Since Paris fell, Manhattan's Fiorello ("Butch") LaGuardia has been as sharply aware of the newest trend in gores and gussets as any village dressmaker. Because style is a big, profitable business ($1.7 billion a year from U.S. women), the Mayor has tirelessly plugged New York-manufactured dresses, has time & again proclaimed Manhattan the new fashion capital of the world. Last week an expert gave the Little Flower a setback.
The expert: Howard Stanley Marcus (Dallas' elegant Neiman-Marcus), able department-store executive who stitched up famed WPB Order L85 for conserving yardage in wartime...