the same general
lines, being built on a foundation of bone
hidden by very fine shirrings and founda-
tiOnS he honRht raadv he Chi
rings curve to follow the lines OF the figure,
and are frequently finished off with tassels
bits of passementerie or flowers made from
chiffon or ribbon.
Combine Colors.
One Of the color combinations which prom
Uses to be extremely popular is that of the
softest pastel shades. A very high girdle
made from liberty taffeta ribbons showed
pale lavender, pink and blue in the pastel
tints. and another showed the pastel green
instead Of the pink in combination with
the blue and lavender. This girdle was fin
ished at the back with position tails of
the ribbon headed by an impossible but
very beautiful flower, like a crushed peony
made from the ribbon.
Crocheted loops are also employed as
a finish for these girdles, and are laced
together with ribbon of the same or con-
trasting shade. For instance q blue silk
girdle was finished at the back with a
same shade of blue laced with black velvet
ribbon studded with tiny steel beads. Lattice
work in ribbons is also employed in girdles.
Hand-painted ribbons are used for the
more elaborate girdles, and one design fin
ished by girl who has deft fingers showed
delicate shade of blue ribbon painted with
most natural-looking violets. The high
girdle has its shirrings covered with tiny
rosettes in the form of ribbon violets.
Violet and pink is another odd but pop
ular combination. and here lavender-hued
forget-me-nots or pink hawthorne madc
from very narrow, supple ribbon are used
in punches or sprays to take the place OF
rosettes In fact. these flower rosettes
have entirely supplanted the buttons which
were used to set off the winter girdles.
An exquisite little belt for wear with e
summer frock shows blue blossoms painted
on white ribbon and fastened with star
shaped flowers made from white satin rib
bon. more fragile girdle is built from
white ribbon with finish of chiffon sweet
peas dangling from delicate green ribbons.
Next to hand-painted ribbons come those
stamped or woven in oral designs, and ono
of the most striking girdles shows an ivory
white ribbon stamped with crimson cherries
and finished with hower-lke rosettes of
cherry-colored ribbon.