The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-27
AT THE LUNCH HOUR

A wondering, bright-eyed girl
asked me: Where can 1 go to see
well-dressed women"
l was frankly puzzled. I hemmed
and hawed. 1 stammered and ended
by telling her that, in New York, she
would have to know how to pick out
welldressed woman from a vast
multitude. l could send her to the
place where one or two might be apt
to be seen, but l could not guarantee
that she would find them unless her
eyes were very sharp.
But" she protested, that's Just
my difficulty. l want education on
the subject. 1 want to be sure 1 am
looking at WELL dressed women"
Merciful Days. 1 was bewildered
then. l would have to send along a
censor to call attention to the good
points and the bad ones and, perhaps,
If lucky, to announce the approach
of one woman who was we'll dressed
in every last detail.
We went then to Madison avenue
hotel for lunch. Goodness knows, it
has at least the reputation of attract
ing, that hour of the day, the we'll
dressed woman of New York. We
entered the grill early to watch the
throng as it arrived. And on it
came-a conglomorate mass. 1 was
modestly silent until l was forced to
start with these answers to breath
less Questionings:
No, that wreath of white lilacs on
a purple hat is not good for luncheon
time. 1t looks more like a garden
party
Well. really. red slashed shoes can
not be considered extremely good
dressing even when accompanied by
hat and bag to match.
long fur cape at this time of
year may be comfortable but 1t is not
art.
Black satin, high-heeled slippers,
with flesh colored gauze silk stock
ings are not really good for luncheon
time.
Colored machine embroidery all
over a tightly-fitting coat with too
much figure visible is not, indeed
smart style.
Leather coat and tweed suit are
worse. Oh, that sort of a blue serge
has gone out of fashion. Embroidered
gauntlet gloves are eXecrable. A
frilled gray chiffon cape with forget
me-not hat was pretty, but it was not
fashion.
Oh, dear, would I ever be vindi-
Gated? The room was now three
quarters full and l had not as yet
been able to point out a well dressed
lady. l prayed for her approach and
just then the answer to my supplica-
lions appeared in the doorway.
She was dressed in a three piece
suit of black silk brocade. There was
a long, straight, wrapping cape of
classic lipes and enough fullness to
cover any disproportionateness of fig
ure. The collar was ermine put on in
narrow bands making square motifs
on a puffy background that shaped
itself in a gorgeous frame under the
we'll groomed head. The simple little
hat with its turned-down brim was
q l.
lined with ermine landings. The
frock had a full skirt draped over so
slightly with a bodice of heavy white
crepe embroidered in black. The low
heeled pumps were black and so We're
the silk stockings. The gloves she
carried in her hand were white suede.
Her handbag was silver mesh.
At last l had found one perfect ex-
ample. And, 10 and behold, here was
another of strictly the opposite type,
but just as good in it's way.
The suit was cream colored home
spun, with short boxed coat and
straight, tight skirt perfectly tailor
ed. The blouse was white with frilled
Peter Pan cloth edged in white foot
ing and with turnedback cuffs to
match The shoes were flatheeled
Oxfords in brown doeskin worn with
tan Isle stockings clicked in drop
stitch. The hat was brown felt to
match the SllOtS anu II Cdll leu d
percy little silk coparde of deep
cream color low on the right side of
it's brim. She wore short, brown
mousquotaire gloves, wrinkled over
the wrists, but not mussing over the
white shirt cuffs. Her wrist watch
was fastened with brown grosgrain
ribbon and about her neck this same
sort of a ribbon held a d-framed
lorgnette Over her shoulders a
brown fox fur was carelessly ad-
justed.
Neither of these types we'll dressed
for the occasion stood out in any con-
spicuous manner but both held no.
ticeable place in the great gathering
of women because, even II the specta-
tors couldn't tell why they felt that
the costumes were perfect. Each sys-
tenn of dressing spoke eloquently for
itself and in such a quiet, Well-bred
manner.
So much for luncheon time. Tea
time is different. We will consider
that in the next article.