Evening star., 1920-03-21
AUTO DESIGNERS
LOOK TO COMFORT
OF FAIR DRIVERS
Great Individual Attention
to Riding Convenience Given
by Manufacturers.

| The tide of affairs for women is
surely changing and is no less 1el'
in the automobile world. where heI
whims and fancies have caused the
designers of cars no end of concern
| From year to year efforts have been
made to strike the unusual something
to catch the fancy of the LADIES' LOT
they are a factor to be reckoned with
in automobile salesmanship, but nov
elites. particularly in fittings. have
always been placed upon the market
with no little trepidation since all
have despaired of forecasting feml-
nine preferences. OF course, the won :
Ell of Washington and many other
large cities are of one mind as TO the
closed car. Here there is no argu-
ment for the town car and variatlons
of it's type are an accepted Iact. IL
is in the trappinSs that the diversity
of opinion exists.
Faint echoes are still heard of the
fantastic appeal of the designer of
novelties. who has argued that MI
ladi's car should have the same at
tention as her boudpir and must be
decorative and gorgeous to the last
degree. After the first burst of pop
ularity this was then voted to be a
matter of opinion, although few re-
manned adamant as to the wisdom of
the couEse. Even last year there were
handsome cars that represented no
end of individual attention, and their
decoration was almost elaborate. but
the smart matron was not interested
for long in the spectacular trappings
that were heralded so loudly. There
was no denying their charm. but the
bright colored tapestry was likely to
become irksome.
Narrowing Ideas for Beauty.
The automobile designers are mar
rowing the ideas for beauty and COM
fort. They have not only realized the
obvious-that women are becoming much
more practical-but they have kept their
fingers on the pulse of the feminine ap-
peal with most satisfactory results. Car
comfort has become a real need for the
| busy woman. for it is very often in the
motor car only that she is allowed dur
| ing the day a few minutes of relaxa-
! ton while en- route to fill another en-
gagement. In view of this the designers
/ have made the town car real delight.
The secret of this is the custom made
| body as one well known Washington
dealer put it the other day. Every
! woman" said he. who can afford an ex-
| pensive car has found that it does not
take so very much more to have the
/ body Of the car especially made. and
even though her needs are many she has
| found that in the long run it is quite
worth the original cost. One cannot en-
! Joy comfort when she has to sit in a
stra light, tense position. or be surround
ed by colors that are particularly dis
tasteful to her. The possibility of sit
ting in a car that is quite as comforta-
bic as the favorite chair in her boudoir
is really worth stretching a point for.
Attention to individuals.
This the designers are now doing
studying ones figure and modelling the
car to suit it, quite as a gown or per-
sonal requisite is, built. In the case of
one smart matron," smiled the dealer,
"who was exceedingly tall and very par
tial to high hats, the body of the car
was made several inches higher than
most other cars.
THE pillows. too, add to the COM
fort of the occupant" continued the
dealer. And even the cushions are
padded a little more here and little
! less there to, suit the figure of the
dred and one little things that add
both charm and comfort. The desired
temperature may be had on a cold
day, while talking tubes and lights
! are among the other equipments for
comfort now deemed indispensable.
1T was a wise head that hit upon
L he present color effects for the closed
car. replied the dealer, when ques-
toned about the most popular colors
used in fitting out the closed car of
today. Taste is paramount. Tan and
grays are the tones in general favor.
They are not only practical. but they
harmonize with any gown the fair
occupant may choose to wear. Plain
broadcloth for the interior seems to
be generally chosen. and with it is
used very small lace of the same
shade The French are using stun
ming shade of deep tan which they
! call havene. With this they use most
attractive fittings-quite new to this
country. Some are made Of leather
but the wooden exterior with the
leather lining is really smarter and
more serviceable.
New Feature in Oval Glass.
/ NO end of thought and labor is
! spent on these decorations. Some OF
! the cases with feminine requisites
| are made of rare woods, with skillfu
| inlay work. One model recently
, brought over by French firm is OF
! tuya wood with delicate inlay effects
1t introduces new feature in al
oval glass top. which protects tht
contents of the case from dust ant
the possibility of articles being lost
1t is equipped with bottles for seem
and smelling salts mirror. note bool
and tiny toilet set.
| THE Adam style in white mahog'
! any. with marauetry inlay, seems te
be very popular. Another new fea.
| ture is the decoration on these cases
of the medal of st. Christopher. the
patron saint of the motorist. This
| the French have come to consider
most essential in the car"
| In conclusion, the dealer said: "It
is very difficult to tell just bow q
particular style originates. Design
! ers offer a certain new-style car fol
/. the approval of the public, but it is
hard to tell just how it will be re-
ceived At times the designers judg.
ment Is all wrong and something is
produced that is a deadweight, but il
| is part Of the business to study the
psychology of the clientele and an.
ticipate its wants. The sdemand fol
the low-hung car soon made that
style an overwhelming success. II
is now acknowledged to be in COM
plete favor, and the only anxiety this
year among designers is to improve
upon the type and introduce new
| features in the way of comfort an6
| fittings.
Now that the low-hung car is ar
accepted fact. it's popularity can be
somewhat explained, although the
| vision of the designers did not reach
so far when they were first intro.
duced. They are easier to enter ano
| step out Of and one prominent rea-