MATRONS' LINES

NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 3

MATRONS' LINES

Hiding Those Ungainly Bulges

■ These days every fashion magazine, or article on dress, emphasizes and emphasizes the importance of "line," be it in kiddies' frocks, undies, flappers' frills, and most important of all, the clothes of the older woman, so at risk of ..being accused of reiterating a well-worn theme we shall add our quote to "line."

rTHE most pathetic and foolish sight 1 is to see -a woman taking the air in clothes suitable to her sixteen-year-old daughter. It's all very well to cite so and so as looking "not a day over twenty" when her age is really double. That type — the eternally youthful — can afford to take liberties, but how many women of forty do look twenty or thereabouts? ' One thing must be stressed — that the older woman whose lines are over-full and generous should never wear sleeveless day frocks, and she should shun the very full sleeve and the too tight one. There is a medium between and she should strive for it. V-h'ecks are ever so kind to the matron, especially the woman with the short, full neck. Round and square openings at the neck snould be considered seriously before they are adopted by anyone well past the heyday of her youth. They can be cut so as to suit her, but are . often risky. The hip line is doubly important

to the plump matron who should see that her frocks fit her snugly and well at this point. Bodices cut on straight lines are usually reliable, but pride of place, so far as disguising surplus flesh is concerned, undoubtedly goes to the crossover effect which never loses favor. Many older women do not attach sufficient importance to their underwear. . This is a great mistake, as the younger, slimmer woman always finds that the "set" of her frock largely depends on the cut of her underneath wear. If the matron aims at a slim effect she has her frocks cut accordingly, and, therefore, to achieve success her petticoat and knickers should follow on the same lines. Cheap corsets and brassieres will invariably add to girth and are not worth the money paid for them. The matron will be well advised to have her corsets made for her, a rather expensive item certainly, but well worth the prioe.