Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-01
TASHINGTON, D. c., Oct 2S.-A COM
wv posite photograph of a group of

wv posit4 photograph of a group OF
minor European diplomats is what
the average American young man will look
like next spring, if the tailors and the makers
of ready-to-wear clothes have theic way, as
doubtless they will.
1t has already been announced that the
clothes designers, like all the rest OF the
world, will descend upon Washington when
the armament conference opens, for the eX-
press purpose of studying the clothes worn
by the delegates and modelling their 1922 Of
ferings after them.
We will be treated to Lloyd George col
lars and BRAND pockets. All European
diplomacy will be represented in the spring
style books. But the clothes will not really
be modelled upon what the great men wear.
Whether it is significant fact or not great
men are very seldom good tailors' models.
BRAND is anything but dressy, and Lloyd
Georges trousers seem often to bag at the
knees, according to the photographs. There
is not anything striking about Clemenceau' S
garb except mat he wears black gloves in the
house-a habit which even European prece-
dent probably would not serve to popularize
in this country.
The colthes will really be modelled after
those worn by thu young striplings who will
come over from Europe in various capacities,
secretarial, social, and purely ornamental.
These imported eXquisites will have trOus-
seaux like brides. Their great function will
be to drink the oceans of tea and other lid
uids set forth by Washington hostesses, tc
dance with the debutantes, and possibly to
marry few of the well-endowed ones, thus
cementing international alliances and recoup-
ing Individual European fortunes as the Unit
ed States treasury has recouped the national
finances Of our allies.
Why Not American Styles?
Doubtless these European attaches will be
very well groomed, and doubtless American
youths might do worse than to look like
them, but the question surely is legitimate
why in this, as in so many other ways, we
should be an imitation Of Europe.
Apparently there is no such thing as an
Anc-'can style The highest recommendation
your tailor or haberdasher can give anything
is that it is now being worn in London, just
as the ladies look to Paris for styles. 1t is
bad enough thus for the whole of male
America to be trying desperately to look
English while his better half tries to look
French, but surely it will be confusing if our
daring and original designers are going to
try to make us look like the whole continent
of Europe all at once, with perhaps an
Orietal touch thrown in.
It is also curious that nation which
prides itself on its inventiveness and its in
dependence ~houl1 be content in so many
matters to be mere ape of other nations.
For it is not only in matters of clothing, but
in manners and customs, in literature and
art, we are,j or have been until quite recent
ly, docile followers of British and other Eu-
ropean models.
This is still more strange when you take
into account the widespread American shib-
boleth that this is the most perfect country
i'll rhe world. Recently "a part of the Ameri-
can public at least has shown a tendency to
tolerate more critical attitude toward its
own land, but in general it has been the
American custom to proclaim America a
great improvement over Europe in every
way.
Imitation is always a confession of a feel
ing of inferiority. If you feel superior you
initiate nobody. Why then, if we are really
so proud of ourselves, do we initiate those
inferior European nations in so many ways?
The American doughboy often came pack
from Europe sneering at the frogs and the
"limeys," all too evidently having failed i'll
any genuine appreciation of France and
England. Yet he gets back into citizens
clothes that are limitations of English models
More than likely he reads. English books, or
American books that are limitations of Eng
lish books. If he goes in for society he en-
counters English accents and English man
ners and goes to English teas. Among peo-
pie who aspire to be considered socially
smart, the highest recommendation you can
give anything is to call it English. We have
bungalows in the English style, and also
estates and clubs. In our cookery, on the
other hand, we initiate the French, and any
hotel which aspires to be considered first