LONG SKIRTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 15

LONG SKIRTS

CALL TO RESIST THEM

PROTEST OF WOMEN

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 13th March. ' A resolution deploring women's return to the long skirt was discussed a few days ago at tho National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship. The resolution, proposed "by the executive committee, described the revival of long skirts as a "reaction against tho personal comfort and physical liberty of women, reminiscent of the years of their political disfranchisement." It called upon all women who valued such liberty to resist this reaction by "refusing to allow, like unquestioning sheep, the. arbitrary decrees of fashion." Within reason, and confined to. suitable occasions, long skirts are becoming and graceful. But it seems impossible to avoid extremes. At the dress shows now in progress daily one cannot help noticing some ridiculous contrasts. There are gowns cut on such slender lines that the wearers might be measured in yards as so much "pump water," so attenuated and slim are they. These gowns, of costly fabrics and masterpieces as regards cut, have narrow-trained skirts, which drag helplessly along the floor for a yard at least, while the back of the wearer, from shouldor to. waist, is absolutely without a shred of clothing. No wonder that full and frilly capelets with long iichu ends in front arc provided to lessen the risk of ,a chill. IN FASHIONABLE SALONS. While the Loudon streets were while with snow.only this week, mannequin parados were taking place in fashionable salons, and the backless-sleeveless ovening gown seemed to bo the one and only; If the skirt did not trail away in a narrow train effect it very frequently was bunched liberally from waist to hem, as in. thn good old day's of the bustle. And above the waist-

line just uueovered flesh. There is no I doubt that many model gowns of tho! most lovely charmcuse and taffeta would be completely spoiled by the end of the shows because of the trailing longths along the floor, even though carpeted. The skirts aro often so long that there is nothing more than a shoe tip on view in front, and they arc so moulded to the hips and below that tho train cannot bo carried. There are frilled skirts of gossamer lace, gauze, net, organdie, georgette, dainty to behold, but of so impracticable length that the first foot upward on a stair means an inevitable tear; while, as for getting into a taxi or a car without a distressing rent, there is no hope at all. If modellers would only keep the skirts to ankle length they would be safe, but they will not be content at the moment with anything that does not touch and trail all round. These models will indeed be excellent for trade ii generally adopted, for the very, good reasdil that renewals will, have to be of frequent occurrence. Indeed, the ultra fashionable wdtlieil will foqliire always to Have at loast one new frock on the stocks. DIVIDED: EVENING SKIRTS. A sensation at the moment is tho skirt that is not a skirt, but is really a pair of trousers. Certainly it is a very cleverly thought out style, and has the merit of not hampering movement. Indeed, the line is so good and the materials so fluffy in texture and so liberal in quantity that the trouser might often not bo suspected. Skilfully cut, it looks like an extremely full skirt, fitting round the hips .like a yoke and widening out considerably as it attains its length, and if the wearer is very graceful the dividing , lino might never be divined. This skirt certainly allows the wearer to sit with crossed legs, and it provides ample room for unhampered movement of any kind. Spread out for show on tho floor of a shop window, one sees just a voluminous mass of fluffy skirt, but never two separate legs. French designers are trying a variety of patterns in their endeavour to launch with success and with variety the latest trouser or pyjania effects, and these skirts are as liberally wide as the narrow-trained-tight, skirt looks skimped for width. It is' not anticipated that tho trouser skirt will be severely criticised, and it is expected that the . ultra-i'ashionable will patronise it.