Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-20
Cheap Clothes.

How MEN CAN DRESS pEcENTLY AT VERY SLIGHT
EXPENSE.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Everybody, excepting the people who write
on the subject for the newspapers. knows that
that the old and important questson: .'Hov
much does it cost man to dress?" is as difficult
to answer as the equally old and less important
one, How big is piece Of chalk?' 1t costs a
man just as much or almost as little al he
chooses to spend on his clothing and on that
proposition hangs an interesting story Twenty
years ago the average city man who felt Obliged
to appear well dressed would seldom buy cloth.
ing at .ready-made clothing store" His gar
ments. at least his better ones, were invariably
made to order. To-day many well-dressed men
buy all or nearly all their garments ready-made,
The art of cutting is as carefully studied and
Practiced in the factories now as it is in any OF
the tailors' establishments where fancy prices
are paid by the consumer for individual at
tentlon- Naturally, also, there have been
some Improvements in what may be called the
mechanics of the trade, such as the cutting of
numerous thicknesses of cloth at once with a
circular knife, run, like a circular saw by
steam or electric power, but these are of COM
paratvely little importance, since, after all
hand labor is necessary for the most of the
work In making clothes, and individual skill il
the main factor in the production.
While II is true that a man on the same
amount OF money can dress much better than
well as he did formerly on much less money,
and the smallness of the sum now required 10
nj a man with a complete suit Of coat vest
trousers and overcoat is most amazing to those
who have not studied the question. 1t is diff.
cult to establish grades in the infinite variety
in which men dress, but it may be done ap-
Fortunately, and for the sake of illustration
Will suppose four cases. The first is a man OF
comfortable means who goes into society y
dimes occasionally at fashionable restauran,
and is ,.hrst-nighter," but who economies
whenever he can without sacrificing appear.
ances. He may dress so that his clothes NAV
never be noticed by any one (Which is said Ia
De the true test Of good taste) on very little
money. His evening suit will cost him from
Szs 10 s35; his business suit will cost him from
GU 10 S25, and his morning dress suit OIL
Prince Albert, will cost ga to eos These
clothes, 1t Is understood, will fit him as well
and viii last as long or nearly as long as II
made to order by first-class tailor. His over.
coats will cost, say s20 for the light one and
about s25 for the heavy one.
The difference between the EXPENSE of dress.
Ing IN this case and in the next one, which il
mat OF a Woodworking clerk, who is compelled
70 make small salary go as far as possible. il
mat the first man will duplicate his suits oftener
anu anu nav greater variety. The latter may
maintain an excellent appearance by wearinQ
Slothes which will cost him as follows: A good
business suit will cost him from SIS to SIS: his
SUNNY SUIT VIII cost from $40 to s22 and his
ngnI oveTcoat would be about els, while his
winter coat would be two or three dollars more
Inc third case supposed is that Of fairly
wel-to-do mechanic, who wears his WORKING
Clothes ordinarily, but wants chest snit', 10,
sIndays' hish-days, holidays, and bonfire
nights he may buy working suits for sI2 h
Sl4 and "best suits" for from sl7 to $40 ~
The fourth case is that Of the Door devi, wbo
has no income and no regular employment Nh
sIotcea 70 De content with the cheapest gar.
ments that viii keep him warm and preserxe
him from the appearance Of q tramp- nj.
clothes will not last long. but he can buy their
for very little. An overcoat that. with cara
viii last a winter and keep him from sufferins
may be had for 81, though he may, il be il II II
luck, spend as much as sl0, and fun suit o
coat, vest, and trousers. of approximate At. 10,
anything he likes or is able to pay over IS.
These prices, that the last-named man pavs
Seem preposterous, but they are the figures
How long the clothes win last depends on tb,
wear they get.