Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29


when women sounded the clarion call
for a rebellion against the styles
But that the smoke of the battle
has cleared. We find that slowly surely
and subtly women are succumbing to the wileS
OF Dame Fashion. OF course, the mode is no
longer extreme and bizarre, but the hemline has
definitely dropped and Spring clothes show that
the romantic and picturesque will continue to
dominate.
What will be the effect Of the flares and the
hounces the clinging skirts. the long gloves and
coinureS on women? VIII coynesS, intrigue
and femininity return? win It once more
become fashionable to possess good manners
dignity and modesty? According to Mrs. Emily
Post. who is authority on the subject OF
fashion, social functions and manners there is
n definite reaction of clothes on the wearer
which results in mental spiritual and moral
changes.
Dressed in black silk gown of the new mode,
AIRS. Post presented charming, dignihed pic
ture. Her living room is an inviting, distinctive
place, decorated in . soft shade between copper
and peach, with curtains of peach and hang
1ngs Of hame-colored ta6eta. There are ex-
Quisite pieces Of eighteenth century English
furniture, lamps Of Jade and Chinese pottery.
The walls are embellished with arcted book
cases and old family portraits To thoge who
know her personally, Mrs. Post is as much an
authority on interior decoration and archtec-
ture as she Is in the social graces and fashion.
II like the new romantic styles" she began.
Eat first I was afraid that the suddenly ex-
aggefated drop of the hemline would have
women tripping over trains and hampered by
long, voluminous skirts. But do hope We will
never go back to the trailing street dresses. I
can't think Of anything more ugly or unhygienic
than that. Besides, our life has changed too
radically for to go back to gathering up arm
fuls Of sweeping skirts and the hour-glass figure.
We must dress for health, intelligence and
comfort as well as for style. Our advanced
Fdz Of iyia In
tnsanitary and uncomfortable mode of the
1905 which Paris first tried to induce us to
accept.
HRUT now that the French designers have
for the first time, listened to the voice Of
the American women, they have greatly modi-
fed the styles so that they combine practicable
ity with subtle feminine appeal. They are far
more charming on women than the abbreviated
Happier mode, and believe that we can expect
much that is good and endearing from them
There is no doubt but that clothes bring an
accompanying change In psychology. When
you go to fancy-dress ball in chaI acter you
naturally act the part whether it is that of an
apache or a duchess. When, therefore, the
bobbed style was in vogue, bobbed manners
prevailed Girls lost their feminine outlook
well as appearance and became mannish in
thought and in action. The abbreviated
dresses led TO a subtle change in moral stand
ards. girl who is Scantily clad is more
likely TO discard old-faShioned restraints and
IN freer in her manners and speech than one
win Is swathed in clothes.
I'VE all know, OF course, that the history OF
clothes has virtually been the history of morals.
One reacts the other. When people were
deeply religious clothes were austere and severe.
Women revealed D~.taing but the tips Of their
shoes and their fiiHNas That was the time of
puritanism and strict morality. In periods Of
wealth and leisure there were romantic elabo-
rate clothes. Then we had great formality and
elaborate courtesy. The postwar periods were
marked by immodesty la clothes and immortality.
Coming down to the present age, the World
War gave women complete emancipation. The
change in their status and in their outlook upon
life reflected in the way they dressed.
Courtesy, chivalry and modesty vanished. We
had an era Of reckless and then casual dis
regard of moral standards.
Nov the echoes of the war have faded
Women have passed through the destructive
period and they long once more for their
dearest attributes and privileges. They want
to be cOurted and admired by men, to be spoiled
and adored. They hunger for beauty and
Rraciousness in life.
Men. on the other hand are tired of the
boyiSh creature They dream Of a woman who
is likely to be one who viii give flavor to
romance: whose clothes femininity and charm
stimulate their limaginations and inspire them
They had little feeling for the napper. She was
. good pal aud it was fun. to be with her but
. man felt toward her much as he did toward