Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-26
WHAT RIDERS SHALL WEAR.
Good and Bad :" Form ~ Clothes to
Wear in the Park or in the Country.

From the New York Tribune.
There are many ways Of dressing for riding,
but only one correct way. man taking his
canter in the park or making his way along a
country road on a beautiful thoroughbr is
obviously more conspicuous than when walk
ing, and if his clothes are bad they are sure to
attract attention and provoke unfavorable COM
ment. The English slang term, lawful duffer,'
is applied to the man who turns himself out
to ride without an attempt to do the thing
properly. That many wretched clothes,
shocking bad" hats and faulty boots and
breeches are seen in Central Park is a we'll
known and deplorable fact. The slovenliness
of some riders is attributable to indifference,
but by far the greater number cut Il sorry figure
because they do not know how to order the
proper riding clothes and patrOnize tailors and
boot makerssthat have no knowledge of this
branch of their trade. There never was a
tailor who would not undertake to make a pair
of breaches, and most of them declare they
know all about it, when the chances are ten to
one that they never have seen properly made
pair. The result of the efforts of this class of
tradesmen IS pretty sure to make the rider
ridiculous.
The experience OF many so-called boot max
ers consists III having constructed hundreds OF
boots of the sort worn for walking by men with
old-fashioned ideas and they know little or
nothing about the riding boot. 1t is absolutely
necessary that good, in fact the best, tailors
and boot makers should be patronized if one
wishes to appear well in the saddle. There are
two or three talors in New York and about as
many boot makers who can lift one out" prop
erly, and the man taking up riding should hunt
them up and make sure that he has selected one
OF the right few. The beginner viii! find that
riding fashions are not hard to keep well up
with, for there is seldom any marked or essen
tial change.
For park riding the stop or tall silk hat
should invariably be worn. 1t is hardly neces-
sary TO fasten it on with cord exception cross
country work. The cutaway coat should be of
dark, neutral-coored diagonal worsted cloth
or Melton, lined with flannel of a weight Suita-
BILE for the season and climate III which 1t Is to
be worn. For summer the SILK Inning IS per-
haps preferable. The turned-down collar
should be OF the same material as the coat, and
the breast, side and change pockets should be
provided with broad flaps. The skirt is cut to
fall clear of the saddle, and, with the waist
seam, is cut hollow to avoid creasing. For park
riding some men wear riding trousers with a
strap beneath the instep, but boots and
breeches seem most popular in New York and
have received the sanction OF many men OF
| good taste.
Brooches should be of a soft shade Of brown
Bedford cord or whip cord. Shades OF gray
| are worn by some. but brown is without doubt
the popular color. The brooches should be
decidedly baggy about the thighs and should
| narrow down to fit tightly at the knees. The
| extension below the knees should fit the call
! perfectly, or when the boots are on they will
| prove extremely uncomfortable. The outside
| seam should be corded and four buttons and q
| little buckskin bow should show above the tops
| of the boots.
III trousers are worn they should be OF quiet
brown or gray cloth. With brooches, boots or
| leggings and shoes are worn. The boot leg
should be as small as it can be and admit the
foot and as nearly possible cylindrical from
ankle to top. There should be coquettish
wrinkles at the ankle and the heel should not
| be extraordinarily high The best dressed men
do not wear tops for park riding.
| III legglngs are worn with the breeches they
should be of waterproof, box cloth or Melton
and not of leather. They should button and
not buckle on and should not be shaped closely
about the ankle. The buttons should be OF
yellow horn and the color of the leggingi
| should be about the same as somewhat
| lighter than the breeches. The shoes worn
| with leggings are similar to the ordinary walk.
| ing shoe, but lace somewhat higher and have
not the little hooks that were invented for lazy
men. The soles should be Of medium weight
In waistcoats greater latitude is allowed the
rider than in any other garment. They may be
of the same cloth as the coat or Of any reason.
able fancy design in SILK or wool plush. Gen.
| orally speaking. the jacket or sack coat should
be avoided by riders, and man wearing one,
together with . pot or "Derby" hat, looki
decidedly like groom.
Upon informal occasions in the country, how.
| ever, they are much worn, perhaps without
violating good taste.