The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-11-20

with braid on the sleeves and on what
ever seam 1t can be appropriately or in
appropriately be made to adorn. Heavy
overcoats end those of lighter weight
made of rough tweds alone escape this
fashion. There is no braid on them.
Waistcoats, to meet the demands of the
prevailing style, are cut much higher
than the coats. Not many years ago 1t
was considered inexcusable to have the
least bit Of the waist coat show below
the neck Of the opening coat. Now all
tailors cut coats to leave some of the
waistcoat visible.
Fancy waistcoats are braided, usually
in tint that contrasts with the color of
the body % the waistcoat Biscuit color,
blue (of the shade called robins egg)
and pale greens are all braided in white.
Occasionally on dark materials is seen
a black braid. But that is rather too
pronounced to be popular among men
who pay attention to dress.
On account of the braid, which Is deco
ration enough the new waistcoats are
made without collars.
None of the double breasted or dress
coats have collars pressed down now.
The roll Is not made pronounced, but is
allowed to fall back of its own accord. 1t
is difficult to persuade tailors to whom
these coats are sent for pressing that
the collars should not be pressed down.
but luckily even pressing them by mis-
take does no harm, as they can be
brought into condition again.
There never was the time when the
dress of men, even for formal occasions,
showed SO much avoidance of stiffness.
This is primarily the effect OF the loose
clothes.
In neckwear, the solid color almost
holds the field. Four-in-hand ties of me-
dunn width are the smartest for ordin-
airy wear. and they are almost always
without design. Green and brown still
hold their own and are possibly the most
popular colors. The puffed scar. which
goes with more formal dress, is also us
ually in some solid color All shades
of purple Rave had a long vogue and
have not yet lost their popularity al
together.
The string ties are in solid colors. too
at least he smartest are
The English fashion which took a long
time to gain admirers here has finally
been adopted by those who are able to
dress without thinking of considerations
that affect the average man. Patent
leather shoes with Russian leather or
light cloth tops are coming to be much
from London, as American makers have
not begun to manufacture them. They
were first made for Englishmen in Paris
as 1t was thought that the English boot
makers were not equal to such fine work
There are nearly always some current
fashion of wearing hats that the smart
ly dressed men Of London affect. A de-
cade ago not only derby hats but silk
hats were worn forward on the brow, so
as to look almost as If they were going
to topple over the noses of the wearers.
Now 1t Is lust the reverse. The English
men who have come here this summer
and autumn have all worn their hats
so far back on their heads that they
must wear a size larger than usual to
keep them on at all. Last summer this
fashion was amusingly illustrated In the
Panama which in order to get it on the
back of the head. had to have the rim
moved back. So the hat was worn with
the brim-supposed to be a protection
from the sun-turned far back. and the
lack of this brim. which served no good
purpose wss all that could be used.