The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10
Frocks for the Girl Graduate.
By JANE BARTON.

~T~HE question agitating the minds of the
 graduating class just now is '" What
 shall we wear?" The great event Of
 the senior year is at hand, and even of more importance than the diploma to the graduate is her graduation gown.
 Sometimes this is defined by strict school rules. There has been unfortunate extrava- gance, with the result that many faculties insist on the all enyeloping gown and cap. On such occasions any dainty white summer frock will suffice
 Last year when I wrote of this important frock almost every girl was making it from soft white voile This year while voile Is still worn, it has given precedence to several softer fabrics White net is, possibly, chief favorte. with the all over lace close second White null. handkerchief linen, batiste, or the material, of which have often written, that takes the place of perishable organdy- Paris muslin-all are popular for the gradu- aton gown The white taffeta frock made airy with net lace. or embroidered batiste or chiffon flounces is also much seen The taf- feta is used chiefly as draperles rather than as the foundation skirt as was formerly the mode.
 ] shall tell you how to make dresses suit able to these various materials.
 For the net dress we will choose ruffied style in a model particularly suited to be used for dancing dress later. The silk net is fashionable. but entirely too perishable to be pra ctical, though 1t is easy to handle. as he ruffles would not need finishing on the esge. One of the wash nets that can be bought for as little as 90 cents yard, and measure from forty to fifty-four inches wide the price increasing with width and fine ness-is the best selection. Choose dead white rather than cream, as it looks better with the other gowns if they happen to be of lingerie ma aterals It is impossible to give defffff<e amounts needed Any reliable pattern can be de- pended upon for quantities. You can be guided by height and length of gown; also by width of the material. If you use one of your old foundation patterns-a two piece one is best for such transparent materials it is easy to gauge the amount extra for the ruffies by allowing for each nounce not quite once and half the width of the space to be covered
 Baste and fit the foundation skirt, turn up a five inch hem after the skirt has first been hung and evened Let this skirt clear the ground by at least an inch and half unless the girl is stout. when 1t should just escape As net launders. it is we'll to make the dress rather long at first to permit shrinking.
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 Trim this skirt with net nounces to the waist These may be any desired depth from six to. nine inches finished. The number of fiounces needed varies with the height of the girl and the depth of the flounce also in the way they are adjusted One charming frock had eight six inch rufles. each overlapping the other about an inch The rufiies were put on with soft cord run through casing and the lower edge was finished with tiny hem. This was done on the smallest machine hemmsr
 For the blouse make a foundation of the thinnest china silk trimmed at the top with narrow iace. Cut the next In becoming U front and back. Remainder the summer dancing frocks are rarely as low cut as the regular ball gown, especially for young girls. Drape with the net in slrplice effect front and back. These blouses are loose, almost shapeless under the arme. and all blouse slightly over the sirdle.
 The armhoies are made quite larse ana loose and the sieeses-if one wishss to be