ENGLAND AS THE DICTATOR OF WOMEN'S FASHIONS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SHI,—Those mysterious people who decree Fashion's whim and steer tier capricious course,' the designers of the dresies' we wear, on 'and off the stage, haVe been, I am glad to see, unusually happy this year in their choice of colours. The Wir, which naturally brought England and France very close to- gether, has equally naturally produced a good-natured rivalry between the two nations about almost everything. The stage, the tennis court, the river and the race-cburse are now the re- cognized meeting places for spirited • exehatiges between French and English skill, enterprise and friendly competition. That is quite as it should be ; competition begets excellence.
Now Great Britain, greatly daring, is making 'a determined effort to challenge 'the supremacy of Paris in the world of
fashion. British industry and enterprise have flung a coloured cloak across the receding floods of winter for my lady to step across into spring. It is made of many colours, foxglove mauve, the blue that suggests the Air Force, or recalls the light haze that shrouds the London parks in mystery when twilight hesitates on the brink of dusk ; Biskra and Sahara, subtle toms reminiscent of the desert's mirage ; and the luscious Rose Marie. Good luck to Great Britain as a pioneer of fashion ! Let Paris look to her laurels—or, stay, why shouldn't Paris come to London, snatch a kiss and capture an
Previous page
