The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-08
q FASHION NOV DEMANDS THE NEW AND PASSING STRANGEp

saw some bewifching ones made o9 faint1y pink apple blossoms and still others made all of modest violets. The
 only difference in the development of
 the flower sets is in the neckpfeces-
 Chiffon the same shade as the flowers
 used would be bordered with flowers
 instead of swansdown.
 Perhaps you would be interested to
 know about some of the other novel
 ties. or. rather, the resurrection of some
 ancient ones which saw in a ramble
 through the shops the other day. The coy panta1et was one of them. The mannequfn was wearing a pair. and
 also a frock like grandmother used to
 wear. with fluffy. frilIy. coquettish skirts below which the panta1ets be- witchingly crept in and out as the wearer paraded up and down the flower bordered walk constructed fo< tfe occasion in one of the store aisles. Another manneduin was wearing al basque, and it was buttoned down be-
 fore, just like the coat old Grimes used to wear, but can wear no more since the song declares that the old soul is dead-oh. many years ago!
 Neither the basque nor the pantalets were to be taken seriously in the sense of being an indication of present day styles. the man in charge of the ex-a hibition explained. How could pam talets be taken seriously, I should just like to know2 Rather do they
 
 Ievity. wrap them about with the man tie of sentiment as we will However. this parade was meant to be merely a passing show of different periods of fashion Let us hope that the coy pam taIets the disfguring hustle and the ugly basque will only return when evoked by sentimental memory, as we love old songs which are devoid of any classical beauty or former scenes which. though homely in themselves. revive for us memories of happy child hood.
 American women have been accused by the French couturiers of caring more for novelty than for beauty. I think the assertion too sweeping ana much as though they were heaping upon the broad, well carried. capable shoulders of the American woman the burden of some of their freaky sar-I toria1 mistakes, for by no means is Ieverything that comes out Of Paris beautiful, though much of it is- But 1 is the American woman to blame? Perhaps we may be accused of liking novelty: possibly the novel may be sometimes mistaken for the beautiful but not often. for the American wo- man, with her classic lines and grace fuI figure, is considered to be one of the very best dressed females of the specfes.''
 And now the Paris couturiers say that they are in despair. Their brains have become atrOphied. they declare and refuse absolutely to spawn further novelties for the exacting American woman of doubtful taste.
 They further assert that the French woman. and, in fact, all European wo-
 men. are not exacting as to novelties: that it is not demanded that their creations should scream. the low tone being considered in better taste. To be sure, during the past five years they have deIved into history and have copied every epoch. They have in-l pressed the army. the navy. the clergy, the peasantry and even the fierce and crafty bandit into the service of fash-i ion Even wars and rumors of wars have stimulated their brains to new sartorial achievement
 Now. here is a secret: Tf is not the American woman who is to blame for the present slump in the creative gray matter of the Parisian dressuaker. The manufacturers are to blame. They send fearful petitions to the fashion wizards overseas to make something