Middletown transcript., 1918-06-15

| boots: straight, mannlSn ScOtcn
tweeds, and raglan "oats.
The English tea gown has spread
over the civilized world, alongside OF
the English five o'clock tea, which even
the American soldiers behind the
French battle front have learned to
desire.
The British wear two sets Of cos
tumery at that hour in the afternoon,
and both of these are introduced this
summer: the Powered muslin with the
big shade hat, and the alluring tea
gown with it's fanciful coloring and
its loose grace.
Substitute It for Dinner Gown.
One of the reasons that America
is wearing this tea gown at and after
the five o'clock hour is that the French
have taught her the economy and
pleasure of it.
Black, midnight blue, olive green.
beige and munitions gray have ruled
the outdoor costumery of the French
people since August, 1914. They have
worn white only at mountain and sea-
shore resorts, and then it was re-
stricted to sport clothes for the morn
ing hours.
The French are quite willing to wear
dark and demure clothes in the street.
| but they ease up the depression OF
their spirits by adopting colors in their
own homes. At the opera, the play,
in public restaurants, one sees clothes
in somber colors; but in the French
homes especially in the Paris houses,
where women are involved in a social
system-there is brilliant display OF
the British tea gown. 1t solves the
problem; it satisfies the need for color =.
Americas Contribution.
We are becoming quite self-assured
in designing clothes these days. and
have made such rapid progress that
we do not rest entirely upon what
others give US.
When the dressmakers found that
women who spent different amounts
of money and moved in different kinds
of social life were asking for tea
gowns. there Immediately jumped up
kind of rivalry among the workers
to see who could get out something
startling and good.
The especial contribution in which
this rivalry has resulted is the rain
bow tea gowns. We have already
found out that we are in for rain
bow" season. whoever named the
first fighting division that went to
France had happy inspiration-it
gave the word to a hundred activities
in this country. The name f1ickers
from the stage. on posters, gowns and
hats, and now it seems to have found
an admirable setting in the new tea
gown.
Elaborate Japanese Style.
France has sent to us a striking tea
gown that is being copied. 1t is made
as an elaborate japanese -kimono. The
material is extra-broad black and
white striped satin. There is flicker
Of white lace and a bit Of white satin.
and the robe is complete.
All of the house robes that are to be
substituted for dinner gowns this
spring and summer do not owe their
inspiration to the exotic East. There
are other epochs and other fashions
from which the designers draw.
The early nineteenth century has
been found prolific in ideas. The tea
gowns which are taken from that time
are sometimes more suitable for the
average woman than the more compli-
Gated draperies.
These are made of Powered chiffon,
printed voile and silk net, and they are
run beneath the bust, after the manner
that obtained in the Directoire. with
broad ribbons Of old blue, pale pink
and Chinese yellow. They are half
low and round in the neck. and have
short puffed sleeves.
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)