Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-07

ana 10 De confronted with the first
fashions for spring. This Ia the case
at this hour.
Two-thirds OF us have not been well
established In our first cold weather
garments. nor have we completed our.
wardrobe for the four months of win
ter ahead, yet here are the shops
showing new clothes for warm wealth
err. or at least for warm climates.
Now tho manufacturers are announce
ing their April fashions. They insist
that the public be Informed that their
buyers have been over once or twice
since the August exhibitions; there
fore, that which we wear now is quite
impossible to continue. Isn't this sad
dening to those who are bound
through inclination and economy to
continue with their seasonal clothes
in order to get full value for money
spent?
X X X \
It is quite true that the great ma
jority of the public really cares little
about any fashion that is casting it's
shadow before. 1t is grippingly con-
cerned with the actualities OF the
present. It wants to know what Is
being worn at the moment that 1t Is
ah DOSING it's clothes The public, In
buying clothes, has no past. no future.
It is neither retrospective nor pro-
phetic Keep me from getting what
is not worn this very month and what
will be in fashion next month Is Its
cry for help.
Az opposed to this attitude the en-.
tire working force of the trade is nee
essarily engaged in the task OF aban-
doning. one outpost after another. The
frontier line changes while the public
sleeps. This is admirable strategy. but
1t does not always succeed The pub
lie ia often obstinate. 1t showed that
strain this autumn. 1t shrugged Its
shoulders at hoop skirts and crinoline,
refused, in mass, to adopt the back,
less bodice or to cut deep decoliete
in the back with q collar bone line in
front. individuals have accepted these
things. yes, but not the public.
It ts curiously obstinate. this Arneri-
en- public, az one will find when there
10 suf,acient interest to study the rela-
tion between mass Psychology ana
fashions; not only fashions for wom-
On, but those for men.
The ardent development Of Anaeri-
canism. the passionate desire for no
ENHANCEMENT with European politics
that has grown since tho return OF
our soldiers has it's brilliant reflection
In the fashions for women today. This
10 a feeling that Is not AZ well under
stood In New York, especially among
the social tnternationalists. an In the
vast reaches of the continent.
There is NO antipathy, mind you. but
indifference: a spoken or suggested
thought that America IL quite good
enough for Americans. thank you. 1t
should give one pause and an hours
meditation The war has left us with
d. chip, on the shoulder where the gun
rested. No one who has been in France
!. since the arimistice or has talked to
homecoming soldiers has failed to see
this chip. This national attitude won't
hurt the unceasing demand by the
shops and dressmakers for French in
spiration and fashions. but 1t has led,
undoubtedly. to moro determined
Americanixation. Of the clothes Ameri-
can women adopt.
As far as the season has gone there
has been no wearing Of the so-called
bathing suit street frock that was the
corner stone of the French wardrobe
last summer. Our skirts have short
ened. 1t is' true: the sleeves grown
shorter and the back decolletage
deeper among those who are accus-
toned to exposure.
, r ~
The difiicult thing is to find the rea-
son Of the French bitterness against
this condition. 1t may arise from the
feeling that there Is some pussy
3 footing" going on. which will result
nin Paris fashions being barred like
French wine. This last trade condi-
y tiofp has aroused bitter depression In
France. e.s5
, siNotwonderothey are alarmed IL they
permit themselves to speculate upon
the chances OF Paris clothes not being
permitted to cross the ocean! The
greatest part of the industry OF Paris
is In apparel for women. Surely there
can be little basis for that alarm, al
though there Ia no doubt that America
will begin to build far more upon the
inspiration she receives than she will
selfthe actual Paris frocks. But that
does not decrease the purchases Of
our foreign buyers.