Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-30


be great variety in color of business
suits, but brown and gray will he most
| fashionable
Little change will be made in full dress
suits. The inevitable swallow.tailed,,
coat will be cut a little fuller in the sleeves
especially at the wrists, and the trousers
will be somewhat straighter.
Perhaps the most marked change from
last spring in mems fashions is atendencv
toward subdued and unobtrusive colors
and figures. The more economical and
modestln dress will naturally favor it,
and the Scotch and English weavers have
done much in their work to favor such a
tendency in the richer classes. With
many fine pieces of English goods, recent
ly imported, it is difficult to tell without
looking closely whether they are plaids or
checks. so nicely are the different colors
blended and arranged. Either at a dis
lance or near at hand, they have a very
attractive appearance
Colored or figured shirts, collars and
cuffs are worn much by young men this
spring. Small figures and checks are
considered to be in the best taste, and the
most common colors are light blue and
light brown. No change is made in style,
the bosoms and cuffs being cut plainly.
Nine-tenths of the fashionable young
men wear standing collars, some styles
OF which are very high in the neck.
Linked sleeve buttons are coming into
favor again. Some very handsome sets
consist of small wrought globes connected
by gold chain. In mems neck-wear
there is almost an endless variety. Some
very brilliant scarfs are worn, but men
who follow the best fashions most closely
wear plain but rich materials, the orna-
ment consisting mainly of the ring or pin
with which the scarf is fastened or deco
rated. Flat scarfs are becoming very pop
ular. At present most of them are dark
in color and intended to be worn with a
light pin in the center; but as spring ad-
vances, lighter shades will be worn.
Gentlemens gloves will be worn with
one or two buttons. The glove stores
present a great variety Of shades and col
ors sufficient to match any suit or harmo-
nize with complexion. A new shade of
lavender, very light, and a peculiar shade
of brown known as "chevrette," are sell
ing rapidly. Most gloves are stitched or
braided on the back. Some heavy braids
in fancy colors are favored by purchasers
The spring style of silk hat is an i'm
provement over previous fashions, being
less bell-crOwned and heavy in appear
ance than the hat worn during the fall
and winter. Seen from the side it lessons
in size slightly toward the top, while a
front view discloses a slight outward
curve. The brim is narrow, with roll
ing or very narrow D'Orsay curve For
elderly gentlemen or for gentlemen with
full faces the brim is little wider. Stiff
felt hats are much worn. Their brims
are usually narrow, the crowns generally
rounded and not so deep as for winter
hats. Besides black and other dark colors
there are mixed grays and browns to
match the spring styles of walking suits.
There are many styles of soft felt hats,
ranging from those with wide brim and
tall crown to the more common low
crowned hats worn by boys. The light
shades of silk hats will not be found in
the hat stores until the middle Of May.
Fashionable shoemakers say that boots
have gone entirely out of fashion, and are
now worn only by set of old gentlemen
who disregard both comfort and style in
their preference for them. Buttoned CATERS
have been worn almost exclusively by
fashionable men during the winter, but as
the weather grows warmer the Oxford tie
will be the favorite shoe. The style is
plain, with rounded toe Of medium
breadth a little narrower than for the
winter, broad, low heel and a single sole
Of medium thickness, which gives the
shoe solid but very neat appearance, and
makes it very comfortable for the foot
". 7 Tribune.