Evening star., 1908-01-25

mode detail of former days. may be taken
as evidence or the striving for richer ef-
fects. to which reference was made.
Otherwise, too. the accepted model of
the current season differs from that of a
year ago. The most notable departure in
outline is seen in the lapels. which are
now but slightly longer than on the
lounge suit. In fact the evening jacket 5
contour scarcely differs from that of the
day jacket. The double cuff has gained
in favor, the notched collar is preferred
to the shawl collar. and the front edges
have generous curve at the bottom. 1t
is semi-fitting in the back, measures
thirty-one inches for the man five feet
eight in height and is usually made with
out vent.
Although the evening jacket is more
used in the summer months than in win
ter. because of the number of country af-
fairs at which it goes" the new features
get approval when the club season in
town is in full swing. Men who observe
the best usage % not wear it at any
ceremonious function this season, as they
did not In the past. BY that l mean any
gathering attended by women except the
dinner in ones home Nor is 1T correct
at a club event for which invitations are
issued. There is only one exception to
this general rule. namely. meeting OF
close friends. either for dinner at res
taurant, to the play. or in party Tor
games where the informal spirit prevails
by common consent and the stiffness or
formal dress would tend to put damper
on the occasion. In brief, it's still a mere
lounge coat.
Fashions for Spring.
Even thus early we get some fore
shadowings of fashions for spring. That
it will be season of bright colors in both
clothes and accessories is well established
Having seen the selections of fabrics of
- 81
dent that color will be omnipresent. In
stead of solid grays. blues and browns In
bunge suitings. we shall have mixtures In
which these and other colors are COM
bined. The color that gives greatest
promise Of attaining high vogue is pur-
pie, and this despite the fact that the
darker shades are usually most conspicu-
Gus in winter Many of the cloths TO De
offered to the exclusive set for spring con-
tain an abundance of purple, especially
in Combination with green in stripe and
small check designs.
Whether the crowd will take to purple
as 1t did to brown is a question open TO
debate. However. the cue. l. fancy, may
be of value. For l recall that year ago
this month / spoke OF browns as COM
ing" and l recall, likewise, that though
some scoffed because attempts to revive
1t some months previous We're entirely un-
availing, the manufacturers of all lines
affected by color-hats, suitings, cravats.
half-hose and boots-were unable to meet
the demand when 1t came. We shall not
hear of the tailors' supply houses going
down into subcellars to resurrect purple
materials, as we heard in connection with
browns year ago, for the very simple
reason that they wouldn't be likely to find
any there. Purple has been regarded
heretofore as impossible for the hoi poloi
because of the difficulty of making it SO
as to stay" There have been some ex-
periments since then which in a measure
overcome this objection. And it may be
noted here that purple is as well liked
by particular men in cravats as 1t ever
was, and that is equivalent to saying