lOO RIDING DRESS. 



Whatever shape a lady may select for her 

 riding coat, she should pay particular attention to 

 the fit of the sleeves, which must not in any way 

 hamper the movements of her arms. Before trying- 

 it on, its wearer should procure a good pair of riding 

 corsets, which must allow free play to the move- 

 ments of her hips, and, above all, she must not lace 

 them tightly. Wasp waists have luckily gone out, 

 never, I hope, to return. The size of a woman's 

 waist, if she is not deformed, is in proportion to 

 that of the rest of her body. Therefore, a pinched 

 waist, besides rendering the tightly girthed-up lady 

 uncomfortable, to say nothing of its probable effect 

 on the tint of her nose, deceives no one. It is im- 

 possible to ride with ease and grace in tight stays, 

 a fact which we should remember when trying on 

 a habit coat, for the fitter will follow the shape, or 

 mis-shape, of the corsets, and the coat will be built 

 on those lines. The back of the garment should be 

 quite flat, and padding may be needed in the case of 

 hollow backs, as there should be no high water line 

 across the back defining where corset ends and back 

 commences. The collar should fit nicely into the 

 neck at the back, and not gape open from being cut 

 too low. There should be no fulness at the top 

 of the sleeves, for nothing looks more unsightly than 

 " bumpy shoulders " on horseback. It would be well 

 for the wearer when trying on, to lean back and 

 extend her arms, as she would do when giving her 

 horse his head over a fence, in order to find out if 



