Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19
PETTICoATs MUST FIT.
Wrinkles Round Waist and Hips Not
Permissible

So much depends these days upon a we'll
cut petticoat that no end Of attention has
to be paid to this article Of feminine wear
ing apparel, and in truth the underskirt
often costs as much IL not more than the
one that is worn over 1t. The shops, espe-
cially at this time of the year, are full Of
bargains in petticoats-silk Of all colors and
designs, and. generally speaking. ali cut on
the one model. with straight up and down
breadths. the front shaped just little to-
ward the top and with the fullness at the
back drawn in with strings.
Even the most slender and graceful figure
suffers from this universal, made on one
| model style, and almost without exception
must the ready-made petticoat be fitted to
the individual wearer; the seams must be
taken in at the top. shaped carefully so
that there Is no fullness whatever over the
hips; at the back a deep inverted pleat
prevents any fulness and at the same time
from the back to the front is carefully
studied so that the petticoat shall hang
out at the back instead of in front, as 1t
does when badly hung
Great care must be taken to choose pet
ticoat that is sufficiently wide. Many Of
the so-called bargains are ridiculously mar
row at the hips and depend upon the
founce itself being WIDE but that Is not
suf1cient and too narrow skirt not only
looks badly, but wears atrociously, for there
is too much strain upon the material.
Both plain and figured taffetas are fash
1onable In petticoats, while the white taft
fetas with black satin stripes are consid-
cred especially smart. These last can be
made most effective with the top of the
black and white stripe and around the foot
wide bias fiounce of white taffeta trimmed
most ella boratey with entre-deux of black
Chantilly lace and rows Of narrow black
velvet ribbon, the founce so wide that it
gives a most charming flare and holds
out to perfection the skirt under which it
9 ell OH
ingly dainty for the elaborate styles, the
founces with yards and yards Of lace en-
tre-deux. or with medallions of lace and
narrow ruchings and quillngs Of taffeta
Plain taffeta in all colors is In great de-
mand, and for those who prefer the soft fin
iSh silks there Is great variety to choose
from. 1t matters not apparently of what
material, silk satin, is composed, the
body of the petticoat, the shape Is the
same, while the flounce Is also on the same
lines. cut on the bias and trimmed simply
or deliberately, as desired. The jersey top
petticoats are liked by women who wish
tend they fit better than any other ma
terial-the founce is always of silk
Lingerie flounces on silk petticoats are
not a novelty. but the fashion Is such a
practical one that 1t must needs be popular
for long time to come. The fiounceS can
be bought all made and be put on to the
silk pettcoats but there is always the dan
ger that they are not made wide enough
Them too, it Is mistake not to have the
silk pettcoat finished with an attached cir
cular or bias flounce Of the silk trimmed
with narrow pinked ruff1e. Over this the
lingerie f1ounce fits much better and is
much more effective than when merely fas-
tened to the silk of the skirt that is not
nearly so wide as the skirt,
The luxurious woman who does not have
to count closely the money she spends on
her clothes has always pettfcoats suited for
each and every gown, and contends it Is
necessary, because so few of the smart
skirts have the lining or a drop skirt but
1t is a mistake not to remember that the
silk petticoat must take the place Of the
drop skirt, and that unless a woman be
abnormally stout she will look much better
if she wears plenty of petticoatS, those to
hold up the gown itself and give the de-
sired flare toward the foot. a silk petit
coat at low cost. provided the material fur
nished Is not impossibly poor, is always a
good investment. for it not only saves the
expense of constant laundering, but helps
the gown to hang well and smart. Among
the most wonderful bargains are to be
found cheap good skirts at possible prices.