Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1916-10-11
ALONG FASHIONS
CHANGING TRACK
viii the Directoire Become tn
Choice Of the Important
Minority?
IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
skirts viii Be Ankle, Instead Of Shoe
Top, Length, But Narrower--Lafay-
ette and Robespierre Colors
TO the Front.

New York.-Cne Of the interesting
phases Of American fashions Is To
stand by the side of the racetrack and
watch few fashions In the contest for
the blue ribbon of popularity.
This race usually occurs In Septem-
ber and March. The observer consid-
ers 1t as a species Of sartorial sport,
but the men behind these fashions re-
gard 1t with anxiety and deep con-
cern.
They have brought these models
from Paris and they have probably
risked great deal of their money on
them, and some force outside Of them
selves seems to put certain gowns and
hats on this racetrack Of fashion and
bring them into sharp contest.
Probably the manufactures makes
his money out of this race. II he does,
he is quite content, for by the time
December comes he Is ready to put
another set Of models on the track.
The high-priced dressmakers regard
this race In September and March as
II blessing not In disguise. Through 1t
they nre enabled to make their discard
Of certain gowns before the actual sea-
son opens. Women of fashion rarely
get their autumn and winter clothes
until October. II they buy early mod
els before then. their wisdom and ex-
perience teach them that these clothes
are merely stock-gaps which tide over
the interim between the faded summer
tinery and the new winter equipment.
viii the Di-eetolre Conner
Now the puzzling question before
the people who buy and sell Is this !:
VIII the Moyen-age, which was so
speedily carried to popularity, become
drug In the market, and will the
directoire loom up as the choice Of the
minority? VIII the smart women who
really lead the affairs of dress decide
thnt the high walstline, slim hips, tight
shoulders and long sleeves Will be the
fashion Of their choice, making d.
rect contrast TO the wrapper-like
frock that In girdled around the hipsi
In France the tendency Is toward the
directOire and first empire. II is be-
have gone In for the newer line and
that the waistline dropped to the hips
was a foll0w-on of French styles that
had been taken up In May and June.
The belief Of the experts Ia that the
directoire will win before Thanksgiv-
Ing. They believed that in Paris, and
this belief has been strengthened by
the action of the multitudinops masses
In America In taking up the Moyen-
age and not looking at the directoire.
However. It's all gamble. That's
what makes clothes and the discussion
Of them exceedingly interesting to
those who are behind the scenes or
standing at the side Of the racetrack.
II Ia not probable that the extreme,
or rather pure, directoire will be In
augurated before February, although II
may flicker over here before that time
among the exclusive models that are
sent over to women who keep their or
ders in French houses and to those
shops whose buyers send over some
thing different every month.
okirts 70 % Longer.
There would be no cause for sur.
prise II one saw. at some time not far
away, q return to the tight. narrow
skirt and the long-tsiled coat with ita
short. ornamented front and striped
waistcoats. We must turn somewhere
we have had the fashion Of the mo.
ment with ~ for 20 long time that
In things sartorial, . break II sure to
come.
Thera n NO doubt about the fact