The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-15
DESIGNERS STRIVE
TOPLEASE WOMEN
AUTOCAR DRIVERS
New Leather and Color
Schemes Aid Beauty
Of Models. :
ELABORATE w DIRK
Milady Selects Her Car With
Greatest of Care These
Days.

motor cars can be suited this year.
A visit to the popular salons and
automobile showrooms makes one
quite bewildered with the variety Of
models found there. There are high
cars and low cars: enormous cars
and wee ones; the most elaborate
equipment that fortune can attain
and the stripped chassis that ap-
peals to the more sportive tempera-
ments. Never has there been such
an array Of subtle accessories that
make the interior of a town car the
epitome of luxury. And never has
the roadster or racer for women
been so practical
The designers here have had
large order for this season. Much
has been said about the economic
tendency of the Americans because
Of hard times, so the designers
have been charged to take all that
into account. They have, therefore,
divided their attention between
those who look upon tomorrow as
pnother day and those who do not.
1t Is such Joy to them to let their
imaginations run riot-to produce
something really new and distinc-
tive. At first IL was said that they
complained a little at this new
American attitude of saving for the
future. They argued that the for
eiEn designer would throw up his
that art could not hold sway
when one had to keep an eye on the
expenditure. but American adapt
ability conquered, and the result Is
all that the most exacting could de-
sire.
The producers, too, have had
hand. Perhaps 1t was the pinch of
hard times that overcame the auto
mobile manufacturers along with
other industrial enterprises. that
caused old Mother Necessity to be-
stir them. for never before has there
been such uniformity of purpose
This years cars show that all have
been bent upon turning out the
very best that the resources and
their factories can produce. Even
In the standard cars of less expen-
sive makes the workmanship Is far
ahead of anything shown in former
years The cars priced at from $500
to $4,000 have any number Of new
features.
Many New Leathers.
Take feathers, for instance. No
one would have believed a few
years ago that there could be such
. variety. The natural assumption
was that where leather had to be
on q car IL was, but there was little
question as to what kind it would
be- There was pigskin of perhaps
two or three grades, and Spanish
or Moroccan leather IL one wanted
TO be really dashing. Not more
than half a dozen choices in all. But
now a great book of leather samples
f. provided. They range from the
more familiar feathers to those for
merry used only for milady's hand
bag, and some new grades, all with
most Intriguing new names On the
really smart car one finds very in
teresting combinations of these
feathers. serving, in addition to a
unitarian purpose, a decorative
one as well. for a clever combining
Of feathers is pleasing and adds to
the smart appearance Of a car.
But a serious rival to leather, in
the enhancement OF the closed car
is the hardware. Here, indeed. the
manufacturers have shown their
naettle. There is abundant choice
OF bone, meteorological. ivory.
shefield silver, brass and alumni
mum. or any combination of them.
Cut glass is also an attractive ad-
dition to the hardware fixtures In
fact. the custom body builders have
come to realize that the variety of
products for these accessories has
been far from exhausted. and once
realizing the resources at their
command have become quite reck-
less in turning out distinctive de-
signs. The use of brass Is, per-
haps, the newest and most unusual
departure. 1t gives such lavish
Appearance to the car that 1t bids
fair to be extremely popular. One
smart town car seen recently had
the entire hood of brass. which was
also used literally in the trimming
and hardware. With the latter old
ivory was used. the creamy tint
blending beautifully with the gold.
The car, which was hung low, was
pointed a soft French blue. which
was further set on by the deep tan
interior. Another car which will
soon be seen on the streets Of New
York Is Of delicate gray. with the
interior of the same tones and
fittings and hardware OF solid silver,
Bright Tints Favored.
The sombre tones so much in
favor during the past few years
seem to have lost caste. The smart
ears are painted IN brighter tints
ana the interiors either match them
or are OF contrasting shade. but
equally bright. No longer does mi
lady choose her motor car with
neutral tones so that the interior
viii match any gown she may wear.
A car Is much too important in her
life to have IL an embarrassing
means of transit It is now select
ed with greatest care. and. IL need
be. her gowns are made to At the
car. After all, the smartly dressed
woman favorssa certain color dur
ing an entire season. II may be the
color of the moment, according to
the decree Of fashion. or II may be
her own favorite color-quite the
one for her and Incorporated by
her In various tones throughout
her. entire wardrobe. - New York
Tfmes