The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
THE FASHIONS OF MEMS CLOTHES.
Riot of Color in NccLties and sum-
mer shirts.

@NSW 1OTh Letter.
The windows of the haberdashers shops.
Gay now with their spring wares, are I'M
deceiving those fond observers who be-
ueved last autumn that highly colored
WaiStcoatS and ties in Scotch plaids set =
limit TO the wearing OF bright hues by men,
The cloths for waistcoats that have come
fresh from American mills importers
warehouses are, indeed. no more garish
than were those of last October: and he
that wears them may still be calmly conf
Dent that he Will catch almost every way
farer $ eye. The ties. of the autumn, how
ever. seem but pale and dull shadows of
memory beside the glowing variety of
those OF the spring. The plaids, bright as
they were. had. perforce. a measure of
regularity i'm their coIors; while the stuffs
that the haberdashers are now fan 10 sub
stitute for them are innocent of all reti-
or young and ardent painter in the i'm
pressonist manner. after he has worked all
gay ana then in weary pique spilled his
color box. bears comparison with them
The colors cry aloud: the splotchy arrange
ment of them enforces their call TO the
most careless. No waistcoat can subdue
them; II can only add one more discOrdant
note TO the din. For a year or two past
the coiors or wOmen's gowns and hats have
been so high that they have frightened our
streets and given recompense for the lack
OF uniforms in daily wear upon our side OF
the sea They. however. were at least har-
mOnlOus IN intent. IL not always in execu-
ton; while the tints in the ties of the
spring seem plainly chosen to quarrel with
each other and with every hue i'm the ap-
painters newly come from Paris are saying
that II Is becoming the fashion there TO
Work IN low tones and that the impression
isuc riot In radiance is abating. Perchance
the mO0e OF the moment in ties is but the
token OF similar reaction.
Inc glow, moreover. of what the haber-
daSherS call their "neckwear" seems to
have intoxicated them. To look upon their
Ties day in and day out ought TO content
any man with a moderate appetite for col
or put they have not stayed in their feast
until they have provided shirts of like gar
Ism hues The wearing of coiored shirts in
warm weather-and at ones work indeed
the year arOund-is we'll established i'm this
town, and fashion now is busy chiefly with
the varying OF the hues. Every spring the
tlnts have been growing higher, the stripes
broader. the designs more Irregular. Last
autumn there were signs of impending
rivalry in garishness between the shirts and
the ties that the whim of the hour pre-
scribed. This spring the noisy contest goes
gayiy forward, and In every haberda sher' :
windows the wayfarer sees, nay almost
hears. the battle. Thus far. the ties seem
70 nave the pest OF IT. The shirtmaker,
though he hesitates not at any color or
combination of color. pauses AT absolute
disdain OF design The shirts OF the spring
are akin TO the ties OF the autumn and an
other six months will probably pass before
they slip further down toward designless
dlScordance. 1t is possible to choose the
plaid OF every elan of Scotland and of some
one suspects, that would be unknown to
tne eannlest Scot OF them all; but the
plalds stu connote struggling regularity
OF design This. however barely holds its
own In the clash OF tie. waistcoat and
shirt upon the youth that stops only at the
utmost limit or the newest fashion. Bold
men have dared once and again to sug-
gest that evening clothes Ia sober or rich
hues might reasonably be worm and so
change the somber aspect of formal as
SeEnblleS after O'Clock in the afternoon
They have been rebuked forthwith for
their presumption. They have been accused
with disregard of houored precedent. They
have been frankly told that they had no
taste. Yet the brightest-hued evening
clothes of which the boldest of these inno-
Vators ever dreamed were dull beside the
WaistcOats. the shirts, the ties that the
stubborneSt champions of the prescott even
ing dress will wear without shame in the
present spring and summer. As present
tendencies go in the dress Of men. we shall
riot in color by day. and repent in blacks;
and whites by night Perchance a compTo-
mise wise in its moderation. would be the
better for both our morning and the even
Ing apparel