The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-30
Effective Girdles
GIRDLE shares with the
 sleeve the distinction of N being the only strikingly

clothes Honors are about evenly divided between the two. Perhaps the sleeve has been more talked of than the girdle because the majority of the new girdles are so elaborate and so costly that the woman who is sverse to plunging into heavy ex- penditure on clothing feels that she can exist without one of these gir- dles, whereas sleeves she must have.
 But, as the season is still young, h is likely that less expensive copies of these costly affairs will be made and that these will be seen on the less exclusive frocks. At pres snt all of the firms showing ex- elusive models are putting great stress on girdles. These are, with cut doubt, a very important part of the costume, and although elaborate they suggest many simpler ways of girdling dresses. The addition of a now girdle is an excellent means of reiuvensting last year's frock.
 M uasy safely De said that gir- &les never have been moro impor- tant than they arc in the present fashions Paris drecsmakers have wnsted on tSiis feature. Every dress and every suit carries some sort of sfrd1e ornament or trimming or is wsxn with . bolt, nearly every one s& which is placed at low waistline. Meal Models of gA Ancient Inspiration "TYeW rA6 THE new dresses arc Renais-
 sanes in style, 70 also arc the xrdles- Many cf them are devel- sped fn perforated metal, and the Paris dressrnaksr gSts no less than $50 for enc of these nickel or stsel gfrd1es. The former are some times silver washed and beautifully worked in perforated designs after the style of metal workers of that period.
 One win recall that starting in about the seventh century the gold smiths' trade began to develop in an interesting way and their work plays an important part in the art history of both France and Italy. eliminating, as 1t were, in the elaborate bronze decorations of the Empire period.
 A remarkable thing about the per forated metal girdles is that they arc used on even the most dressy costumes. Lavin uses them on white satin dresses, on dresses of colored velvet and on tailored suits. In the latter instance they are straight around the figure and of even width.
 Those for evening dresses have the ornaments across the front shaped like breastplates. In fact, many of the ideas are taken from the armor of the Renaissance period. One might wonder in looking at them if they have been brought out to take the place of the corset
 Perforated Girdles on
 Day and Evening Dresses
 TT WILL also be recalled that the
 frst corsets were worn on the outside of the dress and not under meath. These perforated girdles with broad ornaments at the front take care of the natural fullness of the figure just over the stomach.
 Martial ct Armand make a great feature of perforated metal girdles, using them on both day and evening dresses. Another novelty belt at this house is the wide Egyptian girdle, hand embroidered, the width of the girdle being from twelve to fifteen inches. From it hang long fancy Oriental tassels.
 Such girdles are sold separately if customer so desires. As the dresses are so simple and the girdles - elaborate, an order is often given for . girdle alone, the intention be- ing to use 1t on frocks which the purchaser already has.
 Another idea borrowed from the Renaissance period Is the padded