The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-05-13
TIE HAsKIN LETTER
STYLES. 1--For MEN.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

W
is more popular than Panama. ana
rough braids are affected in the stin
tstraws.
American fashions refuse 10 be at
fected by the great war IN Europe
I'm fact. there has been no season
1 in years when American men have
/ dressed as colorfully as at the pre-
sent. II is taken that this may De
ldue TO the absence of imported styles
/ pie of the United States were left
10 their own devices they would go
in for light and vari-colored cloth
ing. and stick much closer to the
dour hues to which man has SO long
been bound. Ii is announced, for
instance. that plaids Will be popular
this fall, as will checks. and bright
of the autumn will have little shape.
the coats roomy and swinging free.
the waistcoats very low and without
a collar. the trousers loose and peg
ged. The stiff 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 a 'by your leave" to-
England. from which mems fashions
mostly come. The Americans VINO
have been accustomed to roll up
their trousers when it rains in Lon-i
don are not observing that time
honored custom this year In fact,
the things that are being done oni
this side in clothes have no approach
10 a counterpart abroad.
From London the word comes that
West End IS a most unsatisfactory
spot. The men of the army <whoi
Eset 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 thel
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-I
ing her each week the allowance for
maintenance which comes to the wife
of a soldier
And the shopkeepers complaint
that those men who have remainedi
at home are Indifferent to the most
alluring prices. The merchants are,
saved from bankruptcy only by theI
fact that wages are plentiful and
that the lower ranks of society
are dressing more extensively than
lever before. So far as there may be
| said TO be any fashion. it IS Dor
| rowed from the army. and garments
are cut with military air 10 them
Materials for the present season
were largely made up when the war
other loud patterns. These have
gathered dust on tailor's shelves. for
only the soberest materials are worn.
There are the materials for golf
suits, for instance. Not pattern
! has been sold. No EngiishmanI
would dare appear on the street in
golf suit. The public holds that
I:R r. 0Xf RI
play golf he should enlist. A 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
! through May and June. The Ann
erican man of fashion laments the
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
| pressing up IniS sSdSO41- II - ASp0l =
ed that he is even hesitating 10 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
lishman. 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-I
cipated from London dominance.
are beginning to wonder where this
independence will end. The fidelity
with which men have adhered to con-
yentiona1 dress has been largely due
20 the fact that London was taken
as the authority in these matters,
and London would be about the last
I place in the world to break away
| from that which IS established. Fash
ionable adherence to the melan-
choly dress suit. for instance. has
been a matter of greater incinven-
| fence in the United States than else
where because here there are fewer
official uniforms. Our diplomatic
service. for instance. stands almost
alone in its 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, IN
trammeIed seems to be making prog
ress towards much more comfort
able and much less mournfuI clothes
for men.