The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-16
AS SEEN BY A WASHINGTON WOMAN
WHY so BADLY SHoDi

WHY 81 bADL1 SnOD!
~But why are American women so
abominably shod?" signs Roger de
Monyel. the Paris fashion authority
who has recently come to New York
to present playlet for the benefit OF
French war relief.
M. de Monvel finds the American
women extraordinarily handsome
and well groomed, with the exeep-
ton of their coiffures and their shoes,
which, he says, remind him of "the
atrocities of his boyhood."
Doesn't it seem strange that in this
land where the art of shoemaking
was first carried to perfection, wom-
en- should be accused of being badly
shod? A few years ago when Amer
lean women went to Paris they were
conspicuously well shod among
Parisians who were decidedly lack
ing in this respect. But French
women and French shoe dealers were
quick to notice the difference and
within a comparatively short period
Parisians have caught up to US and
outstripped us in this important de-
tail of dress.
Still American women are improv-
ing in this matter of foot attire IN
spite of NJ. de Monveps aspersion.
Even among the girls and women
whose dress allowance is necessarily
very much limited one seldom sees
carelessness in shoes. Missing but
tons, knotted laces, turnover heels
are mistakes of the past so far as
women of even ordinary neatness are
concerned. More money is spent
nowadays on shoes than ever before.
Not only do women buy shoes often
er but they buy better quality shoes
when they do buy. In many other
details of the wardrobe there has
been a standstill as far as compare
tive tendency toward greater econ
ony but not so with regard to foot
wear.
As every one knows the reason for
the particular fastidiousness in foot
covering within the last year or so
is to be found in the fashion for short
skirts which, we are told, Paris wom-
en- adopted and hence brought into
fashion because in these days of fore
ed economy and simplicity of living,
due to the war, they walk instead OF
riding in limousines.
Speaking of the American women's
feet, have you heard what DR.. Mau-
rice Levi, the father of scientific
chiropody, has to say on the subject!
He speaks from a different point
of view from the noted French dress
expert when he berates the women
for their careless shedding.
According to him the new craze
for ice skating which will influence
this winters styles in many ways,
will have a beneficial effect on the
poor. overworked feet of American
women. He predicts that more
sensible, better fitting shoe will be
introduced as part Of the necessary
paraphcrnalia of the skating rink.
1t seems to be fact that both in
the matter OF good looks, comfort
and general health women still spend
proportionately too little attention
and money on their feet. OF course
in the days of our grandmothers an
uncomfortable shoe might be over
looked. Women walked so little in
those days! They spent practically |
all their waking hours decorously sit
ting amidst the voluminous folds of
their ample skirts. And if the shoe
pinched they could walk even less. |
AS for a chance missing button or
rundown heel, well, that didn't mat
ter so much either as it does today, |
for the offending foot could be tuck
ed under the hem of those same vo-
luminous skirts and no one need be
the wiser. For in those days one
never showed much more than the
toe of ones boot any way and, as
the poet said, those extremities
merely peeped in and out like tinlid
little mice.
MARY MARSHALL.