The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-02

However, when the new clothes arrive from Paris and the wo-rien of this country digest them, they will be put through the sieve of public opinion and what comes out will be trustworthy.
 There is much that women should re- gard in clothes as a means to an excel lent end. They are going to be too busy this entire winter to spend hours of their time in shops, and they will not be able to indulge in the foolish fancy of send l. ing up clothes on approval and return ing them the next day. The shops pub lie opinion and the indignation of in- telligent women are going to be directed against this custom.
 Therefore, it behooves every woman to think well over what she wants to buy for her outfit, and when she buys 1t, to stock to it. We are a wasteful nation in clothes as in food. Everyone buys too many garments Few of us have strilS- ing individuality of thought in clothes. Much of this condition is due to the overwhelming display of ready-to-wear costumes offered at a reasonable price to every woman who passes a window This situation may continue in the shops but 1t must now meet highly trained mind. The woman who earns money is apt to spend it fibre foolishly for clothes than the other kind of woman, which Is a truth that seems to escape the ma jority of those who preach
 This truth has struck home among the English and French. who say that there has never been such extravagant pur- chasing of clothes in those countries by the middle class women who have gone to work for the first time. The women ir the intuition plants simply pour out their wages on finery in the London shops, and the women of the bourgeosie In France who are making money in mu- nitions, are going to the great dressmak- ing houses In Paris for the first time in their lives and paying prices that here tofore were only paid by the South Amer ican raillionaires.
 BUSINESS WOMAN'S CLOTHES
 The condition that exists in Great Brit ain and France may be repeated in this country. but not in the same way, be- cause our great middle class has pos sessed the millions. There will certainly us 6 SlCdL CQl tdi4lilSiL III tl0 uiCAlctolhlS of extravagant and frivolous clothes. High prices will be paid for gowns as for coal and food, but that's a part of the present scheme of things-a vicious circle which not even the government seems to be able to break through.
 That thousands of girls and young worn- en who have taken the positions of men in this country will lavish their wages on clothes, there Is no more doubt than there Is that these women will always continue to work instead of loaf. And so the appeal for conservation of clothes and for good taste in selectin must go out to them even more than to the woman who is working for nothing.
 RIGHTFUL ECONOMY
 There should be strong series of para graphs sent broadcast over the land to women In regard to the purchasing of clothes, and some of them should read on this order:
 Don't wear old and shabby clothes un- der the false impression that In so do- ing one releases man power for the war. It's women who make most of these clothes, and they need the salaries.
 Don't pay foolish price to any dress maker for any kind of gown merely be- cause 1t has great label in it. Use the enlightened business mind to decide what value of gown is before buying it.
 Remember that there are thousands of seamstresses in this country who are ea- ger to make a weeks wages and who have been badly reduced in income through the cheap ready-to-wear clothes sold by the shops. Pay these women to keep your clothes in good order and to make new clothes whenever possible, in order that you may be released from that kind of work to give your time to the nation.
 Don't indulge recklessly in dozens of wash blouses. Laundry Apills include the price of starch, and to demand starch in hundreds of garments Is not good con- servation.
 Buy as many things as possible in silk crepe de chine and georgette crepe, in order to save cotton and linen for gov ernment uses.
 Be exceedingly careful in your choice of shoes. for leather is scarce and the price is getting beyond the average purse Instead of wearing thin velvets, fanciful weaves that will not extend through the fashions for any length of time, have the street clothes made of sturdy homespun, the new velour and heavy English suit ings.
 Don't buy costumes in brilliant colors because if there is need for strict econ