The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-03
WHEN YOU BUY
READY-MADE CLOTHES

This seems to be a heydsy season for
the manufa cturer of ready-madc clothes.
Never were they so attractive. at any
lrate, and never were they more reason
able. Charming summer frocks the like
OF which could only be made by a first
class dressmaker can be bought for a
small price. and linen. crash and eponge
coat suits. which would do credit to any
tailor can be had for prices well under So.
No wonder the readymade clothes are
more satisfactory. oftentimes. for the
woman who cannot spend much money
on stocking her wardrobe. To begin with
they are designed and draughted by high
ny paid experts-men and women who
know all there is to know about their
profession. In the next place. their max
crs have the services of experienced buy
ers. who know where to get the best and
most attractive materials which can be
got for the amount of money they can
spend. In the third place isn't it gen.
'erally far easier. especially in warm
weather. to 20 straight to a shop and
choose suit or frock. pay for it and
send it home than to rush half a dozen
times to the tailor for fitting or sit
indoors several DAYS with a dressmaker.
fussinG and fretting and tuning and
planning. as one must do when clothes
arc made to order.
The ready-made clothes always have
drawbacks of course. but you know what
they are when you buy them. Equally
Gel tain is it that clothes made to order
will not be perfect. but you will not
know what their imperfections are until
the clothes are finished In the first case
You accept the imperfection-a wrinkle OH
one shoulder. or an unbecominS line in
the skirt, perhaps-with eyes wide open,
"a nj Haf nins to li,.a - .
not be remedied. In the other case, you
pledge yourself when you order the dress
or suit made to accept whatever imper-
fections the best meaning tailor or dress
maker in the world. who works for
reasonable price. is bound to produce.
when to BE Wary.
There are a great many ways in which
a ready made suit or frock can be
altered after it is bought. 1t can be
heightened or shortened at home. and
any woman with clever fingers can
tighten ths skirt or bodice. There are
certain things. however. that the woman
who buys ready-made clothes should
make sure Of
For one thing. be sure the skirt is long
enough or. if it is too short, that there
is an ample hem to allow for letting
down. Then if the skirt is tight about
the hips turn it wrong side out and ex-
anime the seas to see that there is an
inch or so of material on each side to
allow for alterations.
If the coat does not fit il is better to
pay two or three dollars extra and have
il fitted by professional filter. But il it
apparently fits stretch the arms to their
full length to make sure the sleeves are
long enough. If they are not see that
there is wide hem at the bottom of the
sleeves or else that the cuffs can be low
cred to make the sleeves longer.
II you are buying a wash frock or shirt
waist see that there is plenty of breadth
across the shoulders and chest. Almost
every wash material shrinks after it is
washed and nothing is more uncomfort-
able or SracelesS than contracted look
across the chest which a waist tight at
that point produces.