THE PARISIENNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21102, 12 August 1930, Page 17

THE PARISIENNE.

On the surface the French girl is Btill much the same. The high heels of the rnidinette still patter down the dingy staircases of the dressmakers' ateliers. Her light laughter echoes in the Place Vendome at closing time as merrily as ever, despite the trebled cost of living. Her stockings always will be of silk even though she must go hungry to bed in order to afford them, and her dress is the replica of one of the models of the house she works for, copied in secret. The Parisienne will never lose her interest in clothes. But her outlook on life is far wider than that of her predecessor. She is a keen reader. The custodians of the Paris libraries will tell you that the rnidinette of to-day has a surprising discrimination in her choice of books. She is interested in sport. The great dressmakers say that at least two-thirds of their work girls are members of some gymnasium or athletic club, give a great deal of their spare time to exercise, and go in for swimming and tenuis in the summer. The rnidinette of to-day is ambitious. So many new paths liave opened to her. Her employers will give her every encouragement to learn English and other languages, and she can attend classes for a nominal fee. The Parisienne of the upper class is changing mora gradually. The Faubcrg Saint Germain is still surrounded with invisible barriers that are hard to surmount. Although the French jeune fille is still guarded by convention, she has •far mpre freedom than she had before the war. You will meet her now in the company of another girl, or even alone, riding or walking in the Bois—a thing once impossible. Even 20 years ago the French girl rarely or never travelled. She knew no country but her own. Now she travels extensively with her parents or governess. A great PariHan dress designer thus voiced his grievance recently: " It is no longer the same pleasure to create clothes for the Parisienne. She is now more interested in her costume de spirt than in beautiful evening gowns. The Parisienne is changing —et voila."