The Washington herald., 1920-10-14
PAPER CLOTHES
FOUND HIDEOUS
Woman Writer Describes
Teuton Innovation as AL
together Disagreeable.'
BY WINIFRED VAN DUZER.

New York, Oct. ia brand new
variety of fashion show opened here
today and was attended by hum
dreds of men as well as women.
But despite the fact that every
garment on exhibition was imported
and of type never before seen this
side of the Atlantic. and despite the
fact that this city loves novelty as
she loves her soul, the models
shown today will never, never be
worn triumphantly down Fifth ave-
nue. or even up Broadway or Sixth
avenue.
For the show was held by the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce in the custom house and
featured the paper clothing which
was one of the boasted achieve
ments of Germany and Austria dur
ing the war and which now Is being
manufactured as a staple article Of
trade in Vienna and Berlin.
"AItogether DisagreeabIe."
Now there may be certain ones
who, having read of paper gar
ments, call to minds eye the fluffy,
tinted wrappings of dolls and pat
tern models. But nothing could be
more different from the hard, fiat,
shiny. unwieldly and altogether dis
agreeable things to wear which
| German and Austrian manufacturers
are hoping to put on the market in
place OF silks and woolens.
| The material looks much like
burlap, excepting that it is less
plant. and with the gloomy sur
face of wrapping paper. 1t does not
take on the Impressed effect OF
wool and cotton, though a crease
pressed any way of the goods re-
mains sharp and hard. 1t is so
/ bungling that enormous stitches
are necessary and all seams are
clumsily Joined.
Fancy House Dress.
A garment which attracted much
attention was house dress. in
faded shade OF navy. 1t was fash
ioned somewhat ornamentally, with
a pleated fiounce and ties crossing
at the back. A narrow strip of col
ored calico was stitched to the neck,
belt, and top of the pocket, the
bright red and green lending an
Austrian peasant look. 1t was
marked ffty-eight crowns with the
trimmings and ffty-five without.
4 pretentious auto duster in
heavy tan-colored material was on
exhibition. 1t was made on the
belt and box lines featured by most
exclusive Fifth avenue sports de-
partments. and even the big white
buttons were of paper. 1t present
ed a rather swagger appearance, as
II hung upon rack. But upon
ithe wearer it stands out all around
Many Figured Patterns.
| Various things in figured patterns
were shown. One was an apron
with a black stripe on blue. Men s
suits and coats in black and white
check were marked at attractive
prices for anyone who wished tC
purchase. But the figures merely
are printed upon one side, same
as type on newspaper, and No
guarantee was offered that they
would not disappear with wear OF
by wate'.
Batik designs were attempted or
some of the curtains and table COW
ers The material was much lighter
than that of the garments. One
cover was printed with center OF
red. green, blue and yello wrose'
and a border of wide black anc
white stripes. Another piece Of ma,
terial for sale by the yard was !
black and white vine design In imi'
tatiOn of lowered GeOrgette.
Several mems three-pieCe suit:
were tho bright henna shade which
fashion threatens to make popular
in regulation garments this year
The suits were marked at retail
price of about S1.35 at the present
value OF the Austrian crown.