The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-05-13
By Frederic ]. Haskin.


| Is more popular than Panama. ana
rough braids are affected in the sim
istraws-
American fashions refuse TO be at
fected by the great war in Europe
In fact. there has been no season
in years when American men have
dressed as colorfully as at the pre-
sent. It Is taken that this may De
due to the absence of imported styles
and as an indication that IL the peo-
PIE of the United States were left
10 their own devices they would GO
in for light and varf-colored clotn-
ing. and stick much closer TO the
dour hues to which man has so long
been bound It is announced, for
instance. that plaids will be popular
this fall, as will checks. and bright
colors in general. The loose clothss
of the autumn will have little shape,
the coats roomy and swinging free.
the waistcoats very low and without
ged The stir cuff is to come IN
again The ties are to be bright with
bias stripes as the favorite design
America has done all this without
so much as by your leave 10
England, from which mems fashions
mostly come The Americans VINO
have been accustomed to roll up
their trousers when it rains in Lon
don are not observing that time
honored custom this year In fact'
the things that are being done on
this side in clothes have no approach
TO a counterpart abroad.
From London the word comes that
West End is a most unsatisfactory
spot. The men of the army who
set the pace in matters OF fashion are
all at the front Many Of the men
of fashion have secured commissions
and some of them have gone straight
into the ranks. There is Sir H. h
Raphael. for instance. one of the
richest and most fashionable men
in the house of commons He en-
listed as a private and Lady Raphael
reports that the government is send
ing her each week the allowance for
maintenance which comes to the wife
of soldier.
And the shopkeepers complain
that those men who nave remained
at home are Indifferent TO the most
alluring prices. The merchants are
saved from bankruptcy only by the
fact that wages are plentiful and
that the lower ranks of society
are dressing more extensively than
ever before. So far as there may be
said to be any fashion. IT is Dor
rowed from the army, and garments
are cut with a military air TO them
Materials for the present season
were largely made up when the war
broke and abounded in plaids and
other loud patterns. These have
gathered dust on tailor's shelves, for
only the soberest materials are worn.
There are the materials for golf
has been sold. No Englishman
would dare appear on the street in
golf suit. The public holds that
If man is sufficiently athletic to
play golf he should enlist. golf
suit would probably be Kissed on the
streets of London.
1t is now the time of year when
the English season should be on.
1t is with great fidelity that the Lon
doner observes mis- social season.
which is ordinarily at its height
erican man of fashion 1aments the
fact that New York has no such
period. that everybody is out or
town by this time of year. that there
is no opportunity for the Beau Brum-
mel TO show his clothes and start a
fad. He makes the most of the NOR
sci of comfort he may get out OF
an Easter morning parade, but Plea
dilly for months is as good as Fifth
avenue on Easter.
The Londoner. however. is not
dressing up this season 1t is report
ed that he is even hesitatinS to wear
evening clothes when he goes out
for dinner. which is a great conces-
sion for an Englishman. He holds
that at a time like this, the people
resent seeing men on the streets IN
evening clothes. This. says the Eng
iishman. is one of the most amazing
things that has come out of the Eu-
ropean war
American observers OF the drift
of fashions in mems wear when eman-
cipated from London dominance.
are beginning to wonder where this
with which men have adhered to con-
ventional dress has been largely due
TO the fact that London was taken
as the authority in these matters.
and London would be about the last
place in the world to break away
from that which Is established. FASH
ionable adherence to the melan-
choIy dress suit. for instance. has
been a matter of greater incinven-
where because here there are fewer
official uniforms Our diplomatic
service. for instance, stands almost
alone in fits absence of a uniform.
But the possibility of escaping from
the dark and heavy suits which men
have long worn despite weather con-
ditions, Is of more general import
ance And the United States. un-
tramme1ed seems to be making prog
ress towards much more comfort
able and much less mournful clothes
for men.