Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-01

nanu IN mana.
Ornateness was INDUCED IN to such
degree after November that our
clothes became over-ornamental. A
rocco period was threatened.
France was the prime offender in
non-essentials in clothes. Small, flu
tile, insignificant things dotted the
surface of apparel.
When the Paris creations arrived
in America, the apostles Of simplicity
OF the severe line and The unbroken
surface. felt that the world Of fashion
had suddenly dropped back into that
era of victorianism which has been
celebrated for it's ugliness.
The public knows how distressing
these clothes were in their apparent
desire to reach somewhere, yet getting
nowhere. They looked like birds nests
to which had been brought all the odds
and ends found in window stills and
on the street.
Simplicity slipped out of existence.
Whatever was complicated was con-
sidered fashionable. Sashes, flowers,
feathers, spangles ruffies, gewgaws
and furbelows were abundantly be-
Anything that was not ornate was
splendid. If it had simplicity Of line.
it struck one between the eyes because
of it's color, it's sumptuous fabric. and
the splendor of it's trimmings.
What happened? No one knows.
Possibly a group of women became
irritated over the complicated dressing
that was offered them after the ease
and simplicity of war clothes.
1t is difficult thing to ask wom-
an to accept discomfort after she has
had comfort, to give her the non-es-
sentials after she has had a firm grip
on the essentials
After uniforms, overalls, apron
tunics. gowns that slipped on over the
head and coats that enveloped the
figure, ones patience was tried to the
breaking point by gowns that required
a maids services, long mirror and
half an hour more to dress.
And just when the world thought
that it would have to accept foolish
little frocks, fussy little wraps and
complicated neckwear, the designers
suddenly turned back to wartime SIM
plicity and put out clothes that might
have been invented for lightning
change artist!
Whatever the force that swept aside
the complicated frock it should receive
it's due tribute of gratitude. The SIM
pie frock has been reinstatdted in the
wardrobe of the woman who dresses
we'll and the woman who has learned
a tremendous lesson through the war
that life can be simplted and ma
terial possessions discarded without
bringing hardship or unhappiness. and
that all Of us built "A Tower of Babel
which brought confusion to the build
ers.
There is an aching desire in every
heart, or at least in the hearts of those
who have learned lesson in the last
four years. to remain quietly on the
ground and not ascend to perilious
heights, to go calmly about ones bust
ness and not construct life into pic
ture puzzle that wears one out in its
solution.
A woman came home from France
at the time when her friends of power
and wealth were indulging in the or
namental clothes that the designers
had exploited, and this woman brought
over q frock made by famous de-
signer In Paris which struck the top
note Of simplicity.
She exhibited it at a lunch party.
She merely unlocked it at one hip and
slipped out of 1t.
1t was as primitive as the drapery
of an ancient Asiatic. 1t had q sash,
sleeves, collar and the rest was ac-
cerdtng to convention. but 1t was made
in one piece and adjusted by slipping
the arms through the arnfholss and
hooking one side we'll over on one nip.
then tytns the sash.
Could anything Ne more deltghtful
was the remark Of those who saw this
garment slipped on and off. 1t was
instantly borrowed in the good old
fashioned way that has never been
dropped among friends, whether they
live In fashionable centers or lean over
their back fence TO gossip.
The gown WAS given to well known
New York designer. who copied 1t for
hts clientele. Each woman who wore
II exhibited 1t TO her friends. after the
manner Of the original owner. ana
thereby gained for herself quite good
deal of attention and admiration.
One who knows much has said that
the gown was the first Of the wartime
inventions, and that 1t was brought TO
this country and exhibited with little
eNAo< Il "A trMth that