On Maternity Lease
Q: I’ve heard of firms that lease wedding gowns and fur coats, but how about maternity clothes? My budget does not allow me to buy anything of real quality. If such a leasing arrangement exists, could you please hurry with the answer? I’m two months pregnant.--D. S. A: The outfit illustrated here is available for lease through a company called Pro Creations Maternity Leasewear, P.O. Box 22253, Portland, Ore. 97222. The company’s maternity collection “for the upper-level executive” consists of 10 two-piece suits, five blouses, five career dresses, three special-occasion dresses (one is floor-length), two coats and one slip. Sizes range from 2 through 20. As a special service, if the customer outgrows her wardrobe in the final weeks of pregnancy, she can exchange it for a larger size at no cost.
A second, less expensive collection “for the woman on her way up” consists of two suits, two pairs of pants, one jumper, four blouses, two career dresses and a slip. Items from both collections are leased by the week, with an eight- week minimum. The jacket and jumper illustrated here are available in a wool-and polyester pin stripe for a weekly lease price of about $10. The minimum order is three units. For information, plus fabric swatches, send $15 to the Portland address. That amount will be refunded if you order.
Q: Can you please help me solve a problem for one of the patients in our convalescent hospital? She wears the type of girdle with garters for stockings, and we cannot find one. Every girdle that her family has been able to locate comes without garters. Her family has tried to get her to wear a garter belt with a girdle, and she refuses. She wants an old-fashioned girdle with garters.--K.A A: Tell your patient that she doesn’t have to be patient much longer. The J. C. Penney catalogue for spring and summer, 1986, offers several girdles that have garters. Styles include a $16.50 girdle, which has four attached garters, and a side-zip, crisscross-control girdle at $22. The same catalogue offers panty girdles with garters. Prices range from $10 to $24.50.
Q: Where can I find ribbed socks for my husband? He prefers cotton in dark colors, with no elastic at the top. -- A.V.B. A: Men’s cotton-rib socks with 1% nylon in the heel and toe are available without elastic at the top from Vermont Country Store, P.O. Box 3000, Manchester Center, Vt. 05255-3000. The ankle-high Interwoven socks are in black, brown, navy and white, in sizes 10 1/2, 11, 11 1/2, 12 and 13. They are $3.95 a pair, plus postage and handling.
Q: Does any company make seamed hose nowadays? I have worn seamed stockings for about 65 years, and now my source no longer offers them. I prefer hose with reinforced heels and toes. Can you help?--E. L. J.
A: Seamed stockings are available from Roxanne, 105-17 Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375. The same shop offers outsize stockings, stockings in sizes 8 through 13, support stockings, stockings for tall women, mesh stockings, stretch-top stockings, lace-top stockings, lace stockings, opaque stockings, dotted stockings, service-weight stockings (70 denier) and stockings in short, medium and long lengths. The firm also carries panty hose.
