Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-05-31
WOMEN DO NOT DRESS
JUST TO PLEASE THE MEN
Perfectly Happy TO Wear Pretty
Costumes, Whether They
Are Seen or Not.

London. Nav 24-Whcther feminine
whims or external forces control change
in stvle was debated bv some literary
women at the Iyceum Club. There were
almost as MANY verClicts as there were
speakers, but some unusually high-brow
views on clothes we're revealed by the
takers.
Dress is the visible expression Of
the inner SOUL was the simple and en-
tightening way one woman opened the
debate. and then followed for several
hours epigrans on fashions like these
when women design their own dresses
they will make far better Job OF II than
men.
Women have not vet emerged from
the emotional stage of development. As
long as they remain in that stage they will
continue to be exploited by male dress de-
slgners,
ut is impossible to control fashion
because fashion is the expression Of
the spirit and thought of the time.
Some women try TO stick TO beauti-
full fashion, but when it has ceased to be
expressive. and those who persist in wear
ing it are uncomfortably conscious of
wearing something that is dead.
1T Is untrue 10 say that women dress
10 please men There are women who are
perfectly happy TO wear beautiful dress
whether any one sees X or not
There are girls who have such pas
sion for wearing beautiful clothcs-Just
for the pleasure Of wearing thern-that
they insist on becoming mannequlns.
"One cannot be intellectual and dress
well at the same time.
'TThe crinoline is not likely to return
as long as straphanging lasts.
''The psychologist can learn much
by observing the most prevalent colors
In dress Before the war there was much
yellow and black When next these colors
become popular look out for another
war"
One speaker dragged the Queen and
past and present courts into the argu-
rnent. Dress was least artistic in the
Elizabethan period, she asserted. But
it is perhaps a pity that the Queen, in
her desire TO encourage economy, has not
retained the train for court functions
The old courts were very beautiful"
Whether Queen Mary will revise her
present idea regarding court dress Is q
question, but it is a fact that the three
evening dresses which have been approved
by the Queen for court wear and are now
being exhibited at the Lord Chamber
lain office in 81 James Palace, do not
altogether coincide with the views ex-
pressed at the Lyceum Club.
Although the Queen does not desire
to dictate what shall be worn at court,
she wants TO give general idea 10 dress
makers and women who viii 90 to court,
Of the type of evening dress she considers
suitable She has compromised between
the elaborate dresses Of the old drawing
rooms and the advanced fashions Of to-
dav. Long trains and feathered head
dresses are ruled out, but flmy sugges-
ton of a sleeve is retained, and the vogue
Of the shoulder-strap is not recognized.
The three dresses are designed, re-
spectively, for a debutante, young
nlatron and dowager IN each case
the sleeve extends only about one-third
Of the way to the elbow, and there is
only the slightest suggestion Of any should
eT covering.
The bareback fashion has been ruled
out, but q generous ~" is allowed, and
in the design for the young matron's
dress the ''V" reaches nearly to the waist.
There is no necessity to wear tram
any longer, though the design for the
dowager shows a short one. Ia fact, the
Queen wishes women to go TO court in
ordinary evening dress.
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