The country trimmer is frequently at a loss to make a good corset window. Boxes of goods may be piled up, to be sure, but that requires a great deal of stock, and never looks very well, either. A dozen corsets, properly placed, will make an excellent display, and will sell more goods than a mass of rolled and boxed corsets. Have a dozen oval pieces of 1-inch board sawed, of a size that just fits the bust of the corset. A corresponding number of pieces should be made to fit the waist measurement. Connect these two pieces by means of a standard, and lace the corsets lightly over this improvised form. By extending some of the standards you can have the real corsets of your display set up, so that all may be plainly seen. Allow the top of the corset to project several inches above the bust piece, and upon the shelf thus formed put a puffing of bright colored stuff, or place a potted palm. For a narrow window such a display is especially desirable, and it may also be adapted to any shaped window to advantage.
Perhaps the above suggestions will give the reader ideas of utilizing the lumber room to good advantage. In another chapter a variety of suggestions is offered, many of which will require more or less ingenuity on the part of the decorator to prepare properly.
ONYX STANDARDS.
There is a paper with surface printed in close imitation of onyx, which is being utilized by many window trimmers to manufacture onyx standards upon which to display goods. Take a round pole, three feet long and about three inches in diameter, and nail upon either end a 12 × 12 square of 1-inch boarding. Cover all surfaces with the onyx paper, and set several of these stands in the window. Over them lay suits of clothing, pieces of dress goods, or place upon the tops pairs of shoes or other articles. A pretty effect is created by twining smilax around the standards. Onyx columns to support backgrounds may be made in a similar way. The paper may be obtained from any first-class stationer, and when viewed from the sidewalk closely resembles real onyx.
PALM STANDS.
When showing small articles in a window effective accessories may be employed by using draped stands of irregular heights scattered about the window, upon each of which is placed a palm plant. If the stands are draped in red or yellow they show off the green palms to good advantage. Smilax may be twined about the bases.
GLASS SHELVES.
Have strips of single or double thick window glass cut to the size you desire. Place two 1-inch screw eyes in your frame or window side, and rest the edge of the glass upon them. Fasten the ends of two pieces of picture cord, or chain, to the screw eyes, draw them over the outer edge of the glass and fasten them about a foot or eighteen inches above the shelf. This fastening is easily made and removed, and the shelves will be found very substantial.