The Washington times., 1928-01-03
Chances in Fashions Men ShOWn Masculine Attire
At PICTURESQUE Official Functions Of Ne1O Year Day
Envoy of Czechoslovakia
Is Leader in Group of
Smartly Dressed Men
By JEAN ELIOT

FASHIONS for men seem
to be undergoing more
startling changes than femi-
nine fashions-to judge from
the sartorial display at the
White House, the diplomatic
breakfast and the various
receptions which made up
the official program of New
Year Day.
Considerable surprise was ex-
pressed when the minister of
Czechoslovakia, Zdenek Fer
linger, appeared at the White
House wearing soft collared,
colored shirt with his morning
clothes. But before criticizlng
one should pause to read up on
ssWhat the well-dressed young
man should wear" That's the
very latest wrinkle in London,
which sets the fashions for men
as surely as Paris writes the
ticket" for the womenfolk-and
inevitably it will become an ac-
cepted style in this country.
TI1E new bob.tailed morning
4 coats, which have the stamp
of approval Of Saville Row, have
also made their appearance in
washington. I noticed several
worn by smart looking men at
the diplomatic breakfast yester-
day. And no less q parsonage
than Perry Belmont sponsored the
11se Of q bow tie, black and white,
with the Iong-tailed morning coat
which still has majority support.
ElASHIoNS in court dress and
IL uniforms change little but
continue picturesque. The min
istre Of Denmark, Mr.. Brun, wore
the most colorful coat, q bright
scarlet. at the White House, ana
it was a toss-up whether the
Ambassador Of Belgium, the Min
lister of Greece or the Minister or
Persia had on the most gold lace.
The Persian envoy, however. had
special pictorial value from his
ceremonial fez of astrakhan and
the great. curved scimitar which
clanked at his side. The Minister
of Slams ceremonial dress Is
especially colorful, with dark
trousers and white coat laced
with gold and glittering with dec
Orations.
In former years, when the re-
ception at the White House was
drawn out longer, 1t used to be
the custom for the diplomats to
20 direct from the Executive Man
sion to the Secretary Of States
party in all their glory, but from
year to year ENJOYS In court
dress have become fewer and
farther between at this second
great fete of the day; and / think
everybody had slipped home yes
terday to change into "cits," with
the exception OF the foreign mill
tary and naval attaches - and
some of the White House aides.
who apparently feel more at
home in uniform.
4 x X
IF there is one tendency which
4 stands out in the pageant OF
feminine fashions as we viewed it
yesterday, it is the vogue of black
velvet. Mrs. Coolidge sponsored
it-just about half way. The
picturesque gown she wore for
the White House reception had a
black velvet skirt and a bodice of
metal cloth silver in tone, the two
bound together with implements
Of green velvet. And by some
curious coincidence the entire
Cabinet group-Mrs. Kellogg, Mrs.
Dwight r. Davis, Mrs. New, Mrs.
Wilbur. Mrs. Jardine, Mrs. Hoover
and Mrs. James j. Davis-had
6onned gowns of the same supple
fabric, black velvet, but made in
a variety of modes. They all
wore black hats, small and smart
and Mrs. Kellogg topped off her
costume with black velvet coat.
trimmed at throat and wrists
with white fur.
Mrs. Henry Allen Cooper and
Mrs. Sol Bloom-the latter attend
ing her first diplomatic breakfast,
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