The evening world., 1917-02-21
ONE INCH OF SKIRT
WORTH H1OM|LL|ONS
TO THE SHOE MEN
Footwear Will Come High in
Price and Go Higher as
the Dresses Go UP.

PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 2l.-"when
Paris designers decree that skirts
shall be an inch shorter. It means that
an extra IlO.OOO,OOo flows into tho
cash drawers OF American shoe deal
ers. So, ~ the designers lower the
skirts an inch. we lose that princely
amount. Short skirts simply mean
high boots, and high boots mean more
leather. or course, high boots mean
higher prices, so II Is necessary for
shoe men to cooperate with cos
tune designers and keep the short
skirt In style"
This statement was made to the
Pennsylvania Shoe Retailers Asso-
citation to-day in the Bellevue STRAIT
ford by 4. u. Anderson, editor Of the
Boot aud shoe Recorder Of Boston.
Mr.. Anderson gave tho following
advice to the delegates:
"Shoc dealers should help the ladies'
by employing an expert, who can
advise them as 10 the proper styles
and color effects I'm SHOES. This year,
skirts are TO be- six. seven and eight
inches from the ground, which means
/ That shoes ar" 10 bv high"
FnrtncrmDrc, Anderson says. the
shoe dealers are making money TO-
day because the twentieth century
Eirl isn't hko hor Puritan ancestor
ana isn't afraid ip 81 with her legs
crosse! !. For when she sits tEuSlv
sn" displays relatively mora shoe,
/ Naturally. she wants nice shoes to
] display, 50 she spends moro money
/ for thvm-aud there YOU are What
/ does u matter % such shoes cost so
q palr2 Aren't they worth looking At !
This is a prosperous country. and
! women who can afford expensive
/ gowns w.ll not hesitate" 10 pay isU for
/ boots, provided they get style and
/ quality, This is true of the shop girl
] too, in ike ratio.
/ ~ Illustrate his argument. Anlcr-
son presented two pretty models wlC
/ appeared In dazzling gowns ana boots
70 match. one wore a light gray
. luncheon suit. The skirt, a mod.
/ fled bluumcr effect, showed tho TURK.
/ isA influence. Tho model wore "A chi,
/ hat TO match ana carried II striking
I bag ut peacock blue.
This color also appeared in her belt
| and bit OF hat decoration. And tn,
/ shoes matched too, for they were oN,
/ quisitc creations IN gray that matched
/ the costume and had fancy tops that
. combined the gray and peacock blue
/ Their selling price was S2j
For I bali gown one uf the models
/ appeared In a beautiful dress that
/ Anderson explained, carried out tn,
general note OF prosperity. Silver
and gold colors prcdomlnatcd, he.
I cause Anderson asserted that Amer.
/ lea is rich and wishes To display rs
! financial condition In the gowns Of IT.
| women"
/ The dancing slippers werc a perfect
| match for the gown, and fastened o.
/ tn" heel was a handmade auh'ct
! This Is something new and adds q
| little TO the cost OF the pumps, which
are sold for So
The footwear shown embraced al
! colorcd fabrics that ranged from mus
sorts Of materials fTDm kid 10 fancS
! tard y,iluWs TO richly shaded browns
| blues, greens ana peacock blues
A. 9. MCGowin, manager uf the
| John Wanamaker shoe department
| advised the delegates TO go slow when
| placing orders for fancy and cNpcu-
| Sivc shoes, and asserted that the pub,
! lie should be educated 10 wear foot
wear that Is made from leather sub
| stitutes
You must study the needs of your
| customers" said MrGowiu. but you
! are not doing that un.css you provide
shoes AT reasonable prices Good
shoes can bc made out Of canvas aua
other fabrics that are stylish and
I durable, ana can sell at prices rang.
| ing from 81 NJ
You m lsi remember that tho ay,
erago person cannot afford 'o pay
yIO and Slb FOR shoes Shoes tlu bt
/ made without leather, and b. II on
duty 10 give the Information TO IN,
public. We must strive to hold price.
within reason; and II the making o
shoes from materials other thar
leather can DO that, we should b,
willing to help.
Il am so convinced that other ma
terials will become popular In foot
wear that | have placed an order 70
10000 pairs Of shoes that COn'ail
little leather other than that used II
the heels and sOlrS,"