Evening star., 1919-01-21
Women
PROTECTIVE AND ORNAMENTAL CAPES

never has been a coat invented that
could give the supple grace to wom-
ans figure that is given by the cape
Tall or short. she wears 1t with dis
tinction, If she knows how to wear
anything.
1t may not be warm: it may not be
suita Bile for the bitter midwinter
months: but 1t is absolutely the right
garment for the weeks when one sea-
son is changing into another.
The New Victory Cape.
This is the way France feels about
it. for the moment the season opens.
under the, auspices of peace and the
glory OF contentment. she sends her
Biarritz, Monte Carlo, Nice and
Cannes America does the same thing.
For the southern Riviera she creates
dozen capes a week. They are to
wear over thin frocks as substitute
for sweaters, as a wrap in the late,
horizon blue. Vatican purple. Chinese
yellow, tomato red. henna and jade
green. It's season of colors. you
know, this coming spring, and we do
not care in the least if we resemble
a garden of parrakeets. We haven't
the slightest intention of looking
somber as we go on our rejoicing
way.
France has put out new cape. how
ever, which will probably be widely
copied over here. 1t is in victory
blue. which is the brilliant tone of
the French flag and which suits all
nations because it represents their
own flags as well as that of France.
The material of this cape. which is
sketched today. is wool jersey, and
the trimming Is angora. which most
of the designers say has passed out.
but which appears here and there ION
distinguished models. The cape is
cut in an interesting way. Do you
notice that the front is like q long
waistcoat. a kind of medieval breast
plate? The sides and back would
swing loose, except that they are held
in place by belt which does not pull
the material into the waist line. but
keeps it from falling out Of shape.
The lining is the scarlet of the old
French uniform. and the muff1er col
lar is thrown about the neck with one
end hanging in front.
Capes Substituted for Sweaters.
Each year, when the spring ap-
proacheS, there comes up the discus
sion for and against the use of the
co1ored sweater. There is no reason
10 try to Danish it from the realm of
clothes. 1t has a place of it's own,
but it should be kept there. Now
that we hear from France that sport
clothes are not to be invented or worn
for any hour except those given over
to sport itself, it may be that our
women will cease to consider the
sweater an appropriate garment for
for an afternoon tea; and they may
find the cape more agreeable cover
ing for a thin gown.
Frankly, we are wearied to death Of
sweaters. They should be worn for
warmth. not for beauty. The effort of
the dressmakers Is to replace this
knitted garment by cape which is
to be worn on the beaches of Florida.
at the country clubs of Georgia and
Carolina, and later at all outdoor ac-
tivities Where fashionable people fore
gather. But it is not useless for
street wear. 1t serves exceedingly
well as substitute for long coat
which is often heavy and bungle-
some when the weather turns warm.
1t is not necessary to have a vivid
lining, much as it is admired for the
street and for country roads. One
can have a demure charmeuSe lining
and a cape of serge, jersey. gabar-
dine or thin broadcloth.
Wool jersey is considered by Paris
as the smart thing for these capes.
We shall find out how America re-
CARDS it when the spring season be-
gins. At the present moment it is
offered as first fashion