Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-11
THE |MPENETRABLE MYSTERY
Of FASHIONS FOR MEN
Autocrats Who Make the Styles in Mems Clothing are More
Domineering and Unyielding Than the Queens Who Rule
the Women; an Interesting Insight Into Where the
styles Come From.

assemble In Chicago on February J.
One Of the features of this convention
Is an exhibition Of new garments 10
which any member Of the %organiza-
ton Is permitted 10 submit sample
suits or single garments cmbodying
ideas which In his opinion are In any
way an Improvement upon the exist
ing STYLES. Some Of these costume
are weird and wonderful and would
cause CONSERVATION 70 the ordinary
man IL ne We're asked TO wear them
Thev are carefully examined, how
ever. by a committee whose functions
are very much like those Of the
hanging committee" IN an art ok
hibitiOn. Those that recommend them
selves as having mcritorious features
are mounted on models while others
are sent to the 'sky line" or are barred
out entirely Thig yearly exhibit ~
carefully Inspected by members Of the
organization who often gain from II
valuable ideas for uso I'm their WORT
All outsiders are rigidiy barred from
seeing these works. Of sartorial art al
though at It's coming convention the
association has decided 60 let Town the
bars 10 the extent Of admitting to II
tailors who are not members Of their
organization upon payment of a fee
OF ten dollars. The purpose Of this
departure is announced to be a de-
sire to improve tho general standard
Of American dress by reaching az
many Of the latter cannot afford to
tailors Of the country even though
many Of the latter canont afford to
belong 10 the exclusive association.
The mere admittance Of Il garment
to tho exhibition. however, does not
mean tina II Is accepted as good form
or the proper style. The tailors orga-
nfzation attends TO that matter by APP
pointing another special committee to
prepare its official fashion report
Great ease IL exercised 10 select con
sentative men aH well as those who
occupy a prominent position in the
trade for this work The fashion com
mittce carefully studies the exhibit OF
new garments. II considers past styles,
wherein they recommend themselves
to men who are particular IN the mat
ter OF dress and wherein they failed
Of popularity. 1t accepts suggestions
from other members OF the organl2a-
tion and considers tho subject from
every possible angle. A. a result Of
these deliberations the fashion com
mittcc issues It's report, or rather its
reports for they are put out twice
each year. the first one shortly after
the yearly convention outlining the
STYLES for the spring ana summcr sea-
sons and the second at the beginning
Of autumn defining the correct winter
STYLES These reports are as authorl
subject can be and, while they arc not
followed slavishlv by the Fashionable
'ailors Of the country who naturally
exercise their individual opinions In
advising their customers. they form
the guide which II followed generally
In the planning and finishing ~ tailor
ed garments.
The greatest care rs taken to pre-
vent these books from falling into
tho hands of persons outside the
charmed circle Of the tailors' Jealous
~ as the secrets Of an important fnan-
ciai report or Of a diplomatic trans
action. when the garments described
In the reports are on the backs OF
wearcrs there a. Of curse no way to
prevent them from being copied but
that IS too late to make the informa-
ton OF any great usefulness There
are plenty of Instances on record. how
ever. where hundreds " not thousands
Of dollars have bcen offered 90 secure
a copy Of one OF these records of com
ing styles