Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1875 — A Satirical Review of American Fashions for Men. [ARTICLE]

A Satirical Review of American Fashions for Men.

The London Echo says: “We may venture for once—when Parliament bias neglect to graver matters —to ask our countrymen to endeavor in their own minds, from information to be supplied by us from the leading journal of New York, to form some idea of a fashionably dressed young man in that city at the present moment. We will dig down into the lowest strata of the New York dandy and begin with the shirt. ‘ Shirt bosoms,’ an authority tells us, 4 are very plain; the only ornamentation allowed is a three-cord plait.’ But although the ‘ bosoms’ may be plain there is endless variety in wristbands. There is the * Wallack’ culf and the ‘ Kenilworth’ and the 4 English’ and the 4 Oreedmoor.’ fn collars, too, there is plenty of choice. There is the 4 Granville, and the 4 Tudor,’ both of which stand up, aud the ‘American’ and the ‘T'arragut,’ both of which lie down. We next come to the ‘suspenders,’ which is New York for 4 braces.’ These are made of watered silk, pearl-colored, white and delicate blue; and they are rendered very durable with dressings and straps of white kid, and they only cost between five and six dollars a pair. How any man can bring himself to hide such lovely shoulder-straps under ‘vest’ we cannot imagine, but apparently the Americans have this fortitude, for we read that 4 vests are cut without collars.’ Having got on his 4 vest,’ or perhaps before he gets it on, our New Yorker will put on his 4 tie. ’ He may choose the 4 Windsor’ or the 4 St. James,’ in 4 purple aud blue, two shades of purple, two of blue, or stripes of French gray, blue and gray, two shades of brown and case au lait.’ But if he be a youth of showy tastes he will, we think, prefer the 44 Harrington scarf,’ which sweet thing is either 4 in light color and large broken plaids,’ or 4 in dark silk with satin finish, over which are scattered white rings, triangles and small sprigs.’ The man who can look himself in the face in that scarf will not be afraid of wearing 4 the fashionable glove for walking in shades of ecru and bright canary, with a very wide stitching on the back, done in all colors.’ 4 Pantaloons’ are provided, into the pockets of which the more modest American may, when he can really endure the sight of them no longer, thrust his 4 ecru’ and 4 bright canary’ colored hands. These ‘pantaloons have narrowstripes and broken check in neutral tints,’ and they are 4 rather smaller at the foot’ than they used to be last year. Coats 4 for walking, visiting, reception and church are double-breasted and of 'medium length.’ But business suits are in English, Scotch and French cassimere;’ the patterns are plaids and broken checks. The cutis and pocket-flaps are broad and pointed, and they are fastened w ith 4 larger light pearl buttons.’ But whether you wear a 4 walking’ or 4 visiting’ or reception’or 4 business’or 4 church coat,’ or a 4 house jacket’ of 4 Melton and cassimere, in- eight shades of gray, drab, smoke color and lavender,’ or an 4 invalid or dressing gown’ of 4 light jMelton,’ with 4 pocket tiaps broad and pointed,’ and ‘large, light pearl buttons,’ you |are, of course, equally bound to have a pocket handkerchief. Those who settle the New York fashions insist upon a pocket handkerchief as a thing altogether de rigueur. And it is to be made either 4 with, fancy borders of light-tinted silk’ or of plain 4 hem-stitched pongee and foulard in delicate shapes of pink, blue and salmon.’ We feel that, having mentioned that pocket handkerchief, anything else we could say would appear *in comparison dull aiid.tame. We will, therefore, conclude with the observation that we are glad that fashion in this country still allows uS to u§e pocket handkerchiefs of white linen, and does not compel us to make ourselves conspicuous in any way except upon one day in the year —the Derby day —when veils and dust coats and & general air of loudness and showiness h£ve been prescribed by that new fetish, 4 unwritten law,’ and sanctioned by adjournment of the Legislature.”