The Washington times., 1923-02-18

Then along comes the editor and
announces that we must write
about dresses of sense and skirt
lengths of sensible mein. We re-
member recent cable from Paris
---ah, what was that?-only the
laughter of school boys playing the
surest game Of spring marbles.
Our thoughts are off once more,
and we wonder what rhymes with
hyacinth and If love and dove
have been overworked in sonnets.
How did that lovely little verse
about a bird twittering in a leafy
branch go?
To resume our discussion. It is
Hike when, at school, we were
Obliged to read Sense and Sensi-
bility." We Tipped the first few
pages to see how the story ran, for
teacher had promised us that it
really was a story; then. not dis
covering any hair-raisinE plot, put
the book aside for a more studious
hour. At length came the end OF
the semester, with that book still
unread. In desperation we plunged
into the thing, and were greatly re-
lieved to find an interesting story
and so to enjoy an evening while
engaged in study.
%
Go it. viii be with this skirt situa-
tion. Along in December we
hoped, that is the American public
told US to hope, for we are in
favor OF long skirt personally. that
skirts were gradually going up,
and 50 put off reading any
accounts one way or the other.
Occasionally a. contradictory re-
port would creep in, but we allow
ed no disturbing thoughts to enter
int6 our enjoyment Of the holi-
enfuary Is a reckoning month,
and we were brought face to
face with the issue. What have
you done toward informing the
fashion readers as to the true
condition as to skirt sensibiIity?
Being quite attached to the flat.
tering draperies and circular
styles, It Is no unpleasant task
to review the skirt edict.
, Just as we started our book
review with direct statement
This is a story of English
hfe,"-so state we now, dear
readers, skirts are long. unques-
tionably long, irrevocably long.
Long for the street, longer for
the afternoon and longest for
evening.
Quoting favorite pastirne with
all reviewers who wish to fill
space while appearing to be too
modest to assert their own opin-
1ons-frem a Paris letter: 'tWhen
one sees statements in reliable
fashion papers Of interviews with
American buyers to the effect
that the long skirt is finished in
Paris and that French model
makers are reverting to short
skirts. a feeling Of despair comes
over the wou1d-be intelligent
fashion writer. We pause here
to mention that we too, were
included in that list OF, those who
heard that skirts would be
shorter, but we are glad here to
correct any misrepresentation con-
Corning Paris styles, that require
such immediate correction.
How such an impression ever
originated, it is difficult to tell"
sresuning the letter, for Paris
dressmakers have steadily and
logically continued to increase
the length of the skirts, both
Tor street and house wear. In
street. skirts they have Increased
the length from an average of
twelve inches from the ground
to six or eight inches. In house
dresses the ankle length and
longer have been Endorsed and
are still being Endorsed by the
leading model makers in Paris"
:. Now. that We have acquiesced
as to the skirt question, and nc.
knowIedging our error. we feel at
liberty to wander away from that
subject and bring in some ideas
OF spring.
COLOR-ah. that is right in
keeping with the season. A
paragraph quite to our liking
reads: "Reyerting to the Spanish
influence for spring. Poiret, in
the costumes for a new play
"Les- Deux Bellies de Cadiz,' -
shows an interesting color com
1bination' in costumes of Spanish
Velasquez and Goya styles. A
beautiful shade of Velasoue1