RENOVATING LINGERIE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 254, 10 July 1926, Page 16

RENOVATING LINGERIE

Many partly worn undergarments can be made use of by their conversion into others of smaller dimensions. Take, for instance, nightgowns. These frequently wear out at the shoulders and armholes; also the trimmings, whether of lace, binding, or scalloping, often become torn and ragged. Having deunitely decided that the days of service as a nightgown are over, the garment must be converted into something else, and the most likely substitute is a straight princess slip. If the side seams show signs of tearing, tno thin part should bo cut a and ioplaced by a broad band of insertion. This would also look effective at the top of the slip, and round the hem it extra length is required. The wise woman never uses white lace to trim renovations" Coffee-coloured or ecru trimmings are far kinder to worn materials. with the short, skirts of to-day Directoire cami-knickcrs are the neatest form of undergarment. Lace-heinmed camiknickers can be converted quite easily •by substituting a half-inch hem, threaded with clastic, for tire original knee triminin" and making a six-inch slit up the outside of each leg, fastening this with buttons and loops. Cami-knickers which were merely joined in the centre by a strap make useful petticoats for kneelength tennis frocks. A most attractive nightgown can be made from a discarded tennis frock ct crepe de Chine or japshan. The collar and sleeves should bo removed, the hcin lot down, and all the raw edges bound with brightly coloured bias binding. A monogram embroidered in the centre ot the bodice with silk to match the binding would make an excellent .inish to this garment. Petticoats can almost invariably be made from cast-off frocks of cotton or silk materials. Most discarded garments provide pieces of good material which nrc at least large enough to make Ixmdoir cans, or camisoles, or sometimes prove sumcicnt tor the popular bodice linings for sports skirts. Good silk stockings are often worth re-footing. Faded or yellowwhite articles mav need redyeing or tintin'’ With the aid of one of the many "horn"” dves now on the market ni"'t pleasing and effective results can be obtained by the amateur. MORE SLEEVE Dresses without sleeves will not be popular in the spring. Nearly everything appears with sleeves, though a few,' a very few, of the dressier dresses of lace and the robes de styles of organdie, and a few of the very summery frocks, are being shown without sleeves. But the sleeves are so unusual in their appearance that they are really in some of the creations the main point of interest. Bishop sleeves, bell sleeves, peasant sleeves, melon sleeves, inserts of lace, finely-tucked georgette, cascades of pleating, sleeves slit from Hie shoulder, sleeves laced from the elbow down—si seves—sleeves—sleeves. Whyworry about not having sleeves in dresses when they are so beautiful ? And the coats do not take second place in the matter of sleeves, either! For thev appear with not only the straight, plain semi-tailored sleeves, so smart, but they also show great individuality in their appearance, especially in the dressier models. There are some delightful variations from the ordinaryrun of plain arm coverings, such, for example, as inserting ruffles at the bottom for the silk coat sleeve, and a bit running up the side also.