The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-02-22
conldn't be denied.

couldn't be denied.
"But," no continued. there's no danger OF
trousers being superseded by knickerbockers'
because, don't you see, only a few unknown
cranks are in favor of it, and they can't set
the fashion you know. And then, deah boy,
the newspapers would ridicule it till they
killed it. Have no fears, whatever. We'll
keep our trousers" and a confident though
feeble smile spread over bis pallid features.
As to the merchant ~tailors, they now seem
to be taking a neutral position on the sub
ject. Said a member OF the firm OF Mol d
Stock: O course the great objection to
knickerbockers is the lack in many men OF a
shupely leg. No, there would be no appre-
ciable difference between the cost OF the pres
ent dress suit and the knickerbocker cos
tune. The latter would probably require hal,
a yard less OF cloth. Knickerbockers are a
difficult garment to cut and fit. l should
rather favor the innovation, but don't think 1t
will be generally adopted. If it into
vogue at all it will be adopted by the elite,
By the way more claw-hammer dress suits are
being worn in Detroit today than ever before
The increase in the past few years has been
surprising"
Said another tailor: Il think that soone,
or later clubs will adopt the knickerbockers
but don't think they will ever come into gen.
eral use. The principal objection is. OF course
raised by thin men, but another is that more
time would be required in dressing. Artist
ically speaking, the knickerbocker outfit is
the most desirable"
Chicago society boasts of its cosmopolitan
qualities. It is English, you know, in it
possession of country seats, where tennis
clubs and hunting parties afford amusement.
1t tobogSans in the most approved Canadian
fashion. 1t dimes and dances in a truly Pari-
sian manner. 1t serves afternoon tea in a
way calculated to delight a real Russian. 1t
dresses-well, there's the slip.
But do not the stately DANES and fair maid
ems OF society attire themselves in tho most
actististic creations of Worth, Felix, and Red
fern? OF course they do, and many Of the
most costly gowns sent to America by Paris
ian miiliners and London taiiors find their
Va 20 Chicago. Therefore it would not be
s.cmly for any uninitia ted mortal to express
one word of criticism. The ladies OF society
are quite above r%eproach in the matter OF
dress. All the toilet defects that now and
thcns,ive n touch of rrovinclalism to Chicago
society may be attributed 10 mon. and they
all hinge upon the dress suit and its appro-
pirate accomplishments.
The masculine element OF society is largely
divided into Two classe3-the middle-aged
men who have made large fortunes and their
sons, who are actively engaged in spending
tho ,-datfbZ CO recapfisr accommodated Tho
former class pays little attention 10 the min
ute details of evening dress; the latter de-
votes too much time to the latest styles set
forth by the tutors and haberdashers.
Many of the older men still cling to the idea
that one dress suit ought to last a lifetime;
and, us women never know anything about
the flt.or shapeliness of mems clothing, their
wives and daughters permit them to wear
garments that antedate the war. But it is
not the cut of the dress suit that oftenest Of
tends fashionable taste. 1t is the necktie, tho
shirt studs or the shoes. There are men who
still persist in wearing white satin ties
There are others who consider themselves
well dressed in a shirt that buttons behind,
while three diamond studs bedeck the un-
broken expanse OF the shirt BOSOM. More
over, some men who are above reproach in
regard to their clothes, insist on display
ing Il watch chain with evening dress
The younger men see fit 20 ridicule
any shortcomings in the festive
attire of their elders, while they in turn are
oftentimes objects of contempt among the
staid and elderly wearers Of watch chains,
satin tics and diamond studs.
There are Il few innovations in the styles