The Washington herald., 1913-12-30
WILD EXTREMES In
DRESS PROMISED
Modes Of 1914 to Scale Higher Peaks
of Sartorial Madness Than Ever
Yet Attempted BY Women.

Pessimists dejectedly demand what
next?" Optimists chuckle. 60 ahead"
Others are wondering what the result
will be. Can eccentricity in dress &c
further? Is it possible for womankind tC
scale yet higher peaks OF sartorial mad
ness? We've held our breaths in horror
at the scandalous licentiousness of dress
during the Directory. Yet II is hardly
probable that more women wore slit skirts
then than now. Indeed, 1t is next to i'm
possible that as many did. for in ''tht
good old times" comparatively few had
time or money to lavish upon personal
decoration. Besides there WAS very rigid
class distinction. even though 1t did not
hold to as great an exterL as during some
monarchies when even the weave and
cost of fabrics possible for the various
classes were legal matters.
So the coast is clear TO- 1914
One-IeEged Effects.
Barring the interference OF the long
arm OF the law, Fashion may go as far
as she likes. Fair ores who do not
fancy slit skirts may indulge in elastic
weaves: there's no earthly reason why
stockingette should no be made into
skirts Then beauty might pose in one
legged effects to her hearts content And
in walking the average ultra-fashionable
appears to b. minus a leg about one-half
of the time, thanks TO the way a scant
skirt pulls. Top this skinny neither
scheme with a lampshade tunic and you
have the approved silhouette for starting
1914.
Also busily ringing ou: the old modes
and in the new is the wearer Of the
shadow dress. Shadow gowns began
their present career last summer and II
is extremely unlikely that they will be
here when the roses bloom again.
Fringe au Natural.
for handsome fringe. Aswhim for 1914 ap-
ivory white duvetyne. with the new folded
over drapery of souple satin in deepest
eggplant purple, with white reverse.
The blouse Is of white chiffon, with
kretelles OF dark and colorful peasant
embroidery. But the oldest part of 1t is
the skirt edge, which is merely scis-
sored up a few inches at intervals of a
half-inch or less. The huge mum and the
neckpiece are of white fox, while the
small hat is the reverse Of miniver. n
very dark fur. dotted with white. The
feather is another of the crownng di-
vertisements which can hardly grow IN
length or popularity unless supported
by trolley wires or other device. Mr.
Edison may yet be hailed to the rescue
OutdressinE Them All.
OF yore a foreigner in native dress
caused SON. excitement walking through
our streets. In 1914 said foreigner will
have to be sartorially vivid to outshine
native talent. Chang Yin Tang is hardly
more gorgeous than the charmer in 4
mandarin opera cloak, and other details
to match. The Maharani OF Baroda,
should she visit us again, would look
tame in her white draperies compared
with Philadelphians who go in for the
Orientalisms OF India. highhandedly bor
rowing the ieweled turbans OF the men
and otherwise mixing up native dress
The lovely one of the land Of Omar
Ehayyam, should it interest them.
might find the Persian ~tunic in fuller
flower here than at home, while the
ladies' of the Turkish harems would
probably be somewhat dismayed TO learn
that fair OCcidentals are lending will
ing ear to trouser effects in skirts and
yashmak schemes in wells.