Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-06
SUMNER CLOT HE'S,
The Problem That Bothers the FASH
ionable Young Man.
VII AT SH ALL HE WEAR?
Flannel Shirts and suits-when and How
They Should Be Worn-Luxury OF I'm
blacked shoes-Advantages Of Staying In
Washington During the Heated Season.
WRITER FOR THE STAR" RAN

A WRITER FOR THE STAR" RAN
"A across one of the most bowling of dudes the
other day and found him in q great state Of
perturbation, the occasion for which was that
he is now laying in his stock of summer clothes.
As the greatest events that ever occur in this
young mans life is the acquisition of new arti-
cles Of raiment, it was interesting to hear him
hold forth on the subject.
There is" he said, "a great deal Of pleasure
to be got out Of clothes, if you only knew it."
PROFESSIONALLY there is, If you can bring your
self down to it, but most of US have other
things that are uppermost in our minds. We pass
through what may be termed the clothes age,
which runs from about seventeen to twenty
three, and then we cease to think Of them.
But how many are there that didn't pass
through that stage, when clothes were the
chief subject Of thought, when money was
looked upon merely as something convertible
into trousers and coats and hats and shoes,
when dressing was real pleasure and not q
bother, when mankind were looked upon
merely as lay figures upon which the arts of
the tailor might be displayed. Let the clothes
age stop at twenty-five at the utmost. When
you see a man who makes his apparel the chief
object Of his existence after that depend upon
1t that he will never be anything all his life but
q dude.
PATRIOTIC SUGGESTION.
"Can you explain to me-" said dude to
man who isn't a dude, "why it is that matters
always put black ribbons about straw hats in
stead of using red or blue ribbon?''
For the same reason" replied the other,
that tailors don't make trousers out Of Ameri-
can flags"
He couldn't see the connection and perhaps
1t was far-fetched, since some people do wear
straw hats with red and blue ribbons about
them, whereas no man ever walked the streets
with pair OF trousers made out Of an Ameri-
can flag. But why shouldn't he? What COM
bination Of colors can be more beautiful
What idea could be more patriotic? The blue
field and the white stars might be skillfully
arranged to come where they would be most
picturesque. There is only one reasonable OBJ
lection to having American flags made into
trousers and that is the disagreeable fact that
1t would be an indignity to the flag to sit on it,
but this objection would be more than coun-
terbalanced by the patriotic effect that the
clothes lines would produce if the garments
should be made OF q washable material.
THE QUESTION OF FLANNELs.
But all this is by the way. Seriously, the
matter of an outfit for the summer is very i'm
portant one to many men, and now is the time
when they are making their purchases There
il only few years since these were worn only
on the tennis court. Then men at the summer
resorts who played tennis a very little and
loafei a great deal took to wearing them all the
time. and gradually they became "a uniform at
the seashore, the springs and the mountains
Then they worked their way into the city The
usual march Of fashion is from the city into the
country, but in this case the fashion has come
from the country into the city. Well. there is
not much dignity in them; that must be ad-
mitted, but they are comfortable and with some
men they are becoming. But OF all recent
fashions this one is probably the most expen-
sive. for these fannels must be clean, and when
they are washed they shrink from few inches
to half foot at q time, according to the
washer. II you don't want them to shrink you
must send them to cleaner and pay dollar or
so each time.
THEY WILL SHRINK.
1t Is this dread propensity Of fanncls to
shrink that causes people to buy them too
large, and the large sacks, reHed up At the bot
tom will soon be seen all over the streets. A
little fellow wears big fellows trousers and q
big fellow wears garments that might fit the
giant in a circus. This has become fad and.
however awkward it may be, it must be con-
fessed that it is far better than that other fad
that was introduced summer before last of
wearing white hannels that were dirty. This
was done, and the dirtier the garments the
better. but the clearly style has come in vogue
now.
You can wear these things in Washington
after the summer has fairly set in, for WASH
ington is not particular in these matters, and,
indeed, one OF the greatest charms Of the city is
its freedom at all seasons, and especially during
the summer. II you go to New York you viii
find that many Of the best dressed men never
wear straw hats. Down town where il is GER
tainiy as hot, If not hotter, than it ever is here
you will see lawyers, bankers and business men
rushing around in the broiling sun with heavy
black hats on. They wear standing collars too,
and their whole costume suggests insufferable
heat.
Now. Washington is much pleasanter place
in summer than New York. Here there is
space, shade and plenty of air, but in New
York there are. practically speaking, no shade
trees and any breezes that may happen to come
over the bay are caught and interrupted by the
broiling surfaces OF thousands Of towering
brick buildings.
THE FLANNEL SHIRT.
Moreover, another advantage here is the one
already alluded to, that the men can wear any
clothes they choose, provided they are thin
The Washingtonian who is well dressed in sum-
mer is the one that looks comfortable. But
how about the flannel shirt? This subject
must be approached cautiously, for it is i'm
portant and the feelings Of good citizens must
not be hurt. One remark may be hazarded,
however. II you have long. lean neck and a
dark, sallow complexion, in the name of heaven
don't wearG dark coiored flannel shirt II you
are married man your wife will find it
difficult to continue to love you and
if you are bachelor or widower and wish to
get a wife your chances will be ruined.
man neck is not beautiful under any circum-
stances, but long, thin, scraggy neck must be
hidden, even at the expense of some bodily
comfort. But If you are q handsome, rosy
checked fellow, with q nice, smooth neck you
may venture on flannel shirt during business
hours, but never, under any circumstances
whatsoever, should man appear in the even
ing among the gentler sex in this costume.
This would seem to be superhuous advice but
it isn't On the strength OF the great informally
and freedom allowed during the summer some
men doventure to wear after shutdown a cos
tune that is only tolerable during the heat of
the day. These remarks are not intended as a
general condemnation Of the shirt that hasn't
been billed" It is often very pretty and
becoming, but 1t must be worn with discrimi-
nation. After all there are some people who
object to them, whereas nobody can object to
white linen shirt and collar-except possibly
the person who has it on.
THE UNBLAcKED SHOES.
Another distinctive feature Of the summer
costume is the shoes. Dudes were the ones
after all to whom we are indebted for the de-
lightful unblacked summer shoes. They wore
them for year or two and other people were,
in consequence, afraid of them. but few bold
spirits saw how sensible they were and now
even the most conservative wear them. They
are easy to the feet, they are good looking and
to poor fellows who have to blacken their own
shoes in the morning they are solid comfort.
ia trua thew intArfere rnaferiallv With &l,a