The Washington herald., 1915-12-28
AS SEEN BY A WASHINGTON WOMAN
THE POLYMURIEL Is HEARD
FROM.

We had almost despaired OF ever
hearing from the universal gown-the
beautiful, simple, durable, comfortable
polymuriel for which a New York
dress reform advocate offered $I5o
prize. But Rome wasn't built in
day, and so, seemingly, polymuriels
cannot be designed over night. And
after waiting month or so inpatient
ly and then almost forgetting that
the universal dress had even been
talked about we find that it has been
realized and that the cxpectant world
of womankind is soon to see the
dreams of dress reformers at last
come true.
And surely one would have to sec
it to get any idea of what it is like.
For descriptions somehow in this case
give us very little satisfaction. Per-
haps, however, you can picture 1t from
the description: "The under part is
made in two pieces, opening down the
front to the waistline for putting on.
sThe shocking. allows for fullness over
the bust. The yoke, panel, belt and
tunic are made in one piece, and are
detachable for the purpose of revers-
ing.
"The plain side, aided by attractive
collar and cuffs, is suitable for busi-
ness and ordinary wear. Reversed the
under side can be braided in soutache
or gold or some contrasting color,
making a neat dressy costume for
social and formal affairs. 1t can be
made in almost any material The
length is left to the Judgment of the
wearer."
Do you like the idea of going about
your office or your home clad in a
simple, comfortable, durable frock tho
reverse side of which is claborately
trimmed with gold braid? And what
is the idea of having this compressed,
tabloid wardrobe any way? Are we
10 have no clothes presses in the
future, no bureau drawers where we
may keep the garments not in use?
Apparently to the designer who in
vented the winning polynuriel there
was great advantage in carrying ones
entire wardrobe about with one all the
time. Perhaps she lived in Harlem
flat.
Just imagine how simple life will be
for the woman of the polymuriel. She
can start forth to business with the
plain side out of black and rose
colored edition of the universal gown.
At IL o'clock she is Unexpectedly bid
den TO luncheon. In the old days she
might have declined, feeling that her
strictly business costume was inap-
propriatc. But, presto! Off comes the
business-like cuffs, leaving attractive
short sleeves. Up goes the belt,
leaving an empire effect. And off she
goes to luncheon. Later in the aft
crnoon she is persuaded to go to tea
and for this occasion she simply de-
laches the collar, leaving a becoming
N-ncck. Alter tea, dancing is in or
der, and then, presto-it takes but
minute. Off comes the flounce and,
presto again, on goes set OF panta-
lcttcs that have teen skillfully con-
ccaled somewhere in the folds OF the
gown, and no step is too intricate.
Docs any one bid the polymuriel lady
go to dinner? The problem of dress
ing is in nutshell The under
flounce, crstwhile tucked away in
favor OF the pantalettes, can be re-
stored, this time on the outside. The
panel and other trappings may be
reversed and the rose-colored evening
creation is revealed.
And there is polyn1uriel hat, too,
which-it is hard to imagine-can, by
the manipulation of few fastenings
and snappers, be converted from an
outing to dress hat with several in
termediate stages between. There is
a band of ribbon for morning, band
of buclram for afternoon on which
wide moire ribbon can be fastened,
and for more festive occasions there
are American Beauty roses and bluets
to snap into place.
How long before the whole world
of womankind will be clad in poly
muriels?
MARY MARSHALL