West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-01-08
A POPULAR FALLACY.
London Fashions and Where They
Originate
r'h" Motion That Royalty ssts the stylos
I'm ress Ia tho English Capita said
10 Bs Erroneous-I'rince Al
herts rauors.

Within the narrow limits OF tho wcat
end are set tho fashions for nearly all
the rest of the world. SAYS London
correspondent OF the Clothicr and
EUrnlshcr. II is not tho Prince OF
Wales who does It, either with all due
respect TO the multitude OF writers who
industriously propagate tho fallacy that
Albert Edward, the great, Is sort OF
walking fashion.platc Tor tho cnivcrao
No people moro riliculo this idea than
the very furnishcrs who serve the Jolly
Prince and his manly sons. His ROYAL
Highncss gives less tine 10 the contcm-
plation Of bis wardrobe than two-thirds
OF tho most ordinary dresscrs in London.
lie merely possesses The best 81 taste
and studiously rcfrains from patronizing
fashion that Is not we'll grounded be-
fore IL reaches tin. sNhcu tho Prince
OF Wales requires an article OF dress his
measure, IL on hand, is Mt to tho tailor
or other happy Mortal destined for tho
honor, and tho article demanded is maGc
and then submitted for alterations in
porSon. Tho tradCsmSn called TO Marl-
borough house to undergo the trying or
deal of taking n royal order gets from
three 20 GYo minutes audience only,
and must bo as expeditions aud careful
in his measurements ~ 10 be absolutely
exact In tho result, without which his
services are not likcly ~ DO asked for a
second time. Tho Prince docs not pro-
tend 10 know what will hr worn in adj
vance, but makes his selections OF cloth
ing from cxi6ting fabrics and fashions as
submitted and advised by personal as
sociates and his tailor. Ii royalty can
be made TO put on "startlcr" OF any
description for tho purpose of astonish-
ing tho natives, 10 is probable In the
pcrsoa of Prince Albert Victor. tho new.
ly nedgcd Dnkc OF Clarence, who 10 SO
obliging in disposition that his august
parent has had in rast years to mako q
Roman holiday cf several furnishcra
who havo startca styles on Eddie" Of
n highly sCntGtiCnal character.
Tho Duke OF Fife, accompanied by bi3
royal bri 10. makes no bones OF going to
his tailors or furDishers on foot OF an
afternoon; and is good customer though
modest dresser. no Dukes tailor, re-
Gently interviewed. says that he has
about n dozen suits In constant use,
never wearing the same suit twice Ia
any ono week. His trousers are kept on
shelves. each marked with the day Of
tho week, and arc the constant oaro
OF his valet, as the Duke will not brook
creaSes. As an example Of what the
complete wardrobe OF rrca Of rank.
wealth and fashion consists Of on tho
average the DCkc OF Fifo's outfit for the
present summer may be taken. r. con-
tains threc liTht and ono dark tweed
suit one blue lannci. one black serge,
orc m'lton cUtaWay, one pcppcr-and-
salt cutaway. two trOCl coats and two
full-drcss suits. besides special garments
for travelling. riding, hunting. shooting
ana dcer-stalliing, as well as half u
dozen uniforms. The Prince OF Wales
wardrobe contains oycr thirty or tic
latter alone.
Tho great ambition OF al London
tradcsmcn Il, OF course. nj patrcnaQc,
and ~ this end favor Is very widely
distributed, as Tic wardrobcs OF tho
royal Princes aro recruited from count
less sources. tho cqucrrics and valcts Of
the household being tho principal pur.
cbascrs and suGGcsters TO their masters
Of scasonablc novelties The coveted
warrant which conveys the right 90 nut
the royal or other arms over the mcr-
chants door. is not TO DO obtained un-
less oJnc actual service las bccn done
and ccriain standing 81 years Is pos.
sesscd by he lrm; but they arc not mn.
common. as tho proiuscly Ciidcd en-.
bla@onrcnt over every third shop-front
In tho West cad will nttcSt