The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-09
CHOICE OF A COAT

When you consider what your new top coat is to be like, that little word "practicaW seems to cast Ahadow over the joy of selecting 1t. A-ou feel that somehow you are go- ing to decide upon something that is just little less interesting than you would like, but-practical.
 Certainly the practical quality is desirable, but. fortunately, there IS nothing impractical about stripes, and the smartest coats are striped this season. We have been used to seeing figured Things in one color coats and now things have turned themselves inside out All the color is on the outside. while the Things are perfectly plain. This vogue for stripes gives variety ana dash to utility coats that could never be attained by Il plain material
 Then, too, it is the clever way in which stripes are used that gives them new interest. They may run sup and down on the upper part of tue garment, but from the hip line 10 the bottom the material is cut into sections and placed one on top of the other, with the line broken to form checks. Or q wide panel may run down the back, with the stripes placed ladder fashion. It is ex- tremely decorative, this way of us ing striped materials, and even though your coat is chosen to wear when you wouldn't think of wearing an elaborate wrap, it may still have an air of individuality.
 Nor are stripes alone in favor. I1aids have good share of Dopu- lerity The odd effects with which stripes are used also lend themselves 10 tile plads, and the beautiful col egiugs make some of them de- light to the girl for whom color has q particular attraction. One lovely
 f11 ,tstel shades on a black background. she dominant tones of the plaid were lallsy pink and lavender, or per ] aps It only seemed so because the coat was trimmed with luxurious c9liar and cuffs of taupe fox, the ne harmony of the coloring was Jscrfect. and with it was worn black felt cIoche trimmed with silver braid.
 However, the newest of fur trim lainps, whether it be for a hand | one wrap of black velvet or ple- Loan tweed that must stand lot ~- hard wear, is red fox. We had srMost forgotten it's very existence, when IL suddenly appears under new and strange sounding names and justifies its choice by blending per- fectly with the new plaids. Badger, that creamy yellow fur tipped with gray, is also favorite.
 To wear going to and from the office and for general utility, you want a coat of rough material which will shed the dust. The softer va riettes require frequent spongings and pressings. and the girl is, in- deed, energetic who can keep in touch with her friends, her cultural pursuits, and all her other interests and still find time to give this at tention to her coat Shaggy tweeds, homespuns and cheviots are all good dust shedding materials.
 With the rage for tubular dresses. it isn't to be wondered that we hear of Paris wearing a coat that slips or over the head, Perhaps we shall rec them generally worn here, but so lar 1 have seen only one. It was cf blue gray and striped homespun and had a high collar of gray fox, The coat was opened down one side of the front, just enough to get into it. and the closing was fastened by . single large bone button. It IS amusing to think of the possibility ofs struggling in and out of coat, and yet you can sec the advantage Of having & single thickness of woolly material across the front of q heavy coat. It would help the Him silhouette, and it wouldn't blow orNn. but how to manage putting 1t i1 ce, and taking it off would have te be looked Into.