The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-15

PARIS July 15-The prOmiscuous
display of bare, legs has at last
scandaIized the staider sections OF the
Paris press.
One journal, in particular, is 50
moved by society's newest fad today
that it filings ali the well-known
French chivalry to the winds and in
sinuates that, however belle" and
scharmant'' Mile. Paris may be in
Northern ATTITUDES (anatomically
speaking), her ankles can never hope
to compare with those OF the maids
of Euclid's time, who had some rea-
son for exposing them to the balmy
zephrys of ancient Greece.
This "dernier .cri," as the French
translate --latest freak" received its
official Inauguration at the opening
of this years Longchamp races, when
the leading Partisan modistes, sent
there their most beautiful models. clad
in the seasons latest creations, but
wearing what might be termed near
stockings" Their hose was OF web
like silk. and. to all intents and pur-
poses, invisible.
@If one cannot see ones stockings.
what's the use in wearing any at ALP
the LdSHAOh plSSSS " - - o0NSN
themselves
Fashion Spread From LOngchamps.
Since. then bare legs have been
adopted outright by those to whom
this angle OF the mold of form APP
peals. From Longchamps race course
the fashion spread to the Auteuil
Maisons Laffittee race courses and
other fashionable outdoor gatherings.
Then the dansants, which have be-
come exceedingly popular since the
armistice permitted the resumption
of dancing. caught the infection. and
finally il came to the evening halls,
especially those of the popular order,
such as the Bal Tabarin, although the
style was not affected by women Wis
ible at the more aristOcratic places.
While the high and almost prohibit
tive price Of silk stockings was the
original pretext which justified their
disappearance, the innovation is not
entirely new. The Partisan chorus
and revue girls abandoned stockings
on the stage in the early part Of the
war. The universal theatrical rule,
which requires girls appearing in cos
tune productions to buy their own
silk stockings (the management fur
nishing the costumes only, led the
Ad1ACS VI Vic -NhOA11 ~ NhO AC~AoAOAA
that it would be both more economi-
cal and decidedly more chic to dis
card stockings entirely, or to confne
them to half-length, reaching just
above their shoe tops. AS a conse-
quence, Paris chornses for several
years have been appearing bare-leg-
ged. and il is largely their courage
in breaking down custom that has re-
suited in the new fashion with those
who don't have to dance for a living.
Nevertheless, the Partisan press is
beginning to protest. lie Gaulois, the
most aristocratic, and perhaps the
most critical, paper in Paris, says:
1T was German doctor who pro-
fessed to cure ALI diseases of the sys-
TEN by having his clients in the early
morning walk baretooted through the
dewy grass, but who is the boche
doctor who has prescribed today to
fashionable peopie-to promenade with
bare legs at the race course, or even
to participate thpsly. at teas where
they dance?
AT Longchamps and Auteul one
sees women with highly plumed hats.
with their threats carefully wrapped
in furs, but with bare feet encased in
patent leather shoes, .t s-
Jean Louis Vandoyer. who is a
man of taste. has already protested
in these columns with great fervor
against a fashion as ugly as it is in