[Illustration:  Nos. 65 and 66]

It is plain to be seen that the unattractive specimen of femininity, No. 65., with the long, wrinkled neck and sharply lined face is unbecomingly costumed in the V-shaped basque and corsage which apparently elongate her natural lankness.  A charming and always fashionable yoke-effect that she can wear to advantage is shown by No. 66.  This style of corsage is equally effective for a too thin or a too muscular neck.  The filling is of tulle.

A square-cut corsage is most becoming to the woman whose narrow shoulders have a consumptive droop.  The angular cut apparently heightens the shoulders and decreases their too steeple-like inclination.  The round cut, if it frames a full throat, is also an effective style for sloping shoulders.  The V-shaped cut is most becoming to the short-necked woman, whose aim should be to increase the length of her throat.

It is not only the too thin neck that needs to be clothed with discrimination.  Throats and shoulders that are too robust are improved by being covered.  The arms and shoulders, however, are often the chief beauty of a fleshy woman, and it is to her advantage to give them as effective a setting as possible.

[Illustration:  No. 68]

[Illustration:  No. 67]

As is obvious in No. 67, the stout woman apparently increases her breadth by wearing a flamboyant corsage, and she hides the most exquisite lines of her arm with her sleeves.

The princesse style of gown, in No. 68, gives her apparent length of waist.  The modest lace flounce that falls in vertical folds decreases her formidable corsage.  The knotted twist of silk reveals the full beauty of her arm.

[Illustration:  No. 69]

In dressing the throat there are a few rules to be remembered.  A too long, stem-like neck may be apparently shortened by a standing ruff or a full, soft band of velvet.  The tight, plain band of velvet should never be worn by a woman with a very slim neck, as is plainly discernible in sketch No. 69.

[Illustration:  No. 70]

The plain, military collar emphasizes the thinness of the slender woman’s throat; but the soft crushed fold of velvet apparently enlarges the pipe-like proportions of the thin woman’s neck, as may be seen in sketch No. 70.  The tight-fitting collar should not be worn by the corpulent woman with a thick neck, as is shown by sketch No. 71.

[Illustration:  No. 71]

The thickness of the throat of the woman pictured in No. 72 may seem due to the folds of the velvet, which give a pleasing hint of a slender throat, a delusion not to be despised by the woman burdened with flesh.

[Illustration:  No. 72]

All the sisterhood,—­stout, thin, long-throated, or short,—­should know the hour when the withering touch of age begins to shrink the soft, round curves distinctive of the full, sweet throat of healthful youth.  No regretful vanity should be allowed to glamour their eyes to the fact that Time has them by the throat, to put it melodramatically.  The wise woman will not please herself with a fatal delusion.  She will realize it is illusion she needs-yards of it—­lace or velvet, or any beautifying texture that will conceal the deadly lines of age.