ladies' iudinu dress. 145 



hats of young ladies, in my humble opinion, are highly 

 to be commended. 



As to the riding-habit, it may be of any colour and 

 material suitable to the wearer and the season of year, 

 but the sleeves must lit rather closely ; nothing can be 

 more out of place, inconvenient, and ridiculous, than the 

 wide, hanging sleeves which look so well in a drawing, 

 room. For country use the skirt of a habit may be 

 short, and bordered at the bottom a foot deep with 

 leather. The fashion of a w^aistcoit of light material for 

 summer, revived from the fashion of last century, is a 

 decided improvement, and so is the over-jacket of cloth, 

 or sealskin, for rough weather. It is the duty of every 

 woman to dress in as becoming and attractive a manner 

 as possible ; there is no reason why pretty young girls 

 should not indulge in picturesque riding costume so 

 long as it is appropriate. 



Many ladies entirely spoil the sit of the skirts by re- 

 taining the usual impedimenta of petticoats. The best- 

 dressed horsewomen wear nothing more than a flannel 

 chemise with long coloured sleeves, under their trousers. 



Ladies' trousers should be of the same material and 

 colour as the habit, and if full flowing like a Turk's, 

 and fastened with an elastic band round the ankle, they 

 will not be distinguished from the skirt. In this cos- 

 tume, which may be made amply warm by the folds of 

 the trousers, plaited like a Highlander's kilt (fastened 

 with an elastic band at the waist), a lady can sit down in 

 a manner impossible for one encumbered by two or three 

 short petticoats. It is the chest and back which require 

 double folds of protection during, and after, strong exer- 

 cise. 



There is a prejudice against ladies wearing long 

 "Wellington boots ; but it is quite absurd, for they need 



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