NEW UNDERWEAR.

Otaki Mail, 7 May 1923, Page 4

NEW UNDERWEAR.

That correct underwear has a gijeat influence upon the “set” of outer clothes, and also upon the comfort ol the wearer, there is no denying, and so much art has been expended on reducing underwear to a minimum, by combining garments, that it seems the limit has now been reached in that regard and nothing daintier or more comfortable could be desired than the lingerie of to-day.

Combination garments are of various kinds and possess so many advantages that the popularity of the dual garment is not to be wondered at. This season has brought out some new and pretty designs in canii-kuickers made of cambric. Milanese silk, crepe-de-ehene and other soft and line washing fabrics. The waist is sometimes tucked, sometimes run with a ribbon, and there are knickers so cut that they form a short petticoat and hang in graceful, deep points of scallops all round. Plain hem-stitched underwear 1 is as fashionable as the more ornate kind that shows medallions of Valenciennes, or other lace, set “diamond” fashion along the borders of chemises and knickers; in fact, much of the prettiest lingerie is distinguished by extreme simplicity.

Colour in underwear is rather on the increase than otherwise- —pink, blue, red, lemon, mauve and even pale green sharing honours with white, while the black crepc-dc-chene underset is, of course, no novelty, though usually it is reserved for evening wear with a black dress, and in this capacity fully justifies its choice. The “regulation 1 ” combinatiost ga 1 incut of tim’e-houoitred pattern is rendered decorative by an open-work hu e top. shaped to a point on the lower edge and run with narrow ribbon along the top. Gauze of varying qualities, spun silk, and cambric are all used tor both trimmed and uni rimmed combine lions, some of which ate cut short, others kmg in the legs. Another type of condoned garme* t is the chemi-vest or cami-vcst that finds a place in almost every wardrobe a'.'l ’l* su e asy to make. Cut stindght acre -s the top. it is held up with ribbons over the shoulders and in its simplest fotut , is either plainly hemmed with mater-.tl tof a different colour to its own ot t 1 hemstitched. In a slightly more decorative aspect it is etubroidet . ■< ! wi.lt j French knots along the nock. <e!s comfortable little garment needs, as an auxiliary, a pair of knickers made ol similar stuff and trimmed in a similar way. The camisole with straight top, and consequently without armholes, is as fashionable as ever, the supports, as in the case of the cami-vcst. being ot ribbon. or, if preferred, of lan-. Kxqipsitelv dainty arc the camisoles made ol

alternate bauds 10 crepe-de-ctiene lace-insertion, or of pink ohrystalliae with luce tops decorated in the cent if with tiny wreaths made ot black, pink ami pale blue helm ribbon, while, eooiiug to something more substantial. 1 there are some charming new emu .soles of cambric made with little puff* sleeves, front fastenings, and lace tops j cut square at the ueci;. the titled v .u j having the addition of flat basques a [couple of inehes deep. .stomewhnt similar to these ate new jumper slips that take He* place m camisoles, and ate e.-.-trenudy pimiy. made white shadow lace finished wtrii , lttcc edging- and litd-oiic. In', - j camisoles, they fasten in front aml ure | finished with basques—sclf-forumtl ones, however, the waists being run | with elastic. ' Many women, especially ;ho~e lined to be stout, will appreciate the new brassieres made of strong lace. Tltev art- of ero-s-ove: shape and bon.t- , i fully cut. The elastic bras.-idles in, wliit - am; in pink are also excellent supports to the stout figures. Practically* all the new nighl-d „r<* cut on Magyar lines, and a particu- ( lurtv pretty pattern of Kre.ich design i- tendered shapely by having three little tucks on each sole of the ~ai-i. near the front, the space between the groups being spanned by a pale blue ribbon centred by a bow. The nightdress is made of fine shirting. and is cut square at the neck, v.;c tin- "due

cur into 11 worivco with China-blue mercerised thr- atl, below the scallop.- is a patten: of '- , duated dots embroidered in blue. Die • Magyar .-Proves, joined to reach the ' ! bow’s, are scalloped am) embroidered to match the necV;. As for petticoats, the latest are of Oriental-patterned silk, with scallopeoefct! I?ordered with an inch-wide goffering, and of striped silk in rich colour-. A pettjeoat of the latter class is in deep cherry-red and black stripes (half-inch), and is quite plain until within six inches of the loot, wnere :t is met bv a crimped flounce of crossway silk, showing the stripe* running it: a diagonal direction, the crimping giving a decorative-, lozenge-like effect to the pattern that is new and quaint.