St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-04-01
cUST0M TAILORING
4 SPRING AND SUMNER, }
I 8 8 T..

In a former article reference was made TO the
tendency toward radical change in the styles OF
fashionable clothing and the object of this is to
notify the public that the change predicted by the
leading fashion reporter has come and is fully as
radical As expected.
Some people think that the fashions are gotten
up by the men who make the fashion plates but
this is not They simply report the styles Of
garments most in favor among that class of men
who make the matter of dress study and with
whom the important item of paying for what they
buy does not Of necessity become such serious
matter for reflection and study is the with
the great majority OF men who clothes for the
same that our first parents sewed g. leaves
together,-Only to cover their nakedness. There
fore the styles reported the present season not
put forth Just to whether people will them
or not, or simply To have something new. but they
are accurate representations of garments actually
at the present time by the leaders OF fashion.
The extreme styles may not, and probably viii
not, meet with much favor from those who enjoy
plenty of room and refuse to be tied up in such a
way that the free action of the limbs is in any way
impeded. To such it is proper to say, as l have
said many times before that l am here as a servant
to the public by whose patronage 1 am enabled to
keep aiOat, and sentimental feeling in regard tn
existing fashions will hinder me from strictly re.
garding the wishes of my customers except in
cases where such a course would ruin whatever
reputation may have as a cutter
1t is a common saying that of the country are
always about two years behind our city brethren
in styles of clothing but this is strictly true
as little OF my own experience will Illustrate -
About the time when loose pants were coming into
style was cutting pants in Chicago, and found it
just as hard to make customers adopt the new style
as it would have been in a country town that made
no pretension to style. Human nature is much
the same in city country.
The above is intended to be soothing and re-
assuring-a kind of antidOte for the following ex-
tract from Vests New York Report OF Fashions
for Spring and Summer 1881
1T has been said that fashion as well as history,
repeats itself. This does appear to be the case
we are turning back a quarter of a century when
garments were woven tight All tailors who can
recollect as far back as 50 So 81 and So will recall
the fact that pantaloOns made tight and short
and not the big spring bottoms that have since
been in and during the same time coats were
made as tight straight jackets What was A
coat would not at times since make II good IS
Then there wadding OF padding of should
ers the garment cut To fit the form of the
body without any artificial padding. We appear
TO be coming back TO the same thing with some
improvement in cutting and making From pres
ent indications fast going into the style OF
- years ago before ready made goods had had it,
boom, and the manufacturers say they cannot pro
duce the present style.
The correct thing at this time is a close fitting
garment with small short sleeves showing just
certain amount of cuff made to fit the exact form
of the body, and the tighter the better. Vests
short and trousers tight made to fit the form and
contain no loose cloth. A fashionable suit of to
day is that is cut tight, tried from three t.
four times, made mostly by hand, and this is tn,
style the manufacturers cannot initiate, or make
suit for twenty dollars that will look just like it,
! The styles of woolens for Spring and Summer
wear, are very well adapted to the trade in thi
section. Plain mixtures especially gray mixtures
predominant and are considered very fashionable
Small checks and stripes also in order.
| In regard to prices am happy to be able TO re
port that the boom in wooden goods is about owe
and the prices this will be within the reacl
of all. have purchased my Spring stock and ex
| pect il will arrive about March LIST.
In the mean time l can show the advanced sam
pie cards of all the goods and take orders for suits
to be made up when the goods arrive or whel
wanted. Come and see them.
| Feb oath. F. G. STEVENS.