THE RIDING HABIT. 57 



be fastened underneath, near the bottom, and 

 through this loop the foot should be passed be- 

 fore being put into the stirrup. The point 

 where the loop should be fastened must be de- 

 termined by the position of the lady's foot when 

 she is correctly seated in the saddle. Some 

 riders use a second elastic for the right foot, to 

 prevent the skirt from slipping back, but this 

 is not absolutely necessary. 



The basque and skirt should be made sepa- 

 rate, although it is a very good plan to have 

 strong hooks and eyes to fasten them together 

 at the sides and back, as this will prevent the 

 skirt from turning, or slipping down below the 

 waist, should the binding be a little too loose. 

 The placket-hole should be on the left side and 

 should be buttoned over, to prevent it from 

 gaping open ; it must be only just large enough 

 to allow the skirt to slip readily over the shoul- 

 ders. 



The best material for a riding habit is broad- 

 cloth, or any strong, soft fabric that will adapt 

 itself readily to the figure. The color is, of 

 course, a matter of taste. Bla^ck is always styl- 

 ish, and is particularly becoming to a stout 

 person. Dark blue, hunter's green, and dark 

 brown are also becoming colors, especially for 

 slender, youthful figures. In the country, a linen 



