The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-08
WILL U. S. WOMEN
ADOPT OYERALLS?
Everyone Wonders Whether
America Is to Follow
European Style.

When feminine Europe knitted,
America knitted.
When feminine Europe red-crossed,
all feminine America began to red
cross wildly, both with aim and with
out.
But now that feminine Europe is
overalling, the great question is, Will
feminine America overall?
The United States Is thrilling with
the vibration of thousands of minds
concentrated on this idea. Ever since
last summer there have been rumors
that overRlls were coming from
across the sea. but not Until q New
York manufacturing concern actually
began to turn them out the other
day has the thing become an issue.
Eager To See New Garments.
Manufacturers. buyers, dealers. and
purchasers are thinking and waiting
for the FIRST sight OF the American
mado.for-American- bifurcated
garments.
ConfieentialIy, as the overall IL In
terpreted for these purposes. II really
isn't very bad. Save yourself worry,
gentlemen.
D.. Don't imagine your mothers. or
your great aunties. or your wives, in
blue denim overaHs in F street shop
ping. Cast not your minds into this
melancholy train Of thought and put
aside the dsathly needle until you
hear just what the new things are
going TO look like.
The feminine overall de luxe as
the new fnunition workers, shop
workers. and mechanics Of Europe
have interpreted them are not those
stupid. unroInantic, bourgeois blue
denim things.
European manufacturers know that
they couldn't any more catch a worn
an with q blue denim overall than
they could catch q submarine with q
piece Of red flannel. So they began
making all sorts OF beautiful, sensible
overaIls IN chambray. dimity. cotton.
percaIe, khaki, and 70 on, in patterns
Of every conceivable size, shape, and
noise.
And now an American manufac-
turer Is turning them out by The
thousands.
The question is. Will our women
wear them"
The question hangs by a thread.
And the thread is this.
All VIII II Others Do.
Out OF twelve women anonymously
interviewed on this subject, twelve
said:
Yes, I'll wear them IL the rest do!'
A staid matron of most inpeccably
Goternment-offciel social standing
said unhesitatingly:
For years, when 1 have been
cleaning (now be sure and don't give
my name) I have had to pin the back
of my skirts up between my knees to
the front of my dress. II the other
would be overjoyed to use them In
my line of work-housework."
A chambermaid in one of the big
hotels opined that she would save ex-
actly enough to have. a new winter
suit. II she wore colored oyeralls to
work in, instead of voluminous white
skirts, which required laundering.
Have Worn Worse Costumes.
what nonsense! To even question
IT," said a prominent society woman.
I'VE wore bustles and hoop skirts
and bascues and harem skirts. Why
expect us to decline the plebeian over
ali! But sue "Ouuh iS' iS'
appear.
That was the trouble with the
whole search for overall hackers.
Everyone from the chambermaid to
the buyer of our largest department
store, was terribly enthusiastic, but
nobody wanted to start anything!
Perhaps IL somebody would only
sneak a windowful of the things down
hero to Washington some fine young
day. the women might be pursuaded
To indulge in the latest continental
pastime, and overall.