Any man who has kept his eyes open during the past year has been aware that the feminine figure is again receiving a fashionable emphasis.

And not only the feminine figure, but femininity.

In addition to pursuing the significant curves, the current styles exhibit such nuances of fabric and furbelow as have not been seen since flouncy days before Irene Castle bobbed her hair and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band arrived at Reisenweber's with a spices of pulsation which put the kibosh on a long skirt is back , as is the murmurous music of Vallee and Reisman and Lombardo.

A year ago, in fact, the streets were full of garish extremists who traipsed around in the most impractical shrouds, but the early stages of any great movements are always characterized by aberrations.

The movement has now attained a steady, discreet momentum. Stylists have more of a idea what a women want, as have women themselves.

The curve of the hip, for instance, is regarded as desirable, whereas a bulging abdomen is held to be socially inconsiderate (a girdle will regulate both, in addition to defining the waist ).

And the skirt length which is so graceful and appropriate for the glistening ballroom is seen to be injudicious for the dusty streets.

In short, the feverish period of revolution is over, and the new regime is being directed in the light of experience and reflection.