The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-11
COats with All the Grace of Capes
Flowing Wraps

T kCREASiNG Soclal activities III N Paris together with the August "A openings have meant increasing
 interest in dress--not necessa- rfly in elaborate dress, for dress is not elaborate. It is, if anything growing more simple, although de >cidedly more diverse in type than ever before.
 It is always gratifying to a true lover of dress as fine art to see many types worn. This always argues well for development of cos tune. It is distressing to those who love dress not wholly as body cov- ering but as art to hear it spoken of in a critical manner which shows only surface knowledge. Develop ment in dress is closely allied with advancement in civilization.
 Many foolish statements are made denouncing certain types of dress. If certain type is not good it is un- necessary to waste valuable time in decrying it. It will have it's brief day and cease to be. It is only the best that lives. If we are interested in the development of dress the best thing we can do for it is to work for artistic. simple and lovely types.
 We never will attain our ideals through advocating uniforms for business women or women in any walk of life. Uniforms for women offer direct setback not only to the beautiful in dress, but advancement in many other ways.
 An Infinite Variety of Circular Goats THE new coats are in no way be- hind dresses in variety. Just as we have circular skirts and tunics so we have circular capes and coats. It cannot be said as yet that any of these circular things have really been accepted, but they are strong influence in fashions and are worn wherever well dressed women are seen-
 During their early days last spring one of thu strongest arguments against them was that they were too ardently taken up by the cheaper manufacturers This, however, has had no lasting influence upon them. For autumn they are advocated by the best dressmakers and worn by the best dressed women
 Mingiing with them are the span- ish shawl effects; that Is, frinred wraps worn much like . shawl folded cornerwise, or draped and frinsed effects introduced into eoata
 The Cape Coat .Is One of E Fashions Landmarks IN SOME ef the recent stage pro
 auctions the Spanish mantilla has been worn with wraps of this sort. This is not practical type of wrap for the wardrobe of the average woman. but is interesting news. There arc plenty Of other types hay. ing all the practical qualities that we could possibly desire.
 Jenny makes m elaborate evening costume of silver-beaded and silver fringed nst- The overdress, elabo- rately beaded and spangled in silver, is almost ake . shawl or scarf in long panel form slit at the top, through which the head passes, and then falls in graceful, cascadine lines at each side. This is made over | cloth of silver foundation. You will find 1t sketched, second from the right on to-day's page.
 There is much to be said of coats with cape backs other than the fact that they are fashionable. They have the grace of . cape without any of it's impractical features. Thers is the comfort of good, substantial long coat coAbined with the artistic outline of the flowing cloak.
 
 That the cape is never absent from fashion proves that it must have some great staying power. Therc is some excellent reason for women always wanting it, for it is always meeting with . ready acceptance. j What can this reason be other than