Transvestia

and frilly blouses with lace around the neck and down the front. They wore these to work with high heels, and there was also an increase of sales in the ladies" shops in garter belts. Since it was summertime, where- ever I went I saw the strange contrast of dainty rayon blouses under the men's suit jackets and with the nylons peeping out below the trouser cuffs, ending in large high heel pumps that were already being made especially for the men. The demonstrations went on for two weeks, but still no changes were made in costs.

Finally, the decisive issue took place. All the stores raised the prices of men's trousers, suits, and jackets. At first the men of the town didn't dare to make any further demonstrations, but they continued to wear high heels, blouses and nylons. Then, during the third week of my visit I noticed a few men in the buses and on the crowded streets who had taken the final step and had started wearing skirts and dresses. I had to ad- mire their boldness, as they made no attempt to disguise themselves with wigs or makeup. The demonstration a-

gainst the merchants was in full swing.

The

During the next few days the fashion shops were so filled with men buying dresses and lingerie that it was almost impossible for the women in town to do any shop- ping! Everywhere I went there were men in dresses and high heels. And when I went to a play one evening, all the men in the theater were wearing elegant gowns. women in the town seemed to get used to this change and accepted it without protest, although I got some idea from the French newspapers that there was some objection in certain official quarters. It got to a point where I had to make a difficult decision, because I began to cause a bit of trouble by going places in my men"s clothes. So I finally ended up going to a tailor shop near me, where only feminine apparel was now being made.

The tailor was a friend of mine whom I had met on the train. He greeted me cheerfully when I opened his door and caused the little bell attached to it to tinkle. Right away I noticed the change since I had seen him on the train. Now, instead of being dressed in a formal black suit, he was working at his bench in a frilly white

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