New-York tribune., 1900-09-03
FOR THE SHOPPER ABROAD.
WHAT NOT TO BUY IN PARIS AND LONDON
IMPOSSIBLE SHIRTS AND COLLARS.

WHAT NOT TO BUY IN PARIS AND LONDON
IMPOSSIBLE SHIRTS AND COLLARS.
The widespread publicity given TO the report
OF the United States Consul at Birmingham Eng
Iand regarding the standard of hosiery and under
wear sold IN England opens the question as to the
exact Indebtedness OF America 20 the older
tr1es In respect to articles Of wearing apparel.
Men go to England ana women go to France
every year with the avowed intention Of repenish-
Ing their wardrobes yet. the other hand, Ameri-
cans OF both sexes who reside abroad send home
every year for long list Of articles that they
deem necessary for their comfort and adornment.
There is no doubt that even the great shopping
districts Of London lack many things which
Americans are accustomed but. at least, clothes
are cheap in London. In Paris. on the other hand
cothes' with the exception Of luxuries Of the
toilet are expensive, and Americans going to
France to live for any length Of time wise If
they supply themselves with certain articles before
leaving New-York
Men accustomed TO American clothes are great
sufferers in France. It is almost impossible in
Paris to get proper string tie French collars are
ugly In shape. too low for American ideas, and
made OF heavy linen. French collar buttons are
beneath contempt; they are a joke and it is an
ruwtse man who has less than three before him
when he starts to unite his thick badly fitting col
lar to his worse fitting French shirt.
French shirts invariably too low In the neck
and have yards OF super1uous cloth in them. 1t is
impossible buy in France a negligee shirt with
collar attached although some Of the English
places VIII make these at high price Shoes are
clumsy and dear and the shape Of a French hat is
not to be trusted That any Of these things shall be
al all right must go 10 the English taiors and
outatters who have established shops in Paris.
These places, while never the equal of the London
places. much more expensive On the whole.
unless makes periodical visits to London, he
Is pretty badly of in Paris far clothes are
concerned.
a woman is worse OF. for she rarely find the
things she misses in the London shops.
In regard to all cotton things. the Paris shops are
huge failures. Decent sheets are s. pair in Paris
and, while eaborately trimmed hand made under
made garments cannot be found for a moderate
price. The woman of limited means sighs for the
low.
It is absolutely impossible for woman to find a
decent linen collar in Paris q ready made shirt
waist that will pass muster. She is indeed FORUM
ate X she can get anything of this sort properly
made TO order at a high price. French women wear
cheap and clumsy shoes; the footgear that French
woman shows when lifting her skirt is astonishing
Stockings are expensive and badly shaped unless
one pays the equivalent Of 70 cents pair. This
refers only cotton and Isle thread stockings for
silk stockings are included among the luxurious
articles that cheap.
On the whole. 1t is cotton and wooIlen goods that
are expensive IN France These articles should be
cheaper IN England than they are in America. and
they are, but they are so poorly made as to be i'm
possible for American taste. In combining com
fort and style with modest price, no European
country equals America