The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-02
New Suits Serve To the Point Of
 Mannishness

\ If the boyish mode sets itself up to be pert and independent of feminine frills it certainly must bow to the su- perior self-sufficienct of the new tail pred suits.
 These suits are severe to the point of mannishness and exactly cut, with ..out any compromise whatever. They are straight, slim and rather short and there is not ruffling soft bit of ma terial to be seen anywhere on them.
 It sounds little forbidding, doesn't t it, when you have been used to deftly placed flounce or an obliging little capelet to soften the suit. But then if you have looked about the smart shops at all you have undoubtedly seen these good looking new suits and real ized that they are the very essence of chic and that their plainness is their great attraction.
 The materials are decidedly mannish. Serges plain and faintly striped come in for most of the attention, with black and dark blue used more than any other colors. The short coats button with three buttons when the coat is of the single breasted variety, and the double breasted coats have two buttons to fasten them and, in the usual way, two other buttons to balance things. In fact buttons, collars and materials are just like those of mems suits. If you have ever entertained any notions about what men ought to wear, now is your opportunity to try out your theories on yourself.
 In the lapel buttonhole of your coat you may place an exotic gardenia or a common or vacant lot dandelion. Both are good and acceptable. A little black silk fob may hang from the breast pocket or a long, slinky kerchief trail from the side pocket. This big "hanky" is often criss-crossed in bright red and orange shades, making a great splash of vivid color against the sombre tone of the coat and skirt.
 Then the waistcoats, too, help to re- heve the severity of the ensemble. Brightly striped silks and plaided woolen stuffs are made into vests de- signed especially to be worn with these suits. While the vests are brightly cplored, they make no other concession to femininity, for they are tight-fitting and as strictly tailored as the suits themselves. The vests, handkerchiefs, fobs and boutonnieres give lots of opz portunity for variety and the express sion of. individuality.
 Now you would think that from a logical viewpoint the mannish suit should be worn with low heels and a tailored hat. But no! That is the one thing you may not do. With low heels sthese outfits would be merely frumpy. One must wear graceful high heels that give a flattering sweep to shapely ankles and the added height that is necessary to properly carry the severe lines of these suits. The right sort of hat to wear is one that is compact, though it may have little feathered ornament or a complicated trimming of ribbon applied to the crown. In other words, your costume may be rather feminine from the hem line downward, and upward from the little bow tie, but in between it must carry out uncom- promisingly the tailored idea.
 2 One example is developed in two materials-black and white checked cheviot for the skirt and vest and black cheviot suiting for the coat. The cuffs and collar are also of the checked ma terial. Notice that the coat closes like a man's dinner jacket. This is another smart way of buttoning the coat, and it has, moreover, slenderizing effect that is very desirable.
 There is a well-groomed. something about a suit of this kind that makes it different from any style thta has ap- peared recently. To wear one is supreme test of your ability to carry clothes well.