Line Abandoned

The hemline could no longer be held. With wartime controls on industry falling away like autumn leaves (see The Economy), CPA last week turned women's fashions back to free enterprise. It killed order L-85, the wartime measure which restricted the use of materials in dresses and women's coats. CPA's action came in the nick of time. Retailers already had on hand hundreds of thousands of fall and winter garments mistakenly and illegally made in disregard of L-85. Now retailers, who had faced losses in the millions, could sell the clothing. But the full effects of the freeing of materials would probably not be seen till spring clothes go on sale (manufacture of them began this month). For the first time in four years, skirts could be as wide and dresses as frilly as designers--and women--wanted.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.