The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-28
Extended
Hen1Iine Is
Accepted
BY JEAN PA1OU
Written for NEA Service


PARIS, No. 28.-The Yexed ques-
ton of longer skirts. today the main
theme of women's conversation all
over the world, has caused very de-
termined reactions. Indeed. it holds
all the elements Of controversy,
based as it Is on a misunderstand-
ing.
Much has already been written
on the subject, but in every instance
people have been prone to general
re somewhat too freely.
NV contention is that most writ
,rs have failed to distinguish be-
tween morning, afternoon and eve
ming clothes, although this Is the
most important point.
The result has been considerable
confusion in the minds Of the ma
ioritv of women, and every day
eone one comes forward and stats
emphatically that women never
again will wear trailing skirts.
Mixed on Their Views
The trouble is that these people
think of daytime clothes In tre
mise of clothes we have created
solely for evening wear.
AS q matter of fact, extremely
long evening gowns no longer as
tonish or intimidate women. IL Is
a feature of fashions that their eyes
have become familiar with for sew
eral season. u.,.
They accepted the longer, albeit
uneven. hemline when it was oftereo
to them, and now even go SO leI
as to have shorter models maze
longer confident in the success that
the longer, more feminine type Vi
dress has brought them.
TJndoubtedly. afternoon dresses
are generally longer, but this extra
length is only, in reality, matI'I
of few inches.
Not Current Fashion
Women may sometimes utter a
crv of dismay when they are shown
an ankle-length model for the alter
noon. but these dresses are excep-
tional and do not represent current
fashions. as may be supposed by
people whom this So-called evolu-
ton worries.
Certain afternoon dresses
showed in nv winter collection are
indeed very long. but no great I'M
portance should be attached TO them
and they by no means are repre-
sentative of any special style.
The greater number OF my al
ternoon dresses measure from "a 10
35 centimeters IA to Is inches)
from the ground. excluding small
number of very dressy, formal aft
ernoon ensembles, which are decld-
eddy longer.
They represent, however, very
small minority.
Dress No Longer
Where morning or walking dresses
are concerned, I have not added 10
the, length of any dress since tne
nfeding season.
Sre only difference is that tfloSe
women who unfortunately had &C
CURED the habit of wearing too short
skirts have now discarded them
and have their clothes made the
same length as the model, instead OF
taking off an inch or two.
Now that these longer skirts arc
generally worn, the added inches
might be more apparent to the on
locker. but so far as the couturler
is concerned, there is no change III
this type of dress.
Frankly speaking, 1t is the women
who have changed their viewpoint.
Those who chung to the short skirt
feel and know they look hoDe'eSSly
out-of-date, and after a season CT
rebellion, they are forced to ad-
nit that the couturier was right.
To the couturier. the abbreviated
skirt was nothing more or less than
a negation of style and good taste.
1t is very gratifying, after all these
years, to think that women VIII pc
clothed in graceful. feminine clothes.