How to Prolong the Life of a Silk Petticoat.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 6, 12 August 1905, Page 60

How to Prolong the Life of a Silk Petticoat.

SOME I SEFLL HINTS BY AN EXPERT. “1 am not in the least surprised that, your silk petticoats go into slits so quickly,” remarked one friend to another, as she saw the owner of the (haggled garment fold it up carefully ami thrust it into a drawer. Astonishment was followed by eager queries as to the remedy, and then tile friend settled down to deliver a short sermon, with “How to treat a silk petticoat” for her text. “Never, never, never, fold it, because this makes the silk crack,” said she emphatically; “put two ‘hangers’ on it just as you would on a skirt, and hang i f up in your wardrobe. The less crushed it is the less quickly will it wear into those horrible Jacob's ladder kind of rents. Then I notice that your silk petticoat is unlined. Very charming, no doubt, but decidedly extravagant. Even when my dress allowance is feeing particularly strong and healthy, I only allow myself the luxury of wearing an unlined silk petticoat three or four limps. Then 1 obtain some of that six three farthing min’s veiling, and carefully line it. frill and all. with the con sequence that the petticoat keeps whole and is an honoured member ot my wardrobe for as many months as it would have been weeks had it been lot to ‘stand alone.’ as it were.” “But doesn’t that make it very thick and clumsy round the waist?” asked the friend meekly. “Not in the least, if you have a shap ed band of the silk, which of course you do not line. Another fatal thing 1 notice about your petticoat. You will find that that petticoat will he an utter wreck before you can say ‘Jack Robinson.' ” “Really.’’ gasped the poor friend. “Yes.” returned 1 he Mentor, with that aggravating calmness which so often sits upon those who are strong in knowledge on a certain point, “it is corded! ’’ “1 thought it —so pretty."' hesitated the owner in feeble excuse. “Tucks and gaugings are quite as charming, and they do not wear through like con. mgs. Of course, if you think the thing out you can see that the silk, being tightly stretched over the cord, and then being very much in relief, catches all the wear and tear. You will see long thin lines of

white cord peeping through the silk a very few times after you have worn the petticoat.” “And—and can nothing be done?” “Nothing. But don’t buy a corded petticoat again.” “Do you believe in these petticoats with moveable frills, Nina?” asked the lectured girl, feeling that the subject of cording had an unpleasant family likeness to whip-cord and its uses. “Yes, 1 think they are splendid, if people are only sensible enough to have the petticoat of silk moirette, and the frills of really good glace silk. 1 have seen people buttoning, a moirette frill on to a fine silk upper, which 1 think is absurd. And by the way, it is far cheaper to buy the frnls readymade than to attempt to make them oneself. Personally, 1 always make the upper parts, lining them with nun’s veiling or the softest of mercerised sateen, and then 1 buy the frills readymade. Then as one generally has two frills to each petticoat, there comes the problem how to keep the frill which is not attached. If you fold it or roll it up closely, you are ruining it, so that now I lay it out at full length at the bottom of a drawer, and the plan has worked well. There is another point about a silk petticoat, which perhaps you would like to know. You should put a bias velvet bind, matching the colour very carefully, along the inside of the frill at the edge, without allowing it to droop in the least, so that it cannot be seen from the outside. This is an immense save to the frill.” “1 can see that hat is a good idea, Nina, and you cannot think how grateful I am to you for giving me these hints. 1 have been in despair and was afiaid that I should have to deny myself the joy of wearing silk petticoats altogether.” “1 believe in finding a way of surmounting a difficulty rather than avoiding it. my dear.” returned Nina, with unconscious superiority.