New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-09
A FASHION FORECAST

DIR. Max NOFdau, author, essayist journalist
and one Of the leaders I'm the movement 10
establish an autonomous Jewish state in Pales-
tine. has a letter in a recent number Of the
Vienna 'Neue Freie Presse." in which the
author Of Degeneration assumes the part Of
a prophet, but on a subject so foreign 10 his
usual field that one is tempted TO doubt the
genuneness OF the signature at the end OF the
article. Confessing az the outset the dangers
connected with prophesying. he excuses him
self for venturing on the treacherous ground
in this instance. because there are future hap
''penings which one may predict with safety.
their coming being dictated by law and as
certain as the movement Of the stars" Then
he SAYS that within short time the reign OF
the crinoline will be Observation-Disclosures we are
striding as rapidly toward that end as the tight
Directoire gown will permit
After long and learned dissertation on the
rise and fall of the crinoline and its place in
the history Of fashion. DR.. Nordau says that
most women viii welcome the return Of the
hoopskirt as a great relief, for they will then
he absolved from the obligation to he thin and
slender and may return 10 a diet in keeping
with their taste regardless of its effects on
their proportions Men viii also rejoice in the
substitution Of garments which give some room
for Imagination I'm place Of the close fitting
garment Of the present day.
The prophecy is based principally on the
pleasant excitement which was created I'm Paris
when Strauss "Fledermaus' was performed
there with the "salOn women in dress of the
Second Empire. The sight was like a draft
from the fountain Of youth for the old fellows.
1.-THE young men were fascinated and the women.
confessed that their mothers were not entirely
devoid Of good taste" Then the Romance
Of a Poor Young Man" and Dumas's Monsieur
Alphonse" were produced. and the success
gained by each was attributed IN a large meas
TO the crinoline. This hint from the stage
will not be lost. the writer says, on the makers
Of fashion
To the women Of this country who did not
have the advantage. like DR. NOrdau. Of seeing
the first symptoms Of an outbreak Of crinOline
and whose wardrObes have been stocked with
garments Of the other extreme. II may be COM
fort 10 know that despite fast steamers and
Increased communication between the con-
tinents the fashions in this country are about
year behind those OF Paris. so that even II
The crinoline is coming they need not look for
its arrival until the classic CONNECTIONS which
II will replace have had their seasons
wear. Their fears may also be assumed nv
the reflection that conditions in New York have
changed so much since the DAYS when its
women were glad TO follow the fashion SET bv
the Empress Eugene that the crinoline Dorm
even II IL were brought across the water. might
not develop and spread as it did forty years
ago. Not because New York women might
rebel and shake off the yoke OF fashion made
in Paris. but because the crinoline hoonskir,
relfrock or whatever else IL was called conld
not exist with safety 90 itself or comfort 10 its
wearer in crowded subway or elevated trains.
AZ bargain counters and in street brushes
not 10 speak Of a congested fat.
When DR.. Nordau and his followers succeed