The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-17
Dy DOLLY DALRYMPLE

, the styles of the moment, and of what "Fashfon Week" means to Birming- ham.
 "'Fashion Week puts Birmingham in the metropolitan class" said Mrs Condon enthusiastically. "I think the idea Is splendid, and just what we need
 ed here. Those who originated it are to be congratulated on their good judgment, and I fancy that Fashion Week will become institutional in Bir- mingham and that people from all over the south will come here to attend it. It puts the merchants and their GUS toners in close proximity and it es-
 tablishes a feeling of comradeship be-
 tween them that nothing else has ever called forth. And besides it means so much to Birmin gham in other ways. It
 is really the way things are conducted in New York and during the clothes show there, as they term 1t, people from all over the entire country are in attendance"
 ''Tell me about the new styles" I asked presently. What is, and what is not, to be worn?'
 I've never seen such a season as this one, for the combination of colors and
 materials. It is certainly the coutur- iers' own season." said Mrs. Condon,
 "in which to show her skill and artistic talent. The draped gowns call for the
 
 tally true that the hustle effect is in vogue"
 No" she laughed, T did not say that I saw any bustles in New York but l did say that hustle effects are
 worn. By that I mean the draperies are so arranged that the wearer looks
 as if she had on real old fashioned
 bustle.'
 Do you care for them?' I asked curiously.
 Well at first every innovation is
 looked upon with a doubtful eye" she confessed. but really I don't think
 the style homely at all. Of course, the
 slender person comes into her very own this season but the stout wom-
 an need not despair, for good modiste
 knows exactly, or should know, how
 to drape and fashion styles so that they will be becoming to stout figures
 as well as to slender ones.'' What colors are more in vogue than others?" I asked.
 Blues, greens and tango reds" Mrs.
 Condon said. Tn fact, these are the
 favorites They are combined with good effect with other colors and particu- lar1y are they good with white.' Are three-piece suits still as pop
 ular as hcretofore?' I asked. Yes; the gown of white and the coat
 of different color, is considered quite siiidit, was the
 And what about the new materials o. I queried
 "Of course the materials are all sof.
 and slinky," Mrs. Condon said. "this
 is necessary because of the bouffante
 draperies used. Crepes of All descrip-
 tions are very chic: also taffetas. the
 very fine. soft tafSetas. although |
 must admit that 7 think taffetas are
 more of a fad than anything else.
 The ripple silks. figured crepes. ash
 lyns and solfines are the smartest ma
 terials. Golffne is particularly attract i've for separate coats It gives itself
 very nicely to coat effects and also combines prettily with other mate- rials."
 one of the real novelties" Mrs. Con- don continued, lis to be found in lace. never saw such gorgeous laces in my life. There is one lace that Is very unique. It is thin, and snowy white, embroidered in patent leather. The con- trast of the dead white against the jet black is very stunning. All the black laces are done in the figures of patent leather. At a distance the lace look | as if 1t were jetted. but on close in | spection the art of the designer is re- vealed and We see the dainty pattern | in patent leather.''
 And what about the length of the skirt-the collar, and the styles of the SiSVN@s, fSheu 1Ou knOW, women are terribly curious and want to know every detail before they take the plunge that fashion dictates each sea- son."
 This is absolutely a collarless sea. son" was the reply. q didn't see d collar on a gown in any of the fash ionable ateliers in New York. except
 the Medici collars. which, of course, require the gown to be cut low in front. These Medici collars are seen on every thing. They are wired and made of the material of the gown, chiffon or lace They are very becoming and extreme ly smart. l saw a few long sleeves but nearly everything is short espe- c1ally for real summer gowns The length of the skirt was rather sur 1 prised at. because it is only about ankle length. I fancied from the Paris re- ports that they would be shorter. us the fashions show that the tailor skirts are worn six inches from the ground With all the fussy, fluffy effects I presume the plain tailor made is con sidered quite out of date?' suggest ed.
 "'rhe tailor mades are just as bouf- fant and dressy as the gowns" Mrs. Condon replied. Tn fact, they are the dressiest tailor mades I've ever seen. They are loaded with ruffles and frills and laces and all sorts of trimmings
 and the skirts are just as fluffy as they can be- Gabardine is a favorite material for the more severe tailor ] mades anu satin, plain, old- fashioned satin-not messaline-is to be used a great deal not only for tailor gowns
 but for dressy gowns as well.'