Las Vegas Age

Paris Finds Lure of Untailored Suits Too Strong to Resist, Even in Winter

By Barbara Beaufort,
(Associated Press Fashion Editor)

PARIS, Jan. 23. (AP) - "Suited to the occasion" is the catchword of Paris costumes these days, for suits are seen everywhere for daytime wear.

Time was when Paris wore suits only in the spring and fall, but times have changed. The smartest women are lunching and teaing at the Ritz and shopping on the Rue de la Paix these days in suits.

They are not the strictly tailored variety, but rather instead to the dressmaker type, with intricate tuckings, seamings and incrustations on both jacket and skirt, giving a dressier effect than was ever achieved by the tailleur.

Materials are dark spongy woolens or velvets; collars and cuffs are lavishly rimmed with fur. Most of the skirts are gently flared, while jackets vary in length from the hip-length variety with a flared peplum to coats reaching almost to the skirt hem.

Blouses offer a wide choice. For shopping there are gay or sombre knitted affairs with V-necks, round necks and tricky fitted collars.

For luncheon and tea, crepe satin blouses in light shades (ivory, turquoise and beige) are favorites.

Sometimes they are tucked into the skirt at the waist, but when the suit coat is very long they are worn as tunics only a few inches shorter than the skirt hem.

Lingerie blouses in pastel shades trimmed with hand tuckings and eyelet embroideries already are giving a summery tone to suit ensembles.

So important is the jacket ensemble idea that two-piece dresses with belted blouses or jumpers have leaped into popularity for mid-season wear. And that, say Parisian stylists, points the way to great popularity for suits and suit-dresses this spring.