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Travel Piece by Ida Nasatir
Letter from Paris, by Ida Nasatir,
February 16, 1951
February 16, 1951—Ida Nasatir, "A
Letter from Paris," Southwestern Jewish Press, page
7: Dear Julia and Mac: To shop in Paris is the ambition of thousands of
women the world over. The happy women who reaches the Paris show invariably goes
home with at least one new hat, and she wears the chapeau in the delightful
certainty that at the very first glance everyone "back home" will know
where the wanderer has been. And, of course, with the hat there inevitably
follows the purchase of a ravishing French dress, for who can rival La Belle
France in the special art of creative dress? Far be it for me to start a
social war, but listen carefully: It is customary to imagine that the female
inhabitant of Paris is, by right of citizenship, better-looking and
better-dressed than any other woman. She is credited with eternal youth, with
chic, with "je ne said quoi," and other mysterious qualities that
bring the males of half the world to her feet in illicit adoration. She is
thought to spend her life wearing bold frocks in a way that her less favored
sisters in America can never hope to imitate; to be daring even in her lingerie;
to be naturally witty and accomplished and equally good at turning an omelette
or her lover's head. Frankly, however, Parisian women are not better
dressed than those of other cities. Indeed taking all classes into
account, the woman of New York wears better and more tasteful clothes than does
the Parisienne. She certainly looks more closely after every detail of her
appearance than does her opposite number in Paris. It isn't at all true that all
Parisienne women are instinctively "smart." Only a small proportion of
French women are concerned with fashions. A great majority of them dress in dull
balck, because it is inconspicuous and economical—can be "matched"
and made over and over, and need not be discarded if someone of near or remote
kinship dies and everyone in the clan must go into mourning. economy is a much
more ruling passion with most French women than display; money in the bank makes
them feel more secure than finery on parade. Beneath all the glitter and dash of
the gowns of Jacques Fath, Christian Dior, Molyneau, and all the rest, there is
hard work, long hours, solid economy and a persevering business existence. But
these Paris will never show, for why should anyone come abroad to find what they
have at home? And that one should come to Paris she is determined, especially
for that elegant down and tres chic chapeau! Fondly, Ida Nasatir.