Evening star., 1921-05-08
BY ANNE RITTENHOUsE.
EFT us take up this odd and al
most exciting subject OF wear

~
T EFT us take up this odd and al
most exciting subject of wear
ing dead black for all the
hours of ones life in pubic
II has grown beyond fad: ii has oe-
come the chiefcst fashion or 'he
spring. One might say of it as f'"''!
Lauder sang of drinking: Its 80
habit: it's Il gift.
Many are inclined. but few are
chosen to wear black with success
but that sharply evident fact does no.
keep women from running tulI ul'
into danger. It's a fashion. inei
YOU are. Men may call II ioolisn-
ness. but it is a foolishneSs tha' mas
ruled the world. not only o3 WoHien
but of men, since prehistoric days
II is quite probable that the N.ander-
thai men left their caves lii hSeI
skins one season and stern!Y retuseu
to wear them the next. as leopaFos
were the new fashion. :,
II is 4 curious trick of crlticS 10
Judge humans by what should he or
might be, instead of by what is
Fashion is the ultimate power Oh w
world even in armamentS ana Poi
tics So il Il world of women are
going to wear black. and black WIN
out luster as though the human l"oe
was in mourning for some cataclSsh
then bv all means let us accept the
fact and discuss the melhou anu VI.
manner of wearing it.
1t is claimed that the French IN
vented the fashion through no'N g
of economy and not through reaSons
created by the battleiields. Hcf
women were not able 10 puH i',Hn
clothes and they chose the kind o'
costume that was least StrIdent: ons
which would serve throughout all tht
days of the week and all the houfS VI
the day witout suggesting adverse
criticism.
rrHERE may have grown up hlnC
of coquetry in it. The FrencI
look we'll in black. Any woman doe:
who possesses a pallid, healthy SKIN
expressive dark eyes and slender
figure. Any woman who knows th'
art Of make-up-and would that al
the Americans knew it. now that II II
universal on this continent-ihd
woman is assured that she can us'
black as a foundation for the rest o
her appearance: Il she mas me peai
so much the better. ,
But black is the color ior the
artist. not for the amateur. Womer
have been mistaken through cen
turics regarding its dithcuit!es
Those who have been in mourh'ns
know it's devastating habit OF de
stroying whatever charm one ha S
They are aware. also. OF the ease II
which one gets into careless ru
through wearing black: they know
the eternal vigilance required. Econ
omy in materials is Impossible I'M
whisk broom must be ones fonstan
companion. One must dress IN
piercing light. The least dlscrep
ancy in the costume is plainly Fisi
bic for criticism.
These are facts that must DC born
in mind by those who are bent o'
following the new fashion. That W.
NAV be in danger of appearing like
procession of mutes at an anclen
funeral is beside the question. ~
thing is done.
The sallow woman must learn -
put color touches where they VIII q
the most good. the brilliant womai
must learn to tone herself down II
order not to present too violent con
trast to her costumery. -.
The question among the dressmak.
ers is. what will the America ms ae
with these aIl-black eostumes?, What
will they demand to go with them:
Will they ask for coiered hats as th<
sea son advances because the dead