The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-03
DRESS AND SUGGESTIONS ANNE .,isa,uoy,. FOR WOMEN
Velvet one-piece frocks for street wear are offered as the forerun- ners of sturdy coat suits.

NeW York, October 2-There are an un
 usual number of velvet and velveteel
 irocks on the street. They have beei
 oHered by the exclusive dressmakers, a | well as by those who cater to the de
 partment shops in ready to-wear apparel
 AS early as August, black velvet gown
 were coming out< in Atlantic City an,
 they were even trimmed with touches O
 whlte ermfne. They were the straw
 that gave to the careful onlooker a goot
 ioea Of the direction from which til,
 wind would blow in October.
 The same gowns that were seen 1T
 Atlantic City in August were displayed 1 to the American buyers in New York ir september, and so many frocks of thfi material were. ordered that it was g ! foregone conclusion that the country
 would be flooded with them when the first frost came.
 mere Is valid objection to velvet as street frock, but there must always be warning given by those who have the public interest at heart, and this is that it marks so easily and crushes So quickly that it does not stand the hard service given by serge, jersey and gab- ardine. As an afternoon frock it is ad- mirable; as an evening frock. it is de- batable. But it is to be worn at all hours of the day evidently. no matter whether the economist puts it aside tr not
 VELVETEEN AS SUBSTITUTE
 When one cannot afford the price of silk velvet, then velveteen should be the next choice. This weave is sturdy, and although 1t shows the impression of ev- cry hard object against which it is put 1t remains a serviceable garment to great extent
 The material is put into a large ma jority of the first autumn gowns which are offered as a stock gap between the thin things of summer and the extra warm things of winter Except in certain parts of America, where the climate is rigorous, there is delightful, temper ate autumn that induces women 70 wear clothes that are neither awkward nor heavy. It Is in this between season that the one-piece frock serves it's best purpose. It can be thicker now than later in the season, for one expects to wear a coat over it after Thanksgiving, and now, if necessary, it can give suf f1cient protection with the addition of snort, floating cape or large TUT co., lar.
 Black velveteen is not as good a choice for street frock as dark blue, gray or brown. While gray is the most fash ionable color of the season, the majority cling to blue without cavil. They need no argument to persuade them to wear q color that they know all about.
 ALWAYS THE STRAIGHT PANEL
 The velveteen gown which is shown in the sketch Is an excellent model, and it gives fairly good idea of how the other gowns of that material appear. In some fashion, they have a panel. It may hang in front, in back or at each side Lanvin brings out the most ex- aggerated sandwich gown We have yet seen, with a broad panel hanging from each shoulder, so broad that it entirely hides the figure, unless one approaches it from the side.
 Such exaggeration will not prove suc-, cessful, but the woman who is looking for new clothes must keep in mind she fact that nearly all the dressmal1ers agree on the idea of producing straight panel somewhere on the frock.
 Tn this gown, the panel hangs from ths waist nearly to the hem and is not ob. jectionable The slim skirt beneath it is trimmed with bands of blue soutache braid. The waistline is braided with white satin and finished with white satin