European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 06, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Short study on the mini As a Way of life but what can the kiddies hang on to when mom s in a mini the mini liberating yes but the Wool traders Are carping. A by Bob Hoyer staff writer in Britain the mini skirt has Bee much More than a Boon to Bird watching. As pleasant a diversion As itis Bird ogling is Only a fringe Benefit of the mini phenomenon. At Issue is that old debate about proper feminine attire or Lack of attire and this penetrates deeply into Man mythology. Ancient tales modern prejudices an psychological and sociological expertise have been assiduously collected to pro Duce a Mambo jumbo rationalization for the mini. The morally indignant have Stam mered incoherently about the sudden Baring of All those Kneecaps and  psychologically oriented have been More clinical but hardly More convincing. To suggest that the mini skirt is deliberate attempt on the part of the new woman to look More masculine because masculinity is associated with Freedom according to one theory seems to be crediting those who Wear cloth ing with a cunning that has never be fore been exhibited. To be sure there has been since the War a liberating aspect to the shape and style of female garments. No doubt fashion writers have helped stimulate this  in the end it is the designers who dictate the tastes and their motivation has usually been less commercial than social psychological or  the world of High fashion an aes thetic or sophisticated approach seem proper. At least that s the impression produced by the literature that is so painstakingly constructed to extol a Gar ment s Virtues. The people in the mini and mod clothing business Are More crass an perhaps More honest about their to  of them Are in it to make Money. And Britain has gone along with it be Friday october 6, 1967 cause it has kept the Union Jack on the map albeit for quite different reasons than Britain once was on the  Slacks ankle length skirts pyjamas or padded evening gowns would produce the same financial rewards then it s a Safe bet that they fast would replace the mini. That something other than the min ultimately will become the in skirt seems inevitable although it has Holdup remarkably Well in the whimsical world of fashion. Young women and older women who know they have shapely legs and what woman does not know this May help keep the mini in Vogue for a record run. If this happens the cries of anguish from the Wool growers will be heard round the world. Already Wool trader sin Australia and new zealand Are Carp ing about the minuscule amounts of Wool required for the abbreviated skirt. Although most Bird watcher would prefer that gals with something less than glamorous legs Wear longer skirts there is a school of thought that favors a unanimous wearing of the mini. During a symposium on the mini a Oxford University one of Britain s two stately institutions of higher learning number of students expressed a prefer Ance for general use of the mini be cause it helps anatomical research. There s still another theory that the skirt ultimately will disappear entirely and that women will Wear Little flanges or ruffles of material Over tights As a replacement. This would produce the masculine Silhouette and fit with the idea of a More masculine female figure and More Freedom. This is a concept that the True min advocate takes to with relish. But it be comes difficult to rationalize in vie of the free flowing sack dress which has gained a considerable following fits own. One group explains the mini in terms of social changes. Men and women its a is claimed Are dressing More alike which is Why Many men prefer longer hair. It is said this is not unusual that primitive couples dressed alike looked alike and worked together in securing livelihood. There appears to be Heady scholarly support for this idea but it does run counter to the belief of recent centuries that opposites attract and likes repel. The mini s acceptance though Al most Universal has not caused the same reaction in All sections of the  still Are certain areas in Africa where the mini is considered far to much cover. In the United states the new skirts have failed to reach the Heights attained in Britain and in countries Suchias Sweden and Denmark they have never been As prevalent As in  the unusual sexual precocity of the Danes and swedes has made the mini less appealing. B a mini on the Way to a party. A a the stars and stripes by contrast the russians whose straight jacket ideology would surely seem to oppose the miniskirt requested that a group of English models attend ing a showing of British clothing in mos cow arrive in minis. There is a theory although not widely accepted that too much exposure May not be Good for the future of sex the idea being that the constant View of Lovely legs will Dull the sense of appreciation. Proponents of this View May be inclined to sympathize with the moslem ideas on female attire. Surely any Man who has experienced the sultry glance of a moslem woman is bound to be  s behind the veil indeed what s the woman like under the Robe the questions Are inevitable. Sex be comes More mysterious More  then the 1960s do not appear to be a particularly Subtle Era. The min seems to fit it quite Well. Page u