Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-27
ny ANNE RITTENHoUsE.
Is no easy matter to launch q
really new fashion in the realm
OF Children's clothes for II Ia

4 Is no easy matter to launch q
really new fashion in the realm
OF children's clothes, for 1t is
characteristic of the best dressed
american women-even OF some of
mem VINO are rather inclined to the
novel ana bizarre themselves-that
they are extremely reticent about al
lowing their little girls to depart
from the conservative in clothes
We are decidedly British in that
or at least we attempt to be-. With
some of us there is a lurking desire
TO doll up" our little daughters, to
deck them out for holiday occasions in
chifons and satins and all sorts Of
unsuitable trumpery, but then we re-
call that the people of the greatest
account in our acquaintance stick to
the severely simple, the ultra con-
servative. And we stifie our desire
for the ornate and feel a little pity
IL not contempt for the mother next
door who let's her little daughter wear
pink chiffon to church on Sunday
mornings. 1t is the same sort Of sac
rifice we made when we yearned to
name the little daughter Amaryllis or
Roseiba, and then decided in favor of
Jane or Kate. realizing that the smart
thing nowadays, as far as children
and babies go, is severe simplicity.
In France there does not seem to be
this feeling about little girls clothes
that there is here The French
mamma, even of the better class, has
a passion for trying out new schemes
of dress on her little girl and she in
dulges this passion. She Is forever
attempting something new and, with
the aid of her little seamstress" who
comes in by the day to help make her
own house dresses and less elaborate
regliges, she devises all sorts of
frocks and coats and bonnets for the
little daughter. that we and our Eng
lish cousins would surely consider as
not In the best taste.
And In this country the feeling in
favor OF simpler clothes for little girls
has established itself 80 firmly that
makers of children's apparel And 1t
harder to launch an elaborate or
novel fashion among the better class
OF buyers than among the less dis
eliminating. Women know that the
best way to judge another woman's
social position is by her children.
When In doubt play safe is good
motto. II you arc sure that your lit
tie girl in a pique frock trimmed with
Irish lace will appear creditably. why
attempt something more elaborate or
more novel when you are not sure of
the result? That, 1t would seem, is
thn
However, there are q few less eau
tious ones. few more self-confident,
who do go in for picturesque in the
little giSls' clothes and no doubt have
a very entertaining time about it.
And, OF course, even in the most
conservative attire, there are changes.
They are all the more interesting be-
cause they are slow in coming about.
One detail about which we have
changed our ideas greatly is the color
of our children's clothes Once it was
a question of pink or blue for the
very little girls, with possibly a
Powered ribbon for the girl who was
older.
Lavender-that once was regarded
as the color for the ribbons on an old
lady's cap-is now one Of the favorite
colors for the little girls frocks. And
we like 1T, partly because it is an in
teresting change from the eternal
pink and blue, and partly because 1t
is strikingly becoming to the trans
lucent skin OF childhood. Yellow is
another color that of late years has
not been regarded as a good choice
FOR children, and now 1t Is in high
favor. A lavender frock trimmed with
smoking Of yellow yarn or with yell
low organdie patch pockets, cuffs and
collar. would be good selection.
But we are in the main conserva-
tive and perhaps It Is because Of this
conservativeness that England 10 now
turning to US to supply her with an
enormous amount OF ready made
frOcks and clothes for children. Once
q large number Of these orders were
taken care of in Germany. Then dur
Ing the war there was little thought
for children's clothes. anyway. They
wore what they had or what could be
handed down from older children. and
now that peace has come, 1t would
really seem. judging from the size Of
the orders received In this country,
that every last child in England is
quite desperately in need Of having
her wardrobe replenish2d