DICTATES OF FASHION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21022, 10 May 1930, Page 13

DICTATES OF FASHION

THE LATEST IN LONDON. SWEEPING SKIRTS AGAIN. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 8. Almost before London realised it, long sweeping skirts have returned. Each day and night sees thousands more victims to the fashion. So seriously has the invasion,, which was regarded as almost impossible, been taken that it was the subject of a debate by the Associations of Women Clerks, and Secretaries to-night. Miss Ellen Wilkinson advocated skirts three inches below the knee, and Lady Duff-Gordon six inches. The art critic, Mr G. B. Sandilands, declared unequivocally for long skirts day and night, but received small support. . Miss Wilkinson declared that short skirts largely obliterated class differences, and appealed to the power of the fashion dictators. The crinoline was just beyond lofig skirts, “If they get us into long skirts they will get us into corsets.” Miss Wilkinson ferappealed to business girls rigidly to resist Lady Duff-Gordon’a proposals, and declared with emphasis, amidst applause: “The long skirts will never return. _ Men will etop it. The girl who ; wears it is a fool.” Thus saying, she stood u|ion the table to exhibit her own , short skirt. Mr Sandilands urged, that throughout his whole experience of art the long skirt triumphed. “ I do not advocate short skirts, but trousers.” He was howled down. The audience unanimously declared it would not wear long skirts. Meanwhile the Men’s , Dress Reform League, in which Dean Inge is prominent, declare that wbmen have let them down. “ Last year, we were upholding them as a model of good sense to mis- . guided men. They ■ are now behaving like the poor fool man. They trail disgusting dresses on the floor, then return to the nursery to kiss the children, carrying millions of disease germs." Nevertheless, the dress rfefomers are , getting ready for the summer campaign, i