The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-04
DRESS AND SUGGESTIONS ANNE r..sssru.r.. FOR WOMEN
By ANNE RII'I ENROUSE

Fur wr:ps are braided for the street
 and made after the manner of peas
 ant smocks.
 New York, December 3.-We are more deeply in the twelfth century than we were last winter. We may change. and again, we may not Pos sibIy, those who design our clothes consider that the primitive methods of life that prevailed in the Middle Ages, especially in England and northern France, are the most fitting to be re- vived during an epoch which threat ems a shortage of most of the neces- sities of life.
 Everyone admits that there will be plenty of money in the world this year, probably even more than anyone has ever dreamed of except Aladdin and sinbad. But money cannot buy the things that do not exist. Sinbad at least had enough raw meat with which
 to obtain his great wealth, but it may
 be that the multimillionaire won't have enough wealth to get his piece
 of meat,
 Therefore say the designers, if life is to be reduced to the most primitive condition, let us have a revival of primitive clothes. This appears to De their strategic plan for the offensive Tn { clothes.
 IMMENSE PIECES OF PELTRY The twelfth century called for straight lines in the apparel of women and men. Today we are laboring un- der the same handicap, or rejoicing in | it as an advantage. Such clothes either ! make or mar the silhouette of wom- I an.
 There is strong rumor of change | in these outlines by the time January l is full blown, so the woman who can- | not wear medieval clothes is looking I at this prophecy as if it were 1 life preserver on the sea of clothes. | However, she may be disappointed
 The main fact of the moment is that l the nelfth century is right back in the twentieth. In reading over remark . | able book of old costumes dating back l to the Middle Ages one is really dumb founded over the similarity between 1 the gowns of the tenth, eleventh and | twelfth centuries and those Of today. It | is natural, therefore, that with the rest of the clothes insisting upon these l straight lines, the new fur wraps l should take upon themselves some or | the medieval characteristics. | | of A haze fox, a cape-like e scarf, mo- l for coat and huff. but that is a 1 very limited way to regard peltry, es- pecially the peltry of this winter. 1 There are capes of sealskin that are l fashioned into waistcoat effect in | front ard fastened to the very chin with huge rhinestones and huge put 1 tons: there are cuirasses of fur that 1 fasten with fur covered, bone trimmed buttons from chin down in straight 1 line. | molcsllin that slip over the head and
 are sometimes belted in with half-inch ribbons of gold or silver tissue; there are positilion collars of beaver which
 are attached to a ruffle of sealskln or | black velvet below and there are coachman's collars of ermne fringed at | the lower edge with a band of black l tails. which ripple out over the shoul. Gers like the loose skin of an animal l should do.
 A WRAP LIKE A BLOUSE The sketch shows startling variety l of fur wrap which the exclusive peltry | workers look upon With interest. u Is | q combination of tete de neere duvetyn and deep brown sealskin. It is made in n. jumper effect, somewhat after the l manner of the blouses worn by men in the early part of the Middle Ages. The sealslxin forms the blouse and IS cut to deep points, which are weighted with tassels of dark brown silk. The 1 sleeves yoke and scarf are or the tete de neere duvetyn braided in that yer milcelli design which is still fashion | able The braid is the same color as
 the duvetyn and melts into the sur l face in an artistic manner. There is no visible fastening in the garment and the scarf wraps around the neck Tn the trench muffler fashion. one end drop ping well down the back and weighted by tassel.
 The uneven hem of the blouse is 3
 fascinating feature. It resembles some
 of the new skirts. The designers have made up their minds that even out lines are not to be considered desir-
 able Whatever is ragged in outline is fashionable.