Evening star., 1923-09-01
SLIGHT ADVANCES
IN MEMS ATTIRE
Fall Clothing to Be Pushed: in
Earnest Next Week-StyleS
Conservative.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, September About
next Tuesday American men, young
and old. will commence to take
thought over the new fall scenery.
The purchases of fall suits and over
coats will begin about that time, and
retailers and wholesalers are fully
prepared for the flow of trade. Ship
ment of clothing from the manufac-
turing centers is in full swing today,
and many retailers will employ the
Labor day respite to arrange attrac-
tive displays.
Practically all the larger clothing
manufa cturers throughout the coun-
try declare that the volume of busi-
excess of 1922. But the labor situa-
ton has been quiet throughout the
summer, and, as adequate materials
were at hand or readily available. no
disturbing element has entered into
the preparation of fall garments. AS
4 result practically 60 per cent of
the fall orders were already made up
when time for the start of deliveries
arrived.
Slightly Higher Prices.
Rochester manufacturers indicated
Today prices of suits and overcoats
should show only moderate increases this
fall, such advances as are made being
10 absorb increased prices of woolens
and other materials. They indicated,
however, that they expected the most
popular price range to be between $45
and $50. This level, they said is due to
the increased discrimination shown by
American men. No strange innovations
give evidence of attaining popularity
this year. Clothing designers are turn
ing away from narrow waists, pleatS,
darts, notcheS, curves and other eccen-
tricities, and turning toward the more
conservative pre-war patterns.
This does not mean, the designers
said, that either young or old men are
not to follow fashion dictates. On the
contrary, the desire to be we'll dressed
IS more widespread than ever, but it
Goes indicate a more discriminating
taste.
Demand for Evening Clothes.
This trend is clearly evident in the
increased demand for evening clothes
and dinner coats emphasized by the
orders booked this summer by manu-
facturerS who specialize in those gar
ments. Heretofore, they say. in To-
calitieS outside the large cities, even
ing dress was considered necessary
Now, however. the soup and fish" is
attaining wide popularity even in
rural communities Motion pictures
are credited in some quarters with
thlS spread or popularity.
One remarkable factor in the cloth
ing situation is the unusual and early
demand for overcoats. Credit for this
is placed in some quarters on the tre-
mendous increase in automobile sales
in the last year. Drivers. it is con-
tended, have found it necessary to
have light and heavy weight coats at
a time Of year when the need was not
felt before they owned cars.
Another factor in the overcoat de-
nand has been the popularity of soft
finished goods, which from their con-
Structton show wear more easily than
the hard-finished materials. Friction
. from auto wheels and from hands in
pockets make it difficult for wearers
to make these garments last as long
as those of less popular materials.
Hat Dealers Puzzled.
Hat dealers do not quite know
whether to be pleased or not at the
success which has attended late sales
of straw headpieceS at reduced prices
Stocks, 1t is true, have been cleared
out quickly in many cases. but deal
erS have found that customers are
walking away with two or three hats.
with the evident intention of putting
one or more away for the summer of
1924. The average prices being paid
for these purchases for future needs
range around 81 per hat What the
reaction will be next spring when
window offerings name prices 200 and
800 per cent above this figure re-
mains to be seen. Manufacturers.
however, seem to feel that designs
next year will have much to do with
the result.