The Washington times., 1935-10-18
NOW
Partisan Clothes
land Prices!
HAIR NETS, $14
BY HELEN EsSARY

great Paris couturiers nothing,
absolutely nothing, is displayed.
When looked into Schiap-
arelli'S from the Rue de la Paix
I saw mirrors. And my own
tired tourist face, staring wanly
back at me. Looking like 1T
needed all the encouragement
the dresSmaking world of Paris
could give.
Quite clearly the shop said:
"Stay out! We don't particu'
larly want you"
But I was then an old-tlmer IN
Paris. I had been there more
than a fortnight!
With nonchalance complete, 1
pushed open the heavy handle
of the shop door, stepped inside
q small vestibule, into clouds
of heavily perfumed air.
Um-m-m. Heavenly! T n e
scent of a thousand flowers!
Waiting a shopper to her
execution.
A few glass cases were in
the vestibule. Knitted garments
and Scarfs casually placed here
and there. I passed a tall wom-
an, Languid in a throne-room
chair, she looked as if she had
come out of Aida" She wore
red and gold draperies, and big
stoned jewels. She was aloot,
and bored. She was made OF
dark-painted wood.
The stairs to the salon were
of marble. The carpet on which
I climbed, avoiding the ascen-
seur, was of deep rose velvet.
Two flights up, the hall was
suddenly alive with hurrying
women-sa -saleswomen, I suppose
you would call them back in the
young, ingenious Estates"
They wore black dresses and
very short skirts, fleSh-colored
stockings and hard-boiled faces,
and rushed at me. Asked me
quite frankly what I wanted. I
murmured something about
Sonia, our vendeuse.
"Ah, Sonia! BOn!"
Sonia escorted me into big,
SQUARE. high-ceilinged room. The
very pale gray walls were lined
with mirrors set in gold-leaf
frames, and ornamented with
successful Cupids.
Just two chairs were vacant.
We promptly took those. The
other places were occupied by
women in Observation-Disclosures
black. with fleSh-colored stock
ings. Most of the legs were
crossed at the knees. Some OF
the knees we're good-Ameri-
can knees, probably.
Almost Immediately the
showing began. 1t was quick.
m wing, business-like and
thrilling.
About so dresses, suits and
wraps were modelled by we'll
shaped, you-may-go-to-the-devl
sort of mannikins.
The clothes were exciting
The colors vivid. The cut
often extreme. Even black was
made daring, by some flashing
contrast.
All the lovely things were
vaguely naughty. Artfully in
tended to disguise a good
woman.
And the prices! I have
barely strength enough left to
tell you them. Seven or eight
hundred dollars for a little suit
was nothing at all, my dear!
To describe the models in
detail would be tedious. I
couldn't anyhow. But after
the first half dozen mannikins
had pranced, with heads held
high, through the salon, I
felt that if I didn't promptly
acquire half a dozen chignons
or a pair of long fur gauntlet
gloves, I might as we'll go out
and Jump into the Seine.
In case you don't know about
chignons-I didn't, except in
Victorian romanceS, until met
them in Paris-they are widely
meahed caps Of net and such
material, and are worn over
your back hair.
In Paris, and maybe in the
10-cent store at home by this
time, you may buy them in
black, dark blue and brown tc
wear with your hat.
Or in gold. pearls, red and
green, for your afternoon OF
evening garments.
A Schiaparelli chignon is
mere 200 francs, or $l4.
And one of the parapluies
"of a chic extraordinaire" (the
old family umbrella is better il
1t rains) can be got for a
thousand francs!
Multiply that out, and fall in
a faint. For an umbrella!
have come to the end OF
my space but I can't stop here
There is too much more to tell
So read this column tomorrow