The Rock Island Argus., 1883-09-01
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Our present coats have not been as
sailed with any great effect. The dress
coat is usually laughed at; but we
question if it could be fairly ruled in
convenient, or on the whole ungrace-
! ful, when cut without curtness. Prob
ably it could be improved by rounding
off its sharp angles, and making it
fuller. Against the usual coat of morn
ing wear in the present day little has
been alleged rs vet, nor do we think
there is much to be said to its detri-
ment II is not inconvenient, and il has
! little Of foolish ornament, unless we
reckon in that category the slit at the,
wrist and the two neyer-used buttons
and button-holes. The two buttons put
on the waist behind have been con
demned as useless, and explained as
suryivals of the time when all gentle
men wore a sword, and required these
buttons to keep the sword belt in
place; but it is a question whether the
buttons might not fairly pass muster as
ornamental detail, and in all probability
they have been retained, in spite of the
disuse OF the sword belt, because they
satisfy desire Of the eye for some
breaking point at the waist. They may
pass, then, as ornaments having relation
20 the lines Of construction.
Neck-ties are another article which
dress reformers would like to see regu-
lated. TO construct a pasTeboard and
silk article in sham folds OF an unnatu-
raj smoothness, and fix it under the
chin as if it were really doing honest
duty lis a tie, is maRifestly bad taste;
these constructions should be eschewed
by him who desires to dress we'll A
kerchief which can be and is tied. or
passed through a ring or folded fiat,
passed round the neck, crossed in front,
and fixed with 81 gold OF jeweled pin,
| is the eligible substitute. Some men
manage this quite faultlessly already.
Sticking-up collars must be condemn,
ed In 50 far as they stick up they are
! inconvenient, and necessitate some
fastening at the back OF the neck to
keep the tie in place, whereas the turn
down collar keeps the tie in place and
does not presenta stiff edgeto the cheek
OF throat.
Men who care To dress with anV re-
gard to principle in other words, with
taste-will easily think out other de-
tails, or see notifications in the views
expressed above, which we should be
sorry to put as dogma. though they may
serve TO set us thinking and discussing.
Some of the reforners caA for more
color in mems apparel. This is thing
| to be desired, but also to be adopted
with caution. To run into cClors be-
cause Black coat does not look well in
apieture objection frequently made
to black-would be rash. The reason
given against black is insufficient. if
black looks welli in actual life. as, on the
whole, ii may be said to do. Still it is
probable that, with careful artistic guild
| Gnce, such as will not come all at once,
men might use more color than they do.
In this we want guide, such as Morris
has been to Us in carpets and wall
papers. But it is not often that poet
will turn his thoughts seriously to such
matters.
Texture is another matter which viii
| have to be carefully considered There
are subtle difficulties connected with
this. as all ladies know, and subtle sue
cesses to be won Between velvet and
silk of the same shade there may be suf-
| ticient difference in effect to make u
mar costume. But here we are on the
threshold of the milliner and dress-mak-
| er, and. therefore, pause discreetly.