The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-31
Woman No W Papers Up- ward, Not Downward Bustles, Hoop-Skirts and Actual Wings Over. the Hips Make Skirts Flare in Varied Effects.

remembers whimsically, the burning question which absorbed the mind of woman through seasons and seasons. but recently: Are skirts go- ing to be wider?" All things come to her who waits, and now the individual who pined for petticoats, may revel in them to hearts content. Skirts are certainly wider and 1t is likely that they will grow wider, and still wider; for the passion for billowiness has consumed the style-makers and every new frock put forth seems to. acquire a few more yards of fabric.
 The next query, undoubtedly will be: Are skirts going to be longer? But that contingency need not be antic.- pated while skirts are still wide; for width and length do not harmonize. according to artistic standards-where costume is concerned. There is an ungraceful clumslness about the gath cred skirt that covers the feet; 1t suggests the amplitude of middle-age, and only the wide skirt that is saucily short can look young. Since the first desire of woman is to look young-a desire even more potent than the crav- ing to look beautiful--any form of
 
 years will be avoided with zeal.
 That woman's silhouette has changed absolutely in the last year is a fact not to be denied. Not only have skirts changed but everything has changed and the shadow femininity casts Is reversed. Not long ago 1t was the shadow of Q peg tapering toward the lowest point; now it is q peg upside down, revolving on it's head instead of its tip. All lines flow outward from head to feet whereas only a few sea- sons ago they tapered downward.
 In order to give full emphasis to the new silhouette fashion has concen- trated upon the skirt. It is looped. puffed, rippled, gathered. pleated, fiounced, adorned with bowknots and flower festoons and loaded to the last safety point of it's carrying efficiency with trimming; the bodice is alm ost neglected. It matters little what sort of bodice one has (provided the sleeves are long) if one's skirt is voluminous enough to be impressive and individual enough to strike new note of modish- ness. F'rocks with skirts of over towering elaboration show little sur plice bodices of the simplest type just two bits of fabric crossed over the bust, a tucker or a chemisette fill ing in the V in front, and close sleeves to the wrist. This apparent neglect of the bodice is feature of smartness in this years fashions: coral velvet dance frock just out of the hands of Beer, has skirt measuring six yards around the ankle with plentiful gath CTS at the waist and two over-hanging tabliers edged with gold lace. The bodice is as simple as camisole- simpler. for it is minus even lace trim ming. Two strips of the brilliant coral velvet are crossed at front and back in surpiice effect. The edge of the velvet makes deep V decolletage at front and at back. and the outer edges of the strips fall just over the should CT, leaving the arm quite bare. These untrimmed strips of velvet are faced with coral colored satin and when the arm is raised one notes that there Is an under-bodice faced up to the arm pit with velvet. A golden rose is tucked at the girdle.