The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-13
COSTUMES FOR CYCLING.
FASHION TAKES ARBITRARY HOLD
OF DRESS FOR THE SPORT.

NAL Cut-BriRht Colors Preyail-Evolu-
lions OF style from High Wheel Days.
1t is noticeable that this year. morelthan ever
before. the authority OF Dame Fashion is being
asserted with regard to the dress OF cycle
riders. Positive patterns now separate the
cyclists who are up-to-date and correctly
dressed from those who are needless OF what
Is the proper thing. or course there has boon
a particular character OF attire for men and for
women cyclists ever since the sport became
popular, but 1t was one allowing Of much
latitude In details. Beyond drawing the line
OF general difference between wheeling
costume and street dress fashion did not
venture. Tho oapricious and dictatorlal
dame was satisfied II skirts were short.
with boomers underneath. without specifying
the exact length fulness. manner Of making
or kind OF material. Long boots. ties or half
lengths. with either leather or clio tn tops. we're
all right for women and individuality was UNI
checked. For men either bagay boomers or
close fitting knickerbockers OF variable
lengths. shape and material. with low pedes-
tran shoes and any sort Of coat and cap, were
proper enough For q number OF years cycling
modes logged along In this comfortable. free
and-easy way. and the scenes on tho roads Of
fered rare range Of study. The time is
almost hero. however. when fashion will hold
absolute sway. and each year will see its
standard styles Of cycling rigs. the same a.
with the dress for all occasions. In some re-
spects this time is at hand.
Tho mass has been reached at which high
III pS ,'. h>,I o1os too,ino - ,not",,
riding suits unless they are ordered according
to certain approved styles Skirts that reach
to within seven inches Of the ground and
knickers cut like equestrian trousers. or pear
shaped. have become recognized as the cor
rect articles for the season In the department
stores and the ready-made clothing stores
conformity to the prevailing patterns Is the
oruer a"u 'ho 'ue''"''t ''%','S " ,,,
such as he or she has worn and learned to like
T., ,,hat l. ho,,,,r WOW, :, 10 tho onlv oc,r-
is what Is De'hg worn now " Is 'he on's cor
The strap and buckle on the bottoms OF rid
,,,, hrnaohos hovo doror,od ord ths Main
ing preeehes nave uep"r.eu' a1" 'ne pam
pants are simtly relics Of hiph.whccl DAYS
p AN Ill ,no,,anrs mo- I'D r,i.h omss
which button at the side. but these are now
made OF tho same material as the body Of the
NO. n. I'll - a., s,,,, a.,.inl
garment. fuIl suits OF the same material
are not worn Ivy the makers of fashion. but
light trousers with fancy check or plaid are
lhe thihs WIN sack c"a' OF s"''u DARK Color,
The heavy golf stockings Of loud pInlds and
- -, .,;m - ~,
date Fancy tops are stu proper nut
neater The best dressed men are forsak-
ino ,ho ,itr,'heo,v s@w hn.s and woor,no
thin stockings of cotton. worstod. silk
or mixed goods. In shoes. tho athletes foot
gear. cut to the ankle and lacng al the way TO
The stylish riding shoe is laced low. but not
SO extremely as before, and the tons are above
the ank es; This style not only prevents the
accumulation Of sand and small stones in the
shoes. but also conceqls the connection be-
tween the footless riding hose and the ordi-
socks. tOatS ordinary
lines OF those worn during bushes hours, and
6t 5 eSas. @ ss I'd tho msr
chant as to having this garment square corr
ne Wft q" th "utoway
q light hat is worn. A struggle has been ap-
parently made to sheve the bicycle cap as
Fedora. but the weight and warmth OF the
Alpine felts and the superior comfort of the
this dc d"cree Of u and the bat
although still on. seems to promise little hope
OF the Alpine ever being made supreme. Light
checked caps OF any pattern are permissible.
hut many OF the best dressed riders have them
to match the trousers.
having suspender buttons put on the inside
and wearing suspcnders under short light
wh nns dsf ars esRsw 5o h
belts and suspenders having their riding
rSnseTT made The starcned
IN front e and The higG stsrcned 0 cSar have
been waging battle, with the n"Glige shirts
with the cap, but comfort and apprOpri-
ateness support the cause Of the soft
shirts and turn-down collars. Guns are
the rule with the better class ut riders and
simple little summer ties nf lawn or other ma
tera The high turncd-over collar is popu-
| lar compromise between the two extremes OF
linen neckwear., In shirts the same light ma
| teras in vogue last year will he worn, the fan
mel affairs with rolling collars having been
rclegated to a haberdashcry limbo. In the way
OF cOlors there is little new In shirts except
| that they are running neater and more to solid
| coors than toward tiaShiness.
| Nothing is palmer than that the other days
when any old rig" was good enough for a
wheel have departed Yet the appearance OF Il
| standard fashion may perhaps be considered
only q return to the vogue of the good old
| ordinary" For riders OF the high wheel there
| was an arbitrary fashion. Offering as little
| scope for personal variations as the cOnven-
tional evening dress of men The riders Of
| the original bicycles were mighty particular
! too. and it was as violent breach OF
| road etiquette to appear in unorthOdoN
| attire az it would be to wear a business suit in
| an opera box The high wheel fashionable cos
tune. made out of patent leather pumpsplain.
| dark stockings, ordinary dark knee pants a
| soft shirt with white collar aud Il Norfolk
| jacket with the head surmounted by one OF
| the little polo caps that the boys called pill
boxes" was practically a universal cycling
1