FRENCH WOMAN LEGISLATOR

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27395, 7 July 1954, Page 2

FRENCH WOMAN LEGISLATOR

RULING ON FORMAL ATTIRE

Haute couture has appeared in a most unexpected place—the French Chamber of Deputies. Tradition decrees that the president, of Speaker, of the chamber shall wear evening dress, swallow-tails and white tie when exercising his official functions. The six vice-presidents of the chamber also wear the same formal dress, which is made for them and paid for out of the Budget. Recently, however, a nice problem arose. A woman deputy, Mrs Germaine Peyrolles, was elected a vice-president. Formal dress was demanded by tradition for Mrs Peyrolles, but, being a woman, she would have had to appear in the feminine equivalent of the masdculine white tie and tails—namely, a bare-shouldered ball dress. Again, because she is a woman, she would not have been satisfied with the one and only ball dress which the Budget might have provided for her to wear at all functions. She naturally would have wanted a new dress at least every season to keep in step with prevailing fashions. This, it was realised, would result in additional Government expenditure. The matter was put to the House with great solemnity. After debate, the president of the chamber, Mr Andre le Troquef, had the courage and wisdom to decide on a course that will prevent disaster for the Treasury. He has decreed that women vice-presidents shall wear black “tailor-madte” dresses at each and every function through the legislative period. Everyone is satisfied—even Mrs Peyrolles. “I look my best in black,” she says. ♦