Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-06
LATEST FASHION NOTES
FROM THE FASHION
CENTRES

n IEW colors and new fabrics are
IN sure to be questions of vital
interest with any change OF
season. While it is true that we
have had so much mild weather that
we may safely look for real winter in
the later weeks Of the season, the
latter part of January is, nevertheless,
quite certain to develop questions of
what is to be and what is not to be
worn with the coming Of Spring. This
year the very unusual conditions
abroad have made the problem COM
plicated one and we are confronted
with the questions Of how much we
ray expect from Paris and how much
re must depend upon home talent.
hat we can make beautiful materials
%I:d dye exquisite colors has been
PROVEN and no less an authority than
Messrs. B. Altman & Co. are respon-
sible for that statement, for they have
put forth most interesting color-card
showing salome satins, poplins, mar
quisettes, messalines, chiffon tafetas,
Georgette crepes and all the favorite
materials dyed in the new and won
derful colors that are as beautiful and
IS rich as any that we havt) ever
:een. That they bear American James
adds to their interest, although as is
commonly the case with color-cards,
the names are more or less fanciful.
We will all recognize the fitness Of
Arizona silver and of Palm Beach
sand and assuredly Of Delaware peach
and there are others that are equally
suggestive, but it is not so much
the name as the quality that is inter-
esting and each shade in itself is
study. Those on the inside have long
known that America can produce ex-
quisite fabrics, and when we add Won
derful colors, we should have a per-
feet output, and if this great tragedy
that holds the world enthralled proves
to ourselves our own ability, it will
have done us service. As nation
we are perhaps in too great hurry.
We have not the tradition of delibera-
ton and slow processes that belong to
the old world. As families we are not
identified with any given products
and before we can achieve really great
things, we have much to learn, but
what we can do, is daily being proven.
In the old world, perfection is matter
Of pride with any output that is asso-
ciated with any name Of family, and
certain manufacturers have for genera
tons been controlled by certain fami-
lies. Sons and grand-sons follow in the
tread of their elders; each generation
seeks to enhance, to improve and to
add to, but not one would think of
sacrificing an atom of quality or repu-
tation. The "get rich quick" idea that
has such an unfortunate hold upon
American manufacturers has hereto
fore largely interfered with a similar
result on this side Of the sea. If we
could only educate our manufac-
turers to believe that there is market
for perfection, from whatever source it
comes, we would be able to develop
along higher and more interesting lines.
1t is told of certain residents of the
town of Paterson that we're visiting
Paris that they purchased some won
derful silks to bring home as evidence
of the best that the old world was
doing, and that upon displaying them
with pride to certain close friends and
relatives, they were met with the
undeniable proof that the same silks
were manufactured in their home
town, had been exported and sold in
France to be returned and exploited
here. Labor means more money here
than abroad. To produce a certain
product, we must pay more, but since
we have no duty to meet, we should
at least be able to compete on equal