LIFE IN PARIS GAY, BUT EXPENSIVE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16721, 2 January 1920, Page 9

LIFE IN PARIS GAY, BUT EXPENSIVE.

— f liifo in Pari* h very yay. and :it t h'* ( ►amo time vory difßcul- c.avj a I.nndoii j paper of November I'tli>. I'oinle want, t.u -o back t<> lln'ir normal w.iy of liv- , the <<-<>nomi»- situation docs not. of their so. -At all tin" j plcastiJ*' resorts the crowds arc inert asirm daily, but pleasure, like food and rlot.hr?. is a much tnorc e\i>crisivo thing | thi.ii it was, and adds greatly to tin-1 cist of Irving. The tea-rooms, tlx- danr-iru;-haljs, tbe theatres have more than doubled Ihnr prices. Vet for all this j they aro full, .mil it is not always j .sil.lo to <ret in to it popular play, a : popular dance, or fir.d a table at tea- j lime. . Dress everywhere 15 nmn/.irigly expcn-| sive. Furs, jewels, feathers abound, with the richest of materials for dresses and co'itfi. 'Hie very short skirt and the very thin stocking are both still in favour in ppito of cold weather. H envy fur capes, stoics, or cloaks envelop the body from tho knees to the ears, and a hat of r.trango plumes is pressed down over tho brow and t/> the napo of the nook }>ohind, 50 that .all one sees of a pretty face is tho tip of the nose, a pair of bright eyes, and a rosy mouth. Tho fiilhouotto is amusing, if a little absurd. Tin dress underneath th® coat is of Ui<7 scantiest except about tho hip«,! where it swells into tho importance of pannien, or pockets, or fluted panels. No matter what the material, hips are ■trido and tho bottom of tho skirt is narrow. The nock-biuid which folds high and tight, rrrund the throat is .seen'frequently, but .v> is the low decollerte; short :.looves and long sleeves ore worn; whole dresses and skirts with tunic blouses aro seen; in fact, there aro no fixed rules except tho wide hips and tho scanty line about tho legs. Even when tho longer skirt is worn it must he scanty, and although more decent to look at is more difficult to walk in. Materials for tailor-mades aro all of the blanket or velvet eloth kind, plain, striped, and plaid; but tho littlo afternoon dress is of tho most silken and fragilo kind: taffetas, chiffon velvet, charmouso, crepe do chino. and other materials of tho same family. A noto of embroidery enlivens tho plain rn arterial, and some women wear flowers, others wear "beads, and many gtill wear pearls. Trimmings strike tho strong note of originality. Monkey fur often replaces feathers on millinory, and that strange, untidy look to tho head which the Parisrenne manages to carry with such grace and without ever looking slovenly.

leather is moil in a hundred ways, hut nnur nsofully: it trims a velvet hat-, acts as a waistcoat in whito, pipes a rlotli coat, and edges a tunio in chiffon. Such 13 Fashion's way. She .scorjis ntilitv and yet finds a uso for everything.

The old idea that fur ttos meant to art .is ft warm covering in winter weather has long xi'nco faded. As wnll think that Fashion ordered sunshades to keep tho sun off the head and facc. But no, Fashion is all things except stable and reasonable, and, like the wind, eho bloweth whero she listeth. Floating veils have a certain vogue, but they need to l>e very well worn to look xnally right, and "the woman is wise -who tliinks twico> beforo adopting them. Tho rich woman may, at the present moment, indulge in gold and silver brocades, furs, velvets, and brilliant colours. A cherry-coloured hat in velvet, worn with a dark tailor-mado and heavy fur capo or stole, is quite correct; a brilliant turban in blue and silvor brocadomay bo worn in a restaurant with a silkcm dross; bright velvet dresses are worn under "heavy fu r coats, and beaded dresscw or tunics of t&e most oinbornto kind aro seen in all colours from cherry chiffon Beaded in turquoise blun to sober but smart Mack and wlntfl.