THURSDAY, APRIL 24,1955.

THE MICHIGAN DAILY

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1953 THE MICHIGAN I~AILY


Revolutionary Chemise, Sack Dress
Draws Varied Cam us Reactions

CHEMISE PLACES FIRST:
Coats Exhibit Featured Simplicity

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By BEATA JORGENSON

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By ELIZABETH HILL
Feminine fashions have been
revolutionized for the first time
in a decade by the arrival of the
new sack and chemise dresses.
The drastically different lines
of these styles must be seen worn
and not just on the hanger to be
appreciated.
The chemise (that is French
for a woman's shirtlike undergar-
ment) is the less daring of the
two new dress styles. It is usually
fitted or semi-fitted in the front,
almost resembling the now out-
moded sheath. The. back, however,
makes big fashion hews, usually
with a gathered panel which eith-
er hangs straight to a point below
the hips or extends to the hem
where it ends in a button-tabbed
or bow-decorated band.
Resembles Sack
The more drastic of the two
styles is the sack dress which on
a hanger resembles just what its
name indicates - a sack. Many
sacks hang straight from the
shoulder to the hem and rely for
their appeal' on the motion of the
wearer's body.
Other dresses of this type are
more conventional in that they
taper slightly over the hips to the
bottom of a hem which is, barely
below the knees.
Campus reaction to the chemise
and sack dresses has been a mix-
ture of hearty approval, vehement
distaste and cautious acceptance.
Fashions Needed Change
Many coeds thought that it was,
just the "shot-in-the-arm", that
feminine fashions have needed for
a long time.
"An exciting new fashion like
the sack makes me wish spring
would come sooner'; I can hardly=
wait to wear mine!" exclaimed
one enthusiastic. senior.-
Others chimed in in favor of
the chemise and the sack with ad-
jectives such as "Neat!", Fabu-
lous!" and "So flattering!" Local
merchants verIfied this coed en-
thusiasm by asserting that the
new styles are selling like the pro-
verbial hotcakes.
Demand Ekceeds Stock
One store manager sighed, "The
only worry we, have about the
sack dress is- that we can't seem
to keep enough of them in stock
to meet the tremendous demand!"
Opinion was. general among the
buyers and salesclerks who claim
that 'the chemises and sacks will
be high fashion for a long time to
come. "We have even ordered new
fall sweaters with sack lines from
a major designer," a salesclerk-
added.
All this fervent acceptance did.
not come as soon as the dresses
appeared in the local stores. Even
the most fashionable women
looked at them at first and
laughed, and then tried then on
"just for kicks." A.m a z i n g 1 y
enough, there seem to be very few
women who did not actually like
the way they looked in the new
styles. ,
As one young lady exclaimed, "I
tried this sack on just for laughs,
and it turned out to be sheer
beauty in motion!"

Simplicity and the long, tailored
look keynote this spring's coat
fashions.
Straight and narrow are the
trends in coat styles with the che-
mise finishing in first place in the
eyes of coeds.
Coeds may swing into spring vi-
brant and alive in a neutral col-
ored, narrow lined coat with the
round peter pan collar. White re-
movable collars add crispness to
any fashion ensemble.
Hemlines Taper
Classical elegance is achieved in
the delicately textured cashmere
coat with the big collar and ta-
pered hemline.-This is found in
a rainbow of exciting new colors.
Neutral shades predominate this
season with grey and beige tied for
first place. Navy, red and, black
are again popular this season
while honey and willow green are
high fashion. White is now com-
ing in for the end of April, May
and June wearing.
Although cashmere still leads,
flannels and worsteds are in great
demand. Jerseys, raw silks for
dress and monotone tweeds are
also highly approved by the fash-
ion conscious.
Sleeve Lengths Differ
"Push up and bracelet length
sleeves are shown on coats with
short elbow length sleeves on the
dressy models.
Side kick pleats allow room for
walking in the straight cut outfit,
and coats this season either but-
ton all the way down or have, no
buttons at all - there is no com-
promise.
Bows and yolks in the back add
detailing to some of the simple
styles that are being shown in
smart stores.
Sack Effect Prevails
The barrel silhouette with the
tapered look gives the sack effect
to many coats. Thus we see the
neat look which is so prevalent in
fashions this year.
Complimenting good taste is a
crisp silk coat for formal wear
Long and lean as a chemise, it is
found in many bright colors as
well as the popular neutrals.
Knitted cotton has come a long
way since T-shirt days and is now
found in all clothes. A blue che-
mise coat of jersey with a pleated/
shoulder line is smart and dur-
able.
Approach Utility
The positive approach to spring
and summer rains are the water
repellant coats which are stylish
as well as utilitarian.
Jersey treated for rain and
shine show the new style in rain-
wear. Heavy worsted topcoats and
wool plaid coats are both servic-
able and attractive.

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-Daily-George Keefer
FASHION NEWS-The semi-flitted froqt and gathered back panel
combine the old and the new in the revolutionary chemise. Less
daring than the sack, the chemise is rapidly gaining popularity in
Ann Arbor.

Conservative older women and
more cautious ones are still wary
about acclaiming the more ex-
treme sack dress.
"They're attractive, but just a
little too daring for me," said one
coed - timidly. "That's why I
bought one with a detachable
belt."
Campus males, of course, are
considerably slower in giving their
approval to the chemise and sack
look. In fact, many of them are
quite vehement in their disap-
proval.
One grumbled, 'They're hor-
rible, but so' what? Women will
wear them anyway no matter
what the male viewpoint is."
Change Senseless
Another thought the new style
change senseless: "Why do girls
who go on strenuous diets to keep
their figures trim hide the results
of their suffering in sacks?"
One fraternity man grudgingly
admitted, "They're O.K. I guess,"
then added threateningly, "but if
my girl starts wearing them, were
through!" r
The campus male population is
not altogether againstdthe fashion
revolution. An attitude of toler-
ance seems to be growing among
them.
"A woman is a woman; it.
doesn't really matter to me what

she wears," a male graduate stu-
dent admitted, "just so she's
happy."
Campus Men Approve
Even further male encourage-
ment is indicated for the happy
fate of the chemise and the sack.
A growing number of men are
really approving wholeheartedly.
It seems increasingly true that to
be appreciated the daring new
styles must be seen actually worn
by the feminine population.
"My boyfriend was absolutely'
against them until he saw another
girl wearing one. Now he's practi-
cally ordering me to go out and
buy one too!" This comment came
from a happy young lady, whose
boyfriend's eyes had been opened
to the potentialities of the new
look in fashion.

CHEMISE COAT
.. with bracelet sleeves

However, the uniform of the
coed is still the trench coat which
comes in black, charcoal gray,,
natural and navy.
Dress A likes Available
These wash and wear coats, so
prominent on the campus, afford
an opportunity for the coed and
her best beau to dress alike.
Short coats are in abundance
on the market and come in a
variety of lengths from 24" to 30".
Buying a shortie now seems much
like buying a bicycle in determin-
ing the inch length!
Fashion dictates that the full
coat is out of style this season.
Rather, Spring '58 will feature
the long, narrow line which has
simplicity and the neat look.

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Cleaning Hints Save Time
In Summer Wardrobe Care

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By ANN EICHLER
It's spring, and time to be
thinking about that warm weath-
er wardrobe again.
With all the light weight and
light colored fabrics that are now
so popular, women find that it
is necessary to, clean and wash
their clothes more' often. How-
ever, asno one likes to take a lot
of time caring for their clothes
many time-savers have been de-
veloped for easy washings this
summer.
Powdered and liquid soaps for
wools, cashmeres, nylons and oth-
er 'synthetic materials are con-
sidered "just right" by University
coeds. These soaps come in differ-
ent pastel colors and are made
to dissolve and suds quickly in the
coldest, hardest water. The gent-
lest fabric will not be harmed
since the soaps contain no harsh
ingredients.
Long Life for Nylons,
One type of soap has a special
additive to keep fine wools look-
ing their best. Liquid soaps with
nylon whitening and preserving'
ingredien'ts can be found in drug
and ready-to-wear stores.
Another nylon soap contains a
safe bleaching agent that bright-

ens nylon and other synthetic
materials while it cleans.
A special soap has been pro-
duced to retain the shape and
elasticity of garments from under-
clothes to bathing suits.
Small tub-mits can be worn
over the hands to preventtsnags
while putting on or washing "sheer
nylons. Light mesh washbags will
guard against damage to sweaters
and nylon wear, whether in sink
or wash machine.
Removes Lint
Lint removers for darker shades
in clothes are found in various
shapes and styles. A popular style
is a roller with sticky tape, which
picks up and holds lint, string and
dandruff. Tape refills can be pur-
chased for these rollers.
For those who plan to travel
this summer, many of these cold
water soaps come in small travel
packets, just right to tuck into a
free corner of a suitcase.
Plastic travel kits of all shapes
and sizes are sold containing
clothes pins, hangers, hose clips
and small soap packets. These will
prove handy for that last minute
wash, at home or en route to a
vacation spot.

-Daily-George Keefer
SACK LOOK
... straight and slim

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20th Anniversary

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