Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-14
kIMoNO MAY BE
 DISCARDED IN JAPAN

According to recent news despatches | Japanese women are seeking a new | dress better suited to modern life than l the graceful kimono. American ma chine made clothes are being consid- 1 cred to supplant the native dress of | the women of Japan.
 In this connection a bulletin issued by the Washington, D. C., headquar- ters of the National Geographic secie- ty says:
 Probably in all the world there is no more charming figure than the Japanese maiden with tinted parasol, pigeon toeing along in the attractive costume of her race. Throughout the history of Japanese art there have been changes of Wornan's dress, but wasp waists, balloon sleeves, hoop skirts and pantalettes have not been among the fashionable features. The same graceful lines of the kimono have prevailed in spite of minor changes, which are as patent to the Japanese woman as is the difference between Hudson seal and plush velour to an American lady of fashion.
 Seen at distance of 20 wards. walking in the shade of the majestic cryptomerias of Nikko or the bamboo of the byways, the diminutive Japan ese lady, with her bright paras and touch of color showing at the border of her outer kimono, is an eye-delight- ing figure. She embodies grace and coquettish charm. Beside such an one, if observed from a distance. the em- press, gowned in Paris styles and wearing an enormous beauty plumed foreign hat at her semi annual gar- I den parties, seems sorry figure. Fed indeed are the Japanese men who gain l dignity from froek coat and silk hat. i bat fewer still are the Japanese worn . 1 en who add to their charm by assum- ing foreign dress.
 1 The Japanese feminine costume Is
 made up of layer after layer of lovely
 silks of the brightest hues, all dis creetly hidden under an outer kirnono 1 of dark gray or black. Nor are the kimonos at all standard in pattern Sleeve length, fuliness and a score of
 more subtle variations cry aloud the
 extreme chic fo the best dfessers.
 ITO the peasant woman, thest
 changes make little difference. Hei
 main demands are two-convenienc<
 and durability. For the field worker
 in a hot, damp climate one reouisitt Of the kimono is that the upper DOT. tion can be slipped off and tucked un.
 der the belt on hot days, and for tn; factory worker it is necessary that tn, long, dangling sleeves be girded bacl out of the way of tools and gears, Fo,
 durability the peasant kimono is un
 excelhed. It is so constructed that th various pieces can be fitted togethe in different ways so that what is tn, bottom edge today can, after the nex
 washing, be pasted up and down tn back, where it can rest from heav-
 wear until the next washing. For eacj washing the kimonos are ripped apar and the different pieces are then drie and smoothed by spreading then while wet, on a board in the sun, N electric iron is necessary and tn parts are quickly pasted together t serve until the next washing day. I ] this way the materials last for a lon T time.
 For the lady of fashion, howeye, 8 no such easy methods of dressmakin < are possible. The finest ctepes an silks are used, and so carefully are tn 4 patterns woven that the slightest de # viation from the measurements fo 4 which the patterns were desiene
 may subject the wearer to sidelon A glances from her rivals. Far frol
 being all alike, both pattern and cl
 are jealously guarded by the would
 be leader in dress.
 III Tn the best shops special rooms al
 provided where a lady may seer, | herself with a discreet designer, thu
 ensurirlg that Model 1s7A-z will Il,