The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-15

ing Algerian Soldiers, in Their
Trousered Skirts and zouave
Jackets.
New York-The first really definite
OF France is the stress laid upon the
Zouave street costumes for young
women.
1t is probably wasting printers ink
to speak of young women as the only
ones who Will wear this costume; tn.
world of fashion approved long ago
that the grandmother may indorse the
grandchild's costume without any
seeming qualm.
Yet, be that as it may France in
tends this dashing. youthful, boyish
expression of clothes called the Alger-
ian suit for those slim, gay youngsters
who not only people this planet, but
dominate it, especially where fashions,
gayety and social life are concerned.
The trousered skirt was the source
from which the Algerian costume
srrang. The makers of clothes are al
ready expressing themselves as fearful
of the overpopularity of this skirt
They think that it is the kind Of now
city that may spread over the conti-
nent, like the coming of summer, and
before it is really tried out by we'll
dressed women must be abandoned by
them.
IN COMES ZOUAVE JACKET
1t is probably tiresome to repeat
that individuality is rampant this sea-
son; yet, to the reporter of fashions,
the peculiar and unexpected twist Of
things presents a subject of amazing
interest.
The continent cried for standardized
ton in apparel; the reformers APP
pealed for uniforms the serious wom-
en- insisted upon all cloth being cut
to the same measure. And what hap
pened? A hundred fashions sprang
into being; hundreds of seamstresses
were instantly employed to work out
individual ideas; the making over of
gowns became the height of fashion,
Women of great wealth, in $1,000 opera
boxes. explained to each other how
they made the gowns they had on
from two or three old ones that had
finished their service.
Each woman Is starting out as her
own designer. This will result in some
bad dressing, 1t is true, but it will re-
vive stupendous interest in clothes
throughout the entire continent in
those who have grown decidedly weary
Of the extensive copying of French
models and the utter lack of all in
gcnuity in trying out anything else.
SPANISH DANGERS ASSIST
One of the interesting facts con-
nected with this exploitation of the
Zouave Jacket and the Algerian skirt
is the fact that America now walks
Spanish" No play, no cabaret, no
amateur theatricals no charity fete is
complete without something Spanish,
and from Spain we get these adorable
embroidered Jackets of the dancers and
bull fighters.
They are in accord with the leading
fashion for the spring, and do you
know that women have bought these
Jackets from fancy-dress establish
| ments or had them brought over from
Spain or Algiers and made part of
| their best costume for the spring?
The sketch shows a French gown
brought to this country. In every de-
tall It represents the new Algerian
movement. Iteiss of eenstricot that
new kind of jersey, embroidered with
wooden beads and a CLINT OF gold and
soutache braid. The skirt has a wide
pleat In the front and back, which is
trifle longer than the hem of the
skirt, but, like it. loops under and is
caught to the lining to give the trous-
cred effect. There is a broad girdle
tucked carlessly around the waist
This costume is copied in dark-blue
gabardine embroidered in fine gold braid
and black soutache, with bright red
broadcloth girdle. With all these trcus-
cred skirts the smart thing is to wear
high CATERS in beige, gray or tan. The
new trick is to wrinkle these CATERS a
little and not try to fit them closely TO
the ankle.