Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-03-03

morning ana the Englihn woman TOT
the evening: but France has always
reserved To herself the premier place
In the knowledge OF afternoon
clothes
The especial custom in America
which caused the most upiifted eye
brows among the French. was that
one which allowed our women TO gp
10 the most formal afternoon occa-
sions arrayed In the mannish coat.
skirt and shtrtwaist which had been
! worn to IA hospital meeting or "a
shopping tour In the morning
IL was not only that the French
thought this custom inelegnnt. they
thought II dlsrespectful To ones
hostess. With that lucid and rea-
soning mind touched with sentiment
and emotion, the French argued that
We should make a striking differ
once between the clothes we con
sidcred correct TO wear when ming
ling In IA public mob or those chosen
FOR an occasion under a private roof
when invited by hostess who was
trying to give us social pleasure.
The French women have often
said, In their polite manner, that
they could not understand why the
American was lacking In that finer
feeling which automatically governs
the choice OF clothes
Now. whether or not the Ameri-
can n, lacked the finer feeling or
whether she was conscious that Gus
tom produced fashions. she CON
tinued to dress at 10 o'clock in the
morning In the clothes that she
would wear until o'clock In the
evening. In truth, she did not al
ways change for dinner or the
theater. She went on through the
entire routine OF the day with it's
diversified interests, hs business ap-
pointments, its marketing, shopping
and restaurant nnching, it's after
noon teas. weddings. card parties.
home dinners and the play In a coat
and skirt that should only be worn,
an the French put 1t. In u public
mob.
The American woman has always
held up to herself and very earnest
ly, that she was too busy a woman TO
change her clothes several times
during tho day Let the women or
the European nations do what they
would. she thought. in n social at
mosphere that was fostered by gem
erauous OF leisure and inactivity
Her own environment, she said,
called for a different adjustment OF
colthes and life. So, hs a rule. she
presented somber appearance at
all those social festivities that were
intended TO make women as gay as
birds OF paradise, thereby adding to
the cheer and color OF leisure hours
Changed by the One Piece Erock.
However. this manner OF dressing
has changed. For several years n
woman has not depended on her
tailored suit TO do the work for
every hour OF the day.
This transition TO better dressing
has come about through the domina-
ton OF tho one piece frock. As soon
as the American could be divorced,
lor rather. wedged away from her
lifelong friend, the tailored suit,
she found that the one piece frock
had It's attractions
She was willing 10 accept n In
tailored style, but she began TO play
with II bit and make Il suitable for
her leisure time No sooner had she
acquired this wisdom thant the ton
coat OF fur or heavy material came
In TO further her manner OF dress
ing She found that thin frocks
were stili available for winter wear
In the open. II she was securely but
toned up from chin to shoetop in a
warm garment.
She found that the chiffon gown
which she wore at II o'clock in the
morning was quite suitable for an
AFTERNOON dance, cup Of tea or a
game OF cards at In the afternoon,
This rather pleased her, SO .she
bought coats, and more coats. Just as
she bought sweaters, and more
sweaters In the summer.
She also realized that the separate
blouse was an excellent garment un-
der a coat. but not for social affairs
when tha coat was removed.
Three years ago. she ceased ~ re-
move her Jacket in all public places,
and one year ago, she substituted
the loose. Russian blouse for the
tucked In muslin shirt the moment
she entered the house. And all OF
these things were accepted by her
and made part OF the ordinary
routine OF her life until such tine as
tho spark from Europe set our
house on fire
There was no change for a while.
but there Is a definite change now
from what. has beeh and fashion Is
influx every week. We are tvoly-
Ing our own clothes and styles out
OF the activities and Necessities that
confront us, and Instead OF clothes
becoming monotonous, they will
prove 10 be stimulating and enIiyen-
Ing as the weeks 20 by.
In this connectisn. France strikes
vibrant. reseunding note on the
anvil OF fashion giving approval To
the afternoon gown that will serve
for the evening. This IL not a whim
on her part II lS a fashion born
through necessity This Is the best
part Of the clothes OF the last three
years they are the results of de-
mand and supply. not the creature
OF caprice.
We In America are stridinR In
sevep-leagued boots toward this ad :
mirable condition OF arranging our
costumes TO suit the demands of
climate. war. currency, shopping and
other activities. Therefore. we have
Joined hands with France in a way
that has never before been pos,Ible
We know that we are 20 20 through
what she has. even in the frightful-
ness OF cold and the scarcity OF coal.
and that all she has evolved out OF
her suffering Ia handed 10 Us with
fun generosity as a measure Of help
fulness.