Page:Science ofDress140.png

140

CHAPTER X. THE USE AND ABUSE OF CORSETS.
I HAVE sufficiently urged the use of woollen combinations, and the question now arises, "What garments ought to be worn over these?" In answer, I would say,—As few as possible. I know I shall shock a good many of my readers when I say that I think that venerable and highly-respected article of female dress—the chemise—may advantageously be wholly dispensed with. Every one is supposed to have a chemise "to her back," but that this supposition is not wholly true was proved to me some time ago. When at the seaside last autumn, two girls, both friends of mine, and whom I introduced to each other, went one warm day with me to bathe. One said to the other, "I am afraid you will be awfully shocked when you see me undress." "Shocked! Why?" "Well, I hardly like to tell you; but the fact is, that I have so little on." "I don't wear much," said the other. "All I have is combination, stays, and one petticoat under my dress." Curiously enough, both these girls were dressed in precisely the same way,