WHAT IT HOSTS TO BE A WELL-DRESSED MAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 11

WHAT IT HOSTS TO BE A WELL-DRESSED MAN.

The number of men who can afford or care to dress well is comparatively limited. Only persons liberally endowed by fortune ars in a position to give much thought to their garb without troubling about its cost. We are all familiar with stories of the extravagant expenditure of great dames over their Parisian frocks. • In the March number of the “ Pali Mull Magazine” startling statements are made about the exp&nd.iure of the well-dressed man.. They are mad© on the authority of Colonel Ivewnliam-Davis, who is recognised as experienced in such mutters. He says—“ Our well-dressed’ man, paying ready money. would obtain his outfit of cldth'fcs for £255 18s, for we will not count penes. ■ For two years, unit's there should be a startling change of fashion, any man possessing this selection of clothes, would not require any additions to his wardrobe; but the year afterwards be would require probably two new overcoats, two new London omits, .and the. remainder of bis stock o-f clothes would have to be rcpp.-n-icditd in like proportion. iio>yXi-r. beiure his poais

began to show wear he might not be happy unless ho had a new single-breasted frockcoat and a morning coat with all-round skirts, and might feel bound to possess them at.,once. Such little vagaries interfere-with calculations. ■■

“I have made inquiries both-from'good West "End tailors and from the men- who wear their clothes, and I believe that a man carefully valeted, and starting with an ample stock of clothes, should not have a ■yearly tailor’s bill for more than £SO cash, or fifty guineas credit.” The Colonel, it will bs seen, takes no account of trousers, which a year’s wear would make “ baggy ” at the knees, making it impossible for a well-dressed man. to wear them.