Evening star., 1942-09-11

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ons of every description.
eceived, ranging from the best trans
ting places, one important phase of
her education has been neglected.
You guessed it-she's never been
told what to wear when. Oh, sure,
we know all about those fashion COL
umns that are written for the white
collar girl"-we've written enough
of them ourselves. We still approve
the trim tailored suit and the care
fully done coiffure for girls who
want to make successful career,
hut We also maintain that there is
a time and place for certain types
of clothes-and it doesn't seem to
have been discussed. Washington
is, after all, pretty set in Its ways
and fairly firm about its ideas, so it
might be a good idea to look them
over for a moment and find out
what is approved attire for differ
ent occasions. Because, contrary to
all the weeping and wailing that's
done about the business girls lack
of fun, those can't all be college las
sizes on vacation we see everywhere
we go!
Let's start with clothes for the
cocktail hour-because our typical
career girl is usually too busy to
dawdle over three-hour luncheon.
Washington still goes for hats in
public-despite all the campaigning
that is being done for hair bows and
ornaments. So, If she knows about
a cocktail date In advance, the best
idea Is to wear her trickiest chapeau
and stick q pair of white gloves in
her purse. Clothes need not be
fussy; in fact, you see very few true
cocktail dresses" except on week
ends and at private parties. A
smart suit Is fine, SOS a tailored
dress. Just look neat and trim
and wear a hat. Don't 60 tea
dancing in sports skirts, sweaters
and moccasins, please!
In most places, the same formula
holds for dinner, although II she
goes home nrst, our business girl
can dress up bit more. However,
there are only about two restaurants
in town where one sees evening
dresses these days-and very few of
those. The short "after-dark"
dress, preferably but not necessar-
lily black, is very much In fashion
in this wartime city and it's a good
choice for dinner dates. Cardinal
rule is not to "overdress," ever.
Washingtons mighty conservative
town.
If she's invited to an afternoon
tea, an afternoon reception or debut
party, short dresses are the rule.
Same for church weddings before
pm, but after a long dinner-type
dress and some small hat or head
covering is the rule. Country clubs,
except on dance nights" are in
formal-and even on Saturday
nights the short evening dress is
finding favor.
Evening clothes will be necessary
for "swanky" occasions-the en-
graved-invitation -black-tie school
of thought that continues to have
its place. Usually, dinner dresses
are worn for formal dinners in some
ones home, but it's still the best
idea to inquire, casually, of the
hostess, BLACK tie?" II she says
yes, then trot out the floor length
model; if she says no, stick to a
slightly afternoon-ish street length
frock. Gala openings, super-spe-
cial premiers and Monday nights at
the theater usually bring out dinner
clothes-but there are just as many
street frocks worn at the latter.
(Short dress. always, of course, If
you're not down front.")
In other words, If you would be
well-dressed in Washington, follow
these rules: !. Tend toward the
conservative. 2. Find out what is
worn and when. 8. If you're in
doubt, f'gosh sakes, ask!