Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1919 — Earliest Arrivals in Spring Suits and Dresses [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Earliest Arrivals in Spring Suits and Dresses

The earliest arrivals in suits and coat-dresses are, like the first robins, appearing in scattered groups and glimpses, but are harbingers of charming flocks soon to follow. They are rather tentative as to line and silhouette, their motto apparently being “When in doubt choose straight lines.” Therefore there are more straight-line models than anything else. Designers may have been waiting for a last word from Paris before launching their earliest creations; if so that last Avord was the long-waisted blouse; a Parisian fancy that results in an obliteration of curves. Along with it came lengthened tunics, straight around the bottom, and a variety of interesting sleeves having generous and extraordinary cuffs, anti mostly cut in the fashion shown in the sleeve of the suit illustrated above. -—— —-V The straight-line suit is a safe choice because women do not confine themselves to one or two styles or to one or two silhouettes any more. The straight-line dress is always smart. One can wear it with confidence and assurance, as is the case with Russian blouse models. There is not a chance that all the new suits will keep to the straight and narrow ways of these first

arrivals, but however devious their ways, they will not be more attractive. There is a chic slenderness which the straight-line insures to the figure of average plumpness. The suit pictured might be of jersey cloth or of some member o£ the trlcolette family of new weaves, or of any of the lighter wights and supple wood fabrics that insure graceful pli-. ancy. For decoration the coat turns to two bands of long and short stitch embroidery in silk of the same hue as the cloth it adorns. One of these bands is narr< wer than the other and two of the narrow bands call attention to the up-to-dateness of the sleeves. The skirt is without decoration and as innocent of curves as a section of a smoke-stack. No sort of. ornamentation is better liked on suits and dresses than embroidery of the sort shown in this suit. It is made up merely of irregular lines and does not even hint at portraying anything in nature. Imagination may translate it into something that pleases the eye, but however formless, it pleases the eye so emphatically -that it is used on gorgeous gowns, elegant afternoon frocks, and on unpretentious suits as well.