DRESSMAKERS DEFIED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1332, 9 January 1912, Page 9

DRESSMAKERS DEFIED.

According, to the latest descriptions of the autumn, and-winter fashions, which are now being worn at tho other side of tho world, it would appear that the ideas of the professional dress designers are in direct opposition to thoso of the general public. "The short, narrow milking skirt is out," is the decree of these autocrats of the dressmaking world, and "tho time has come for fuller and longer draperies." But; the outside world will havo none of this, and so the two-yard round'pips still continues. Quito recently a. referendum as to tho prevailing fashions was taken in London at an afternoon "at home" arranged foi the purpose. This was attended by many satiety ladies, whoso good taste in ths matters of toilette is undeniable. Everyone present was asked to give her vote on the respective merit of hats,' gowns, furs, and so on. Sho was also asked whether she preferred big hats to small ones, And wide skirts to narrow ones. Large hats carried the day by a. big majority, and the compact tube skirt fouml far more partisans than the flared three-yard-rounu one. The argument used against the fuller skirt is that, although .dress designers are making efforts for more width, they still keep to the narrow, straight up and down figure. While this obtains, the skimp frock is over so much more comfortable than the one with a quantity of material hanging about the fee-t. The fact is that the fashions, as we wear them to-day, stand for comfort. Even the extremiets, who insist on a ridiculous tightness of drapery, aro better off than in the days when trains were de rigour. -