The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-28
DRESS AND SUGGESTIONS ANNE 4.4gh,noy.. FOR WOMEN
Gray is used in the new French gowns
 with lavish hand and is combined
 with dark red and bright blue as a contrast to it's former demureness.

with lavish hand and is combined
 with dark red and bright blue as a
 contrast to it's former demureness.
 New York, August 27-It seems a very hot time of the year to be thinking, writ Ing, talking and scheming new clothes, new fabrics and new silhouettes. But this is what the entire world of trade in women's apparel is doing this week, and If the reporter of such things were not affiliated with this tremendous move ment that is taking place on two conti- nents, the result would be incompetence in the job.
 FRANCE PRAYS FOR BUYERS
 Our buyers have crossed the ocean in small numbers to see the exhibition of clothes in France this month.
 An interesting letter to the writer from the head of one of the great French houses has just recounted the situation and, as in everything else France is do- ing, there is reflected in it the spirit of courage, ingenuity and patience.
 All the models are ready for the Amer ican inspection, is the news in this letter, and France has done her best in her time of struggle to prepare for the American women the best that can be done. The buyers are awaited with patience and nothing like despair. The prayer and the hope is that they will come i'll suffi- cient numbers to make worth while this great effort of France during her colossal struggles along the western front. On A IT-r, the Americans buy the gowns in great numbers, thousands of working women will have bread and coal for the winter.
 There is something about a letter like this that makes the reporter of fashions desire to write persuasive pages, in order that women will buy and again buy new clothes with whatever money they can afford from the other work of relief which demands their time and their money.
 AGAIN THE USE OF GRAY
 Among all these French gowns that are prepared for American inspection, the color of gray, which has run through the French fashions since the war began, Is used in lavish manner.
 Instead of being confined within it's own borders, however, it is framed in dull, dark red in what is known today as American blue, and in that other blue that is called Chinese
 France is paying so many tributes to America that one expects her dress makers to reflect the sentiments of the people. And so we have the Pershing top coat American blue the U. $. coat suit, the cowboy hat and the American Indian beadwork.
 The graw gowns are used with touches of color, in order to satisfy the Amer ican people, for France has heard that this nation does not wish to appear as though it were in mourning by constantly wearing black and white, as the women in Europe do.
 A gown which Doeuiilet shows is of dark blue crepe satin and has an under bodice and wide skirt panel of gray chif- fon embroidered in American blue.
 The frock is very simple in outline, clinging to the figure in primitive man. ner, from shoulder to shoetop. There is no actual waistline, and the gown ap- pears as though it were merely draped on the figure to cover it, but not to out fine it.
 There is to be an epidemic of straight panels on gowns, if the rumors from Paris are substantiated A few of the dressmakers, like Bulloz, made an entire gown of heavily embroidered or metal lized panels that swing free from a slim, primitive foundation.
 Other dressmakers use One or two pam els in a simple fashion, to show, as it were, that they know that this is the new idea in costumery.