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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.