The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-11

AE her mother-who must econo-
VI mize, the elaborate graduation
~ costume has gone out of fashio,-
1t is no longer considered good tas'e
for young girl to splurge out on her
commencement morning in silks and
satins and bedecked with Jewels and
real lace. Simple frocks in girlish
style are encouraged and much of the
strife, rivalry. envy and heartaches
which used to attend every commence
ment season, have been done away
with.
In some of the largest schools in
New York and vicinity. the young
graduates themselves have established
the under five dollar rule. No
girl may appear on commencement
evening in costume costing over five
dollars, and the dainty frock she
wears must have been made by her
own handS. This excellent rule gives
scope for originality, taste and needle
skill. and banishes hatred, envy and
all uncharitableness from what should
be one of the happiest occasions in a
girls life. OF course In the fashion
able finishing schools on the side
streets off Fifth Avenue and up in
Westchester, this under five dollar
rule does not apply, but simplicity and
girlishness rather than elaboration and
elegance are considered the essentials
of graduation frocks even here, and
thoue h the young millionairess may go
up to receive her sheepslSin clad in
French batiste and real Mechlin lace
with thousand dollar locket from her
fond parents glimmering through the
folds of her little bodice, her general
aspect will be that of girlish simplicity.
and there will be nothing except it's
fine lines and the softness of it to.
show that her pretty frock Is not
built Of twenty-five cent lawn and imi-
tation Val. at five cents the yard.
Pure White on the Important Day.
Upon her wedding day. her confir-
nation day and her commencement
day the little maid goes forth in spot
less white-the symbol of her girl
hood. Sometimes a class color is
adopted with the white costumes and
Is worn in the form of a sash or knots
of flowers; but the all-white gradua 4
ton dress Is invariably the prettiest
and the most effective. 1t is best to
have the footwear white also, although
this Is not imperative. In any case
the footwear of the whole class should
correspond in color as a mixture of
black and white feet crossing the plat
form Is very bad from the point of
view of the audience. BY the same
token, the footwear should be new
and dainty fitting, for the girl gradu-
ate's feet will be prominent when she
stands, high up above the audience,
on the platform to receive her dip
Iona. Sometimes the whole gradua-
ting class sits on raised platform and
then the footwear question Is an ex-
ceedingly important one, and If all the
girlish feet are shod alike the effect
will be much more pleasing.
White buckskin Colonial pumps. or
black patent leather pumps should ac-
company the graduation frock Of airy
character. Dresses of white crepe,
heavy machine embroidery, or ratine
will be smartly accompanied by but
toned boots Of white buckskin but but
toned boots of black leather, though
30 fashionable with street costumes,
should not be donned with a thin white
frock, unless in the case of little
girl whose skirt falls we'll above her
boot-tops Tan footwear should of
course never be worn with the white
graduation costume. and satin slippers
with French heels are in equally bad
taste.
The Proper Length OF the Frock.
Girl graduates are of SO many ages
and sizes that it would be impossible
to set any definite rule for the length
of the commencement frock Gener-
ally speaking. 1t should not fall below
the ankle nor rise more than five