Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-22
vWW I'll

VIZ for for a falling off in
the huvinE Of costly clothes, in the opln-
ion nf an expert in the business OF "ofn-
ems apparel
But is II? Isn't it time for a reaction
in the high price of dressing? Does not
the pendulum always swing back? I"en-
tv-five dollars for a bingham sunbonne'
and s1s5 for a figured muslin frock are
pretty steep prices, even the sellers ac-
knowledge that. and these prices may
soon make women stop. look and listen
FOR the danger signal
Nothing is more significant of the
change of attitude about the yearly
amount needed TO dress a woman than
the quoted statement of Mrs. Woodrow
Wilson that she intended to keep her
dress allowance within $1,000 year. as
contrasted with the statement made by
Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt on her hus-
bands accession to the presidency that
her yearly limit was TO be $500.
And ii is also significant TO remember
that the public raised chorus of pro-
tests that it couldn't be done" over each
statement.
Now comes an inspired statement that
silk will he the feature fabric of next
autumn. and that as the American prod
uCt is too far behind 70 have a chance
OF catching up. and as the European
silks are very much advanced in price
there is a new reason for the cost of
clothes going even higher next autumn.
OF course. women complain at these
conditions. but the counter remark to
make is. Do women have to wear silk?
Desire and not necessity is half the
trouble in this question of expensive ap
parel. 1t is the same with food as with
clothes. while there is no doubt that
foodstuffs have increased in price. most
Of the trouble lies in the fact that the
woman who was brought up on stew now
wants prime ribs of beef.
There are clothes a-plenty for her to
buy at moderate prices but she wants
what wealthy women have. and If she
has no proper setting for them she ex-
plolts them in the streets.
About this question of silk, however
there viii probably be the same final out
come as with Kansas wheat and Delaware
peaches. Both crops are annually ruined
by weather in advance as far as reports
go, but the world seems full of both when
the time comes to get them. There is no
doubt that the high price of silk frocks
may be put down to the shortage in the
supply of the mills and the cost of i'm
porting the European product. but if one
believes the latest word from Paris satin
suits will return to highest favor again in
September. because-this is the reason
given-the exclusively dressed women are
a-wearied of watered silk.
AS far as beauty is concerned, satin
makes far the prettier suit, and from the
present popularity of MORE effects it is
likely that we shall all be tired of them
by autumn.
Fashions and fabrics. however do not
give way a. easily as some think under
the onslaught of the word popularity:
hGi eSyrio ir rIa hoy h
draw them from the public eye for a
while merely to make them appear more
desirable a few months later on.
The sanest reasoning is that women
may wear satin, silk watered or plain
and woolens, as well as velvets. next win
ter though the authorities may try to
make US believe that We must wear silk
or be out of fashion.
The American eye is usually fixed on
every vagary of fashion brought out at
the June races in Paris. for those who
sell clothes have learned that it is here
most of the new inventions are tried out,
which are later made into heavier fabrics
for the openings in late August. Here is
the testing ground and il is by this same
token that so many of the gowns brought
&c America in September winter mod
els worn at Deauville and Trouvlle
in July in sheer materials. But what
difference does that make?
The fashion experts are inclined TO be
lieve that the sight of velvet mantles and
saShes and hat facings, combined with
lace. net and brocade, proves that We
may expect heavy velvet season next
winter. and the manufa cturers carry this
prophecy out by declaring they are max
ing pounds of velvet, as we'll as pushes
and imitation fur cloths. The latter are
70 be used in making separate jackets for
soft sktrtS-a fashion which every one in
terested in the making of clothes seems
quite sure will remain with us.
don't much like the idea of imitation
furs as cloth. but mayhap they will prove
TO be more satisfying thar they sound
The Introduction of velvet and plush
Jackets with skirts of soft serge, corded
silk. wool-back satin sounds attractive
even though il does bring to mind some
exceedingly ugly Victorian fashions.
Sufficient unto the day. however, is the
trouble thereof, for il IS matter enough
70 know what women are wearing now.
and whether II is good bad
The critics who have harped upon WON