Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-04
STAGE STYLE SHOW
IN MEMS CLOTHES
National Association of Merchant
Tailors Try to Make Them
Forget High Cost.
By Frederic j. Haskin.

Washington. D. c., May 26.-lt may
he safely assumed that the man reader OF
this column IS perturbcd over the prices
which his tailor has mentioned IN dis
cusSing suits for the present season. Those
prices have probably been about twice
what he was charged by the same tailor
in those DAYS before the clashes OF nations
began to tangle the yarn which goes INTO
the manufacture of worsted and serge.
Vet despite this fact the tailor has talked
almost tearfully of his distresses III the
making of good clothes. lie really should
have more than twice as much money ne
saws, but he does not want his former
customers to disport themselves In rags,
and that they may continue well gar
mented through the time OF trial, he Is
sacrificing himself in their behalf.
The National Association OF Merchant
Tailors of America has this year inau-
rllrated n new venture that 1t may put
itself right with the wearers OF good
clothes. 1t is staging a style show. his
stvIe show consists of some two dozen
suits which are designed and manufac-
tured by It's fashion committee. they are
the latest thing and the correct thing IN
mems wear They are not to he sold at
moderate prices. Conditions forbid.
GoNSEEhAIlfh
The customer is told, however, that
there are recompcnses. The arbitrator
Of fashion have decreed that clothes thus
wear shall be conservative. A suit shall
be built on such simple lines as to insure
it against the passing Of vogue which
might make it necessary to discard
once satisfactory and not yet thrcadbare
suit.
The idea Of q fashion show has come
TO be regarded as an occasion OF some
what gorgeous display. 1t Is usually OF
feminine apparel and the appearance OF
the gowns are dramatized that they may
make the strongest possible appeal. The
beholder, reclining luXurlously IN cush-
toned chair. watches the folds Of a rich
damask curtain as they are drawn back
hy their silken ropes and there emerges
from the darkness beyond a statuesque
form which would put Juno to shame
clad In raiment which subordinates the
peacock.
COMPARED with such show, that which
is staged hv the association of men 5
tailors and sent about the country Is q
tame affair indeed Its suits are neatly
huttoned about the round chests of mere
wired dummies and exhibited with no
eclat. One studies the exhibits IN detail
and arrives at certain conclusions. The
proper sack coat this season, he finds Is a
rather neat fitting garment somewhat
cut in at the waist, close sklrted and with
1nDadded shoulders There IS an absence
Of toothpick points TO the lapels and the
cuff has disappeared from sleeves and
trousers The dress suit this year has
IFS satin lapels and full satin collar, thus
producing q bit Of an effect Of novelty.
The skirts Of the dress suit are trimmed
away in front and circle sharply from
the end Of the lapel.
ECONOMY OF CLOTH.
The closefftting tendency in clothes is
undoubtedly hold-over result of the
gospel Of economy which was preached
during the war. Tailors were adominshed
that a box plat was waste Of cloth, that
q belt added nothing TO the utility Of a
coat, that full skirts were merely a device
for using up more of the product OF the
loom than was necessary. As a general
proposition these eXtravagancies are omit
ted from this season 5 clothes. In outing
garments and in overcOats, however, the
old-time profiigacy begins to assert it.
self. The raglan oesercoat has again made
It's appearance with all its devices for
using up great quantities of cloth The
box plat Is to be seen in sport clothes for
outdoor wear and the useless belt is again
finding its place on certain garments
The association of failors makes out a
good case In defense Of the prices which
It's members charged. 1t shows certain
cloths which were priced at 81 per ward
before the war which now sell for SI2
They point out the fact that silk Innings
bring double the prices they did In the
DAYS of old. Buttons and braids and
findings they quote az being four or FIVE
times as high and they show you mere
spools OF basting cotton which sold for