Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-05

American editors, speaking as OBJ
servers of the situation, still believe
there is great struggle under way, as
the fashion experts of Europe seek to
impress upon the women of this coun-
try the necessity for general adoption
of long skirts. Some find that public
sentiment involves certain reservations,
Paris is seriously questioned. Others
expect a long debate with the out
come at present in doubt.
Strange as it may SEEM" declares
the st. Louis Times, dispatches from
Europe say women abroad are not heed
ing fashion experts. The same work
comes from American style centers.
And yet it is not strange, after all.
It is a question whether the majority
of women ever heed fashion experts.
It's the other way around. Fashion
experts heed the women. After all,
though it may take them little time
to achieve it, women wear about as
much or little as they choose, and
what they choose. Fashion experts,
unheeded, have to conform"
X x X X
"The fashion designers struggle to
encaSe American women in ankle
length skirts once more" according to
the Augusta Herald, sis proceeding
right merrily. Judging from our own
observations, we would say 1t isn't
meeting with whole world of sue
cess" The Cleveland Plain Dealer
records praises for and Examinations
against" which, it remarks, makes it
evident that we're booked again for
one of those eras with pens and voices
wondering what women are coming to,
anyway Funnily the very same ones
who Shrieked decade ago, or less,
anent the 'indecency' of short. skirts,
are doing as sharp yelp1ng and yoWl-
ing now at the long ones"
In Milwaukee apparently the matter
has been settled, for the Journal sees
very little ground for doubling that
the new fashions have arrived. THE
fair sex, for all the defiance 1t has
from time to time hurled at the Paris
couturiers, is at last following with
more or less docility the mandate Tor
longer skirts. To be sure, the mandate
had to be repeated an unWonted num-
her of times-but the couturier won.
The longer skirts are already Tapping
among rs Madame, how
ever. is unconcerned. She will never,
never permit Paris to trail her skirts
upon the ground, and she will never
Weld her freedom from the stay that
binds, mandate or no mandate. But
of course, if others should be SO spine
less, we'll Well, naturally. that
would create a situation, to be met in
dine time and with becoming self-ef-
Placement. One would hate to be con-
spicuous, you understand.
4 X X
AFTER. perhaps, more than the usual
renoonstrance," suggests the Hartford
Courant, they will meekly bow TO the
inevitable. But we have no wish TO
chide them; indeed we are IN no posi-
willing to admit 1t, but he, too, In
more limited sphere, dons the garb that
some tailors' convention tells him Is the
thing. The transition between one
stvle and another is not so marked as
in the case of feminine apparel, but 1t
is there lust the same" The Lynchburg
News, however, offers the advice: Men,
or some men, protested violently against
short skirts until they were blue IN the
face, and women continued oeIlaIlCly W
wear them. Little by little men became
! accustomed to them and finally 10 ap-
prove them. and about that time women
! decided to back to long skirts: Inc
moral for those who don't like the new
styles is that they should start right out
| approving them"
Observing that paris is sending over
to this country several missionaries VINO
are expected to educate American Wom-
4 eli OH UIllS SuDJSCIs IIIC ObASN ON1~N
Dispatch argues that sit is a question
whether this clever propaganda will be
swallowed by American women, who
have within the past few years snoWa
considerable independence III wearing
whatever they deemed most comfortable
and suitable. Present indications, II is
said, are that women in this country
are NOT taking kindly to the french olc-
| tation." The Savannah Morning news
holds that "if women should return to
the ground-sweeping skirts OF other
/ years, and the stay-pinched waists OF
those times, it would be as amazing as
| if the hoopskirts returned. But there
will be style notifications. because
women like change; they know the
deadliness Of sameness. Skirts may get
longer, but they will not get too long"
| II r + X
- AS a mere man." suggests the Mont
real Standard, 1--WE do not wish TO see
the kilt adopted by women. The Paris
dressmakers have, it is true, gone TO the