The Washington times., 1936-03-30
Human Side of News

bit about, but, in 1887, we are
Solemnly assured, rainbow raj
mentS will be with us, and the
master tailors will hberate the
American male from his Puritani-
cal sartorial heritage.
Some day, when you visit the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in
New York, or the great public
library, you may see for yourself
that fashion invariably takes its
cue for new 'extravaganceS from
historic periods-modified, Of
course, to suit the taste and tenn.
per Of the times.
In the Sixteenth Century, as
have said, brilliant colors were
very much the vogue for men, and
masculine furbelows literally paled
the brilliance and glory Of the
feminine costume. Masculine hats
and caps were trimmed with
feather plumes. RuffleS grew and
expanded. FrillS waved like the
pleasant rippleS Of the sea. It got
so that royalty made law against
gaudy clothing for men, and the
vain wight who broke that law
had to step up and pay o fine
Of $100.
It took old Oliver Cromwell.
though, really to make the cava-
liers of Merrie England give up
their laces, their plumed hats.
their velvet breeches and their
periwigs. We are told how that
the revolution in color in mems
clothes is an accepted fact, colored
dinner suits are rapidly gaining
in favor-or so the tailorS tell US.
And they say, too, that color har-
monies in mems attire are to bS
Of vast importance.
STYLE CAPITAL
For example, no well-dreSsed man
would think Of wearing q reddish
brown suit with a blue overcoat.
Or a green tie with a blue suit.
Certain rules are laid down for
the guidance Of the male who may
perhaps shy away from all this
effulgence.
If you are of sanguine complex
ion, its blue, green and mixed
gray for you. If the blood runs
palely in your cheeks, mixed blue,
blue gray and certain browns. Il
your hair is black, you can safely
don light gray, brown or a black
and white mixture. And If you are
the red-haireed type, brown is prob
ably your best bet.
Interesting to hear, too, that
New York is Supplanting London
as the mems style capital. Fifth
Avenue strides ahead Of Bond
Street. If we may believe our
master tailorS, many So-called
English" styles originate in the
cutting rooms of New York's tailor
ing shops.
Persiflage aside, there may be
some good to come out o. these
tailors' demand for color. Perhaps
the world would be q. brighter,
more cheerful place, if men sport"
ed, on proper occasions, the bright
er hues. This color revolution will
have its way mostly in sport ap.
parel-out on the golf courses, at
the country clubs and on the
beaches. Dark blue may az times
replace conventional black In din
ner coats-though I doubt very
much if the average male Will go
in for other shades recommended
such as burgundy, plum, green, etS.
The present new styles Will
scarcely affect the meas day
time dress-hiS working clothes.
He will cling to his grays, browns
and blacks and blues, however gay
his ties may be. After all, it Is
only the beginning. Man, who
used to wear tunics OF crimson
and togas of purple, who achieved
lum-colored coats and plumed
hats and gorgeous hose, may
eventually get back a portion OF
the sartorial freedom he once en-
joyed.
The result of this Sartorial ex.
pertinent will depend largely on
the ladies. Whether men confess
it or no, they wear pretty much
what the wife or the Hl1A friend
wants them to wear. Domestic
tranquility might suffer a severe
jar otherwise. And what is color
compared to peace in the family
circle?
Copyright 1895. by King Features
Syndicate. Inc.)