Page:Science ofDress189.png

CHAP. XI.] twenty-two and a half inches; and stooping forward with the lungs still expanded, no less than twenty-four inches. Now, as a great part of a girl's time is unfortunately spent in stooping over books, drawing, or the pianoforte, it may be readily understood that this natural thickening of the waist should be allowed for in her clothing. When a dress is being fitted, the girl should be made to put herself into a variety of positions in order to see whether it is perfectly comfortable in all of them.

In order to prove whether dresses already in wear are of the proper dimensions, the mother should measure her child's waist in the morning before she has dressed, so that there can have been no previous compression, and with the lungs fully expanded, and then compare this measurement with that of the dress. Dresses which have been outgrown, unless they can be let out, must be given up at once, although frequently slight alterations will permit them to be passed on to a younger sister.

The dress bodice should always permit both arms to be raised straight up above the head, and this position should be tried when they are being fitted on. Some of the prevalent faults which prevent this movement being accomplished are that the dress is cut too long on the shoulder, and too tight in the armholes, while the side seam is not long enough from the waist to the armpit, and, if the plan suggested be adopted, these can be remedied in time.