FOR WHOM DO WOMEN DRESS?

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 53, 4 March 1925, Page 9

FOR WHOM DO WOMEN DRESS?

THE MEN OK THKUt OWN SEX?

The question for whom* women adorn themselves has often been asked, hut Btiems never to have re-Viived a definite answer. An attempt by the newlyBtarted Parisian weekly, -Cnndide, to Bolve the problem hardly promises to advance matters, for of nineteen women and twelve men who replied to Landide's" questions on the subject, only two women and five men expressed a decided opinion. The questions asked were whether a woman dresses for a certain man or for man in general—for her own satisfaction or to outshine other women. Premier Herriot's leply is succinct: "Aibove all, perhaps for notlung less, women dress against other women. Countess Henri de M-un is convinced that women dress for other women only, and offers as proof the fact that if a woman meets a handsome man with an ugly but well-dressed woman, her first glance is for the woman and Qke second for the man. Marquis Boni de Castellane declares women dress for other women. He says women care nothing for men's opinion, and at the same time would never taice the trouble to dress solely for themselves. The musical comedy actress, Alice Cocea, says women's, object is to please the men, while Marouis Robert de Flers and Henri Kistemaeckers. the dramatists, and Kees Van Dongen, the fashionable portrait artist, all agree that woman s dressing is for her own delectation. 4.11 others to whom the questions were propounded evade giving direct Teplies. "Every woman is a separate case." writes the poetess. Marquise de Xoailles. "It is impossible to generalise." Princess Jacques de Broglie questions whether woman dresses for man, even when she is in love, because undoubtedly she strove to be well dressed even before falling in love. Yvonne Printemr>s, the actress wife of Pacha Guitry. the author, gives the following as proof that women do not dress for the of men: Men. she points out, prefer blade silk stockings on women, yet the women are all wearing cream or champagne coloured hose iust because these shades are the fashion, although they make even the slimmest ankle appear thick.