Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-29
BY ANNE RITTENHoUsE.

0T has been decades since gingham
was worn. There were times when
every woman abused the material
q by trimming It with satin and lace.
and turning it into a frock Of ceremony.
1t was considered appropriate for the
afternoon hours. 1t ranked with satin.
voile handkerchief linen.
Today bingham has been revived by
STYLES at Palm Beach. Young women
found In 1t an agreeable change from
the ubiquitous Jersey cloth and serge.
Some one In Paris had brought striped
muslins into high fashion, and those in
this country who remembered the
gayety of ginghams in the old days.
and realized that here, in this country.
were TO be found all sorts of alluring
cottons, took it into their clever heads
TO reinstate them.
1t was akin to remembering the value
and taste of rice at time when pota-
toes and onions had become expensive.
There was little sense in following the
well trodden path merely for want of
incentive and lack of initiative to find
other and just as good paths. 1t was
with materials to wear as with ma
terIals to eat. Bingham and rice were
as good to see and to eat as potatoes
and jersey So both have been REIN
stated in the public favor. If France
had chosen to make the striped cottons
fashionable, we would have jumped at
them with enthusiasm. but the slower
method OF being introduced through
home preference has at last found a
measure of success.
Palm Beach really set the seal OF ap-
prevail on this so-called humble fabric,
and II is probable that we shall see
much of il as the season advances Why
not? In every way Bingham carries out
oring is happily chosen. its stripes and
checks, it's plaid designs are accepted
in all other fabrics The lessening of
the output of novelty fabrics. the
ability of the mills to turn out admfra-
BILE cotton weaves. the mark that fash
ion has put upon simple materials as
evidences Of good taste in a time of ma
tional stress. the comfort of cotton in
hot weather. are fashion facts that
build strong foundation for Bingham.
On this foundation also rests the claim
that other fabrics of the common gar
den variety are making for service this
summer. The southern mills have al
ways produced quantities of inexpen-
i've materials in alluring colorS, ma
terials that are woven to stand the
heat and sun and which have served
the southern women for generations.
These have their showing in the towns
of other districts, but they are not as
commonly accepted or as well known
as they should be.
II X
These fabrics are not always treated |
in an inexpensive way by those who |
buy their clothes at expensive places |
1t is mistake to suppose that the price |
of a gown is lowered by the price of |
the fabric used. if one has 1t made by a |
high-class dressmaker. One must pay |
the same for the cutting and fitting of
bingham as of satin or chiffon I
Striped muslins sell for the same price
in the great shops and dressmaking |
houses as silk net. French Jersey |
cloth and silk. AS the dressmakers
explain 1t. the salary paid to the vari- |
the making of a garment necessitates
asking big price for it, despite the
original outlay for the building in
gradients.
When each of the principal workers
in a high-class place gets $4,000 a year
it is not possible to sell Nine, X ging-
ham gown at price which Is commen-
surate with the price per yard Of the
cloth. Choose whatever fabric you will.
is the comment Of the head of the es-
adjustment, the price remains about /
the same. There is reason and order in
this. II is in selling cotton frocks at
the price of satin ones that many dress I
makers are able to even up the losses
on frightfully expensive French models
from which almost nothing has been
realized
But. after all. only the minority buy
their clothes at the palaces of industry.