The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-08-03
DRESS AND SUGGESTIONS
AM. .,tss.,nor.- FOR WOMEN
Into the midsummer season there has
sprung the colorful fashion of wear
ing Dresden lowered frocks in rich,
deep colors.

New York. August "A woman who
was slightly perplexed about the right
clothes to wear in a topsy- turvy summer
season, such as New York is going
through, asked an experienced dress
maker for an answer to her problem.
Without quoting the answer in full, the
gist of it is this, that the extraordinary
number of people who are in town dur
ing the hot weather, foregathering in
war relief work, lunching at restaurants
and keeping in touch with each other in
ways that were not thought of before the
war, has brought about new method of
dressing.
Heretofore, the question of summer
clothes held enough anxiety for a wom-
an, it would seem, but this hot weather
season has added to the burden of her
perplexities.
The routine of life from June until
October has been abandoned. Ginghams,
muslin and sport suits have been more
commonly worn in town and in restau-
rants than ever before; but the well
dressed woman who likes to turn herself
out in dignified manner, has chosen
the wolfe or chiffon gown stamped with
Dresden or pompadour design.
Such frocks are cool, they are dark
enough to be kept from the hands of
the cleaner, and they make an admirable
compromise between the overpopular
Bingham and the overwarm serge.
DRESDEN DESIGNS IN FASHION
The wave of lowered frocks that
swept over, the country during June was
really a surprise to the dressmakers as
well as to the public. And the dress
maker who gave the advice outlined
above to one of her best customers, was
a guide worth possessing.
There was no concerted movement to-
ward the introduction of deep, rich
Dresden and pompadour gowns in the
late spring fashions. Few of the French
of Importance. The American shops Of
fered a few of them, but they did not
persuade their patrons to buy them.
However, the public took the Dresden
gown to its heart, and now, such frocks
filter about like multicolored butterflies
lowering over field. Here and there,
one sees young girls in Dresden gowns
of white, cream and the Saxony tints,
but the majority choose kings blue,
red in that shade called 'dregs of wine
which has a strong undercurrent of So
bering black running through it.
On these dark, rich surfaces, there are
Dresden flowers in whatever colors that
can be tremendously blended together.
The foundation of such frocks is satin,
not taffeta. There is a perverse way
with some of the dressmakers, of using
this unpliable weave Of silk as a foun-
dalton to the soft draperies of tulle, net,
lace and wolfe, but women should demur
against this method. There are times
when taffeta makes a good foundation
for beautiful bit of lace or a wild
splash of brocaded ribbon, but one is all
ways on the safe side in choosing satin
when all the drapery must go against a
sedate foundation.
THE USE OF DRESDEN RIBBONS
Because of this fantasy of fashion, this
impulsive departure from the routine of
style laid out for women. all manner of
pompadour and Dresden ribbons, hats,
handbags and even slippers have been
brought into the limenght
The gown which is sketched today
shows the use of Dresden ribbon in ad-
dition to a Japanese bow at the back
of the dance frock. The entire gown
has merit.
The ribbon used to give the note of
color to a Chinese yellow gown is deep
black, with huge pink flowers thrown on
the surface The skirt and bodice are
made of combined yellow taffeta and
white net embroidered in formal de-
sign of yellow and pink.
Notice the hip line That's a very
clever touch--the shirring, with an up
standing ruffle that goes over the CIR
die. Across the back below the Shout