What's New in Winter Fashions for 1953

This piece was written especially for "The Woman's Voice" by Mrs. Linda Najim, proprietress of the "Ninon" house of dressmaking and fashions in Beirut. She trained in Paris and worked for three years at Balmain's.

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The winter wind has blown, sweeping away with the withered leaves the whole symphony of summer's colors; and the new woman has come forth in the bloom of her beauty and her charm, in the fashion of 1953.

This fashion, just as we dream it, is full of moderation and at times daring; trim in cut, it is made up of two pieces.

In the first hours of the morning the lady appears in a loose jersey tailleur, drawn in at the waist by a light belt that leaves her free to walk — a high collar, close-set buttons, a short hem — and a long skirt whose dark color mingles with the color of the clouds; though she prefers to it a 'tweed'

of great harmony, adorned by nothing but its two large pockets. And no sooner does this garment fall open than a jacket appears, matched with a 'sweater,' completing all the elegance and simplicity of this attire.

From luncheon until the cocktail hour she wears the pleated dress, which is long, with two pieces over it; the collar is high, of fur or of velvet. Sometimes she wears a loose-hanging dress from which, at the waist, spring what look like two wings, its sleeves wide to suit her movements; and it is best that the dress be black or gray.

As for the evening gown, let it be laden with sumptuous embroideries, together with gracefulness of line; in it a woman looks like a star glittering in the sky.

The dinner dress is made up of crepe, taffeta, ottoman, and velvet, while dancing dresses are made of mousseline, lace, organza, and 'aloubitian'; and these dresses look radiant as a flower opening to the light. We leave it to the young girl, however, to choose her first dancing dress — either of mousseline,

or of figured velvet. All these dresses are covered by a belted redingote, or by wide coats topped with dyed furs, their sleeves supple and wide at the top, narrowing at the wrists.

In this collection, let us not forget that in taking our inspiration from the new fashion, a woman must before all else keep her own personality, and take care over harmony, avoiding the colors and the styles that do not become her. A fair complexion chooses the dark colors, while the dark complexion, on the contrary, chooses the bright ones; the plump woman selects the loose-hanging dress and shuns fussy details and burdensome coats, preferring black above any other — and let it be sparing of ornament, trimmed with simple buttons, while flowers upon it should serve merely as a keepsake.

It is for you, Madam, to choose the cut that makes your dress the right one, like so many of its kind: a single piece, whether finished with a single pocket and an open or a buttoned collar. Know, then, how to bring out one side of your dress, or let it carry pleats in the back, without multiplying artifice in it; and if you are lavish with the bodice, let the skirt be light. Thus you will captivate hearts and astonish every eye, and create harmony in your toilette. And these merits, Madam, have moved everyone to acknowledge that the Lebanese woman, like the Parisienne, holds first place in fashion.