Evening star., 1902-03-08
What Fashion Presents to
Mems View.
THREE-PIECE SUITS
EXTREME CUTAWAY COATS MOI
POPULAR.
Knitted Silk Ties, Crystal Buttons
and Other Novel
ties.
Written for The Evening Star.

| written Tor Ihe Evening Star.
| So far as the well-dressed man Is con-
cerned spring has arrived and suitable vest
ments are accordingly taking the place OF
heavy winter garments. The first sign OF
change was given by the new three piece
suits that came into use quite three weeks
| ago. These suits consist of trousers body
| coat and overcoat all cut from one bolt Of
goods. Something conservative in incon-
spicuous dark gray or brown mixtures were
the first to appear. Now the smarter men
are wearing top coats Of lighter gray. to
match their distinctly spring-like gray suits
These top coats to match have an unusual
fullness from the shoulders, and among the
| men who are sending in to their tailors
very generous spring orders, a preference
seems to be expressed for a gray cloth in
which a strong greenish cast is visible
Conservative American men. and this term
, slgn1fles all but very small clique of dar-
ing club-living youths SHE'D al the extreme
cutaway coat that John Hare brought over
ana which has been very much worn In
London. 1t verged on the sharply conspicu-
Gus, so the American men let 1t rather
severely alone, but they promise to take
kindly to new coat shape that remains to
be suitably christened. This coat has long
ish skirts and fullness with the corners
rounded off in front. There is nothing sud
den about this coat as was the offense Of
curves are gentle, its aspect that Of a mod
ish compromise between the true cutaway
and the stately, "skirty' frock, and 1t is in
form for calling, spring weddings, etc. 1t
IS always of the same piece the trousers
with which it is worm and a man can ap-
pear in 1t at morning function and so on
to his office later and get down to work
without feeling or looking over-dressed for
the "dollar-monger'S part, an unconifoIt- t
able sense that pursues the American finan-
cier when he wears frock coat down
town.
Waistcoats and Shirtings.
The man who feels any interest in his
wardrobe Is rather finicky about his waist
coats. Well-dresSed members of society
easily possess score Of them yet they are
now adding to the store. The demand is
for colored and wash waistcoats and the
colored cotton field of the spring like vest
is variegated with spots. Plaids are no
longer useful or beautiful as vesting goods
but brown buff, gray and with the younger
element, robbins egg blue, are all colors
in good social standing. Four smoked pearl
buttons. on each side of the double-breasted
Walstcoats front. is the proper number and
to hold the lapels quite fiat and firm these
two are fastened down with button and
button hole. The former matches in color
and material those that appear on the
front Of the vest
The smart spring shirting material is mer-
cerlzed cheVtot. and stripes this season are
all running longitudinally. 1t would be
difficult to say what color in shirts takes
the lead. The strong pinks are avoided as
a rule and black and white effects are
synonymous with morning. Aside from
these two contrasts the average man lends
himself to almost any color that is not too
cOnspicuously emblazoned on the starched
stretches of this cotton garment. Those of
the sterner sex, who enjoy the unusual,
patronize the fashionable new color; robins
egg blue and the stripe in their shirts re-
fleets the color of their socks
Necktie Vogues.
The English knitted silk tie has come over
and found warm welcome. Grays and
rich purples hold the lead and the knitted
ones are worn in all the approved shapes.
from the tiny butterfly to the broadest AS
cot These ties are hand knitted, of the
same silk used in making expensive silk
dress hose. and. like the hose, their colors
are fast and can stand the laundry Natu-
rally they are not inexpensive, but they are
well worth the price asked for them and
they promise to enjoy something more than
a mere vogue. Less costly and almost as
durable are ties knitted of cotton, in which
there is just twist Of silk to give the gloss
and strength required.
Old watch guards, showing tiny jewels in
their centers, are among the fashionab BILE
necktie ornaments for the new season.
Most Of these come from Europe where it
Is now certain that an old watch is not rob-
bed Of its guard every time a scarf pin is
HdOe. me lIaHdn SOlQSINltn Is particularly
skilled in the duplication of antiques, and
such clever copies of old guards are made
as would puzzle expert to detect the
fraud. As these golden disks are exquisite
ly cut and often set with small fine rubies
it stands to reason that their value is not
overestimated by the price asked for them,
both here and abroad
The Crystal Cult.
A very interesting luxury in masculine
dress Is the extensive use of fine crystals
as ornaments. Gun links. watch charms,
pins and waistcoat buttons are now made
OF crystals that are cut, polished. deco
rated and set in London. The crystals are
set In rims Of gold or silver, one side of
each Is rounded out to a deep pure oval
with its reverse cut fiat and then carved
CRIT