The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-30
French Fall Fashions
Black Retains Supremacy
Over Colors-Corsets Still
in Discard

Paris, Nov. 23.-Black remains
supreme in the fashion world OF
Paris. Despite a severe onslaught
by advocates of color, the supreme
council of style has been forced
to retain the conventional black as
the dominant motif of all fall and
winter modes and there is every ia-
dication that colors, except IN MI
nor trimming effects, will not be
able to challenge black until late
spring.
Adopted at a time when econ
omy was the guiding idea Of al
feminine purchases, black has come
to be regarded as the most becon1-
ing color. French women say It Iss
alone in lending itself to striking
effects. -
Dressmakers quietly gathered to75
gether' before fall and winter mod
els were given to the world and
tacitly agreed that colors should
have a chance. The adoption Of
black was hurting them fnancial-S
/ ly. One black gown, carefully se-s
lected, took the place of two or:
! three dresses of different colors.
But the French women who ares
indicators Of the newest Develop
ments in style, said very emphatic
NO The demand this fall was
for black and the big dressmakers
bowed to the inevitable. Crepe
Moroccan, velvetine and periIaine
are the most popular materials.
The corset makers however have
been slightly more successful Ia
their efforts to bring the corset
back into its own. Dressmakers
are insisting that corsets are now
necessary to give the s1uncorseted
look" This propaganda has sue
ceeded in some instances but most
French women, having fought and
won their freedom, are loath in the
! language Of a famous French ac-
tress, ito Jail their bodies again 2
There are four definite features
of the fall and winter modes: a very
long waist line, longer circular
skirts with full sides. eccentEc.
/ sleeves Of gay <colors and the fa-
nous Bateau neck line.
| Brick red has been used extern
sively as trimming and some green
steel ornaments for hats, purses,
| dresses and even shoes are the
newest thing in novelties.
Door knobs and nail head effects
are used in making gird1es. In
| the case of shoes the usual ordersof
! things has been reversed and the
smartest shoes in Paris are .4knick-
erbocker' shoes, with large steel
| buckles.
These shoes look more ike
American shoes than anything ever
before worn by French women, all;
though the French last is retained
The short stubby toe has disappear
| ed in stylish French footwear.
Black again dominates In hats,
felt being the best liked materials.
{ Crowns are much higher and tie
fall hats are SO big that they IN
terfere with dancing. Smaller hats
will be worn with fur coats later
in the season.
Circular earrings, usually a cir
Gle Of jet or ebony within a larger
| circle, are worn by the best dressed
women this fall Novelty; shops
cannot make them fast enough
Some wodei- wear very large ones,
almost canibalistic in effect.
Gay color has its only opportnn-
ity in evening gowns for young
girls. These are made IN the
brightest Of colors but the evening
| dresses worn by their mothers and
older relatives are black. The Enl-
pire period has given the inspira-S
ton for the youthful evening dress
es this year, making wearers look
like venerated ancestors. The
skirts are large, full with hips ex-
tended.