St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-03-25
CUsTOM TAILORING
| SPRING AND SUMNER,
I 8 8

In former article reference was made TO the
tendency toward a 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 was expected
Some people think that the fashions are gotten
up by the men who make the fashion plates but
this is not 50. 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 a serious
matter for reflection and study as is the case with
the great majority OF men who wear clothes for the
same reason that our first parents sewed fl leaves
together,-Only to cover their nakedness There.
fore the styles reported the present season are not
put forth just 10 whether people will wear them
or not or simply TO have something new but thew
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 wav
impeded. To such it is proper to saw as l have
said many times before, that am here as a servant
to the public by whose patronage l am enabled to
keep aioat, 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 az a cutter
1t Is common saying that we of the country are
always about two years behind our city brethren
IN styles OF clothing but this is not 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 adopt the new STYLE
as it would have been in a country town that made
no PretensiOn to style. Human nature ia much
the same in city or 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
recoect far back - So "a and SIS will recall
the fact that pantalOOns 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 as straight jackets What was a 40
coat would not at times since make a good 80
Then there was no wadding padding of should
ers the garment cut TO fit the form of the
''NJ "A'HOu' any artlhClal pauulng. we appear
to be coming back to the same thing with some
improvement in cutting and making From pres.
ent indications we fast going into the style of
% years ago before ready made goods had had its
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 lust
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 fit the form and
contain no loose cloth. A fashionable suit of to-
day, is one that is cut tight tried on 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 like it,"
The styles of woolens for Spring and Summer
wear are very well adapted to the trade 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 to be able TO 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 ex
pect it will arrive about March lst
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 when
wanted. Come and see them.
Feb 2lth F. G. STEVENS