St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-04-29
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In a former article reference made to the
tendency toward a radical change in the styles of
fashionable clothing, and the object of this is 10
notify the public that the change predicted by the
leading fashion reporter has come and is fully as
radical expected.
Some people think that the fashions are Cotton
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 n study and with
whom the important item Of paying for what they
buy does not Of necessity become such a serious
matter for reflection and study as s the case with
the great majority of men who wear clothes for the
same reason that our first parents sewed fl 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
worn at the present time by the leaders of fashion
The extreme styles may not and probably will
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, I have
said many times before that am here as a servant
to the public by whose patronage 1 am enabled 10
keep aoat, and sentimental feeling in regard to
existing fashions will hinder me from strictly re-
garding the wishes of my customers except in
cases where such course would ruin whatever
reputation may have as a cutter.
1t is a common saying that we of the country are
always about two years behind city brethren
in styles of clothing but this lie 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 hard to make customers adopt the new style
as it would have been in a country town that made
no pretensOn to style. Human nature is much
the same in city or country.
The above is intended to be soothing and re-
assuring-a kind of antidOte for the following e1-
tract from Vests New York Report of Fashions
for Spring and Summer 1881
1T has been said that fashion, a. well as history
repeats itself This does appear to be the case !;
we are turning back quarter Of a century when
garments were woven tight. All tailors who can
recollect far back So So "a and S. will recall
the fact that pantalOons were made tight and short
and not the big spring bottoms that have since
been in use and during the same time coats were
made as tight straight jackets. What was a 30
coat would not at times since make a good 81
Then there was no wadding padding of should
ers the garment cut to it the form of the
body without any artificial padding. We appear
to be coming back to the thing with some
improvement in cutting and making. From pres
ent indications fast going into the style of
Is 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 il a close fitting
garment with small short sleeves showing just a
certain amount Of cuff made to fit the exact form
Of the body and the tighter the better. Vests are
short and trowsers tight made to ft the form and
contain no loose cloth. A fashionable suit Of To-
day, is one that is cut tight tried from three tO
four times, made mostly by hand, and this is the
style the manufacturers cannot initiate, or make a
suit for twenty dollars that will look just Ike it,"
The styles Of wOolens for Spring and Summer
wear, are very well adapted to the trnde in this
section. Plain mixtures especially gray mixtures
predominant and are considered very fashionable.
Small checks and stripes are also in order.
In regard TO prices am happy u be able IN re
port that the boom in wooden goods is about over
and The prices this will be within the reach
Of all. have purchased my Spring stock and er.
pect 1t will arrive about March 1st.
In the mean time / can show the advanced sAm.
pie cards Of all the goods and take orders for suis
to be made up when the goods Nrrive or when
wanted Come and them.
Feb 24th. F. G. STEVENS