Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-05-13
Diary of a Well
Dressed a Girl

Giving TO the All-Blaek Froek Youthful
Air.
1t is strange how a streak of good
fortune seerns to come every now and
then in ones life. Lately nothing dis
appointing has happened, and because
l wanted extra money to use for the
Settlement House some generous
spirit prompted mother and Aunt
Katheryn to give me so many clothes
that I've been able to save most of
this months allowance.
Last week Aunt Katheryn heard
me say that I needed a semi-evening
dress that could be worn to dinners
or receptions where there was dane
ing. When she came over to lunch
Monday Sne brought box which she
handed TO me, saying "Robin, this is
what remains of my black Chantilly
lace dress which you admired so
much. thought probably you might
manage to make a frock out of it
that is. If you do not consider all
black too old The materials are
lovely, not II break in the lace any
where, ana you will find the founda-
ton in an excellent condition also,
for, as you know, | wore the gown
very little. See what you can do with
1t. The lace IS far too pretty to lie
unused
After properly thanking Aunt
Katheryn l ran with my treasure
box' to the sewing room and began
TO hunt through the fashion maga-
zines to find a design suitable for an
all-black frock. Finally I decided to
combine the good features of several
models, and 'phoned to Mrs. Mathon,
asking If she could come up and help
me sew the next morning. Forum
ately she had the day free, so in
order to have the frock we'll started
for her to add the really modish
touches, l sewed fast and furious"
on the black satin foundation. BY
dinner time it was completed, and
the skirt of the oyerdress basted to-
gether.
Yesterday I was up with the lark,
and Mrs, Mathon came at nine.
When / explained how l wanted the
frock made she said that it ought to
be very smart.
l slipped on the satin foundation,
and then Mrs. Mathon adjusted the
overslxirt of net and lace. l had
Joined the alternate sections of the
Chantilly lace and net so that 1t
gradually fared. Mrs. Mathon liked
| the idea, but seemed to think that
something was needed to finish the
| lower edge of each section. After
| trying narrow frill of net, band
of black velvet and a bias fold of
satin she concluded that a heavy
satin covered cord was just the thing
needed to give it the right effect,
| The next two hours l spent covering
the cord.
After it was stitched in place I
agreed that it was the best trimming
that could have been used 1t not
only made the skirt smarter, but 1t
gave a body to the slimpsy lace,
making it stand away from the foun-
dation.
Then we were ready to "build" the
bodice. First, Mrs. Mathon draped
strips of the lace over the shoulders,
in Bertha fashion, and arranged
folds of net to fill in the hiatus at
the neck line.
/ insisted on having long sleeves,
so we made them after the Henry
VIII. style, strapping the puffs with
cordings of satins. We also edged the
lace over the shoulders with a cord
ing and added collar, formed of a
turned-over frill, to the bodice.
The little peasant bodices, which
appear on so many of the high
priced evening frocks, are among the
most fascinating styles introduced
this season, so l had to have one on
this dress. We made 1t OF black
satin and corded the edges to har-
monize with the skirt. 1t is cut very
low in front and Is fastened with
four sc-shaped satin buttons. To
this my dress owes it's youthful ef-
feet, for the all-black frock with a
peasant bodice cannot possibly be
too old"
Aunt Katheryn hasn't seen It yet,
so I've decided to wear ii for the
first time at her tea next Thursday.