MEN'S FASHIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 6

MEN'S FASHIONS

(BOND STREET STYLES

; MINUTE VARIATIONS GAYER SPORTS MATERIALS [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Feb. 19 Men affect to be superior to the dictates of fashion, but a trade exhibition of the coming season's styles in London this week shows that the gauging of men's tastes is an even more difficult business than in the case of women. Eager discussions between experts examining the displays revealed that the setting of men's fashions is largely a matter of minute variations —a nice assessment of the amount of change super-conservative males will accept without taking fright and shying awaj' from the proposed innovation altogether.

Thus, the lapels of single-breasted suits will be slightly shorter, and of double-breasted suits u little longer, this year. Waistcoat openings will be a trifle higher, and trousers a little wider. But the art of the cutter will disguise the changes to such an extent that most men will not notice the differences unless they are looking for them. , Fashions in Lounge Suits Single-breasted lounge suits will be "correct" with three buttons in front, and double-breasted suits with two sets of buttons. Lapels will continue to have a roll and will not lie flat. Grey and blue are by far the most popular colours for town clothes, with stripes the predominating pattern. The dress suit, the experts consider, has strengthened its position at the expense of the dinner jacket, which in London at least, is finding steadily less favour. The cut of the coat in the coming season will be higher, with the lapel more rolled and the front shorter, and cut away further—the "Regency' tendency is the correot description. There is some sign of a return to cloth buttons for aress suits, although bone buttons are still the more popular. The most daring experiments in the coming season will be in the sphere of sports clothes. A determined effort is to be made to break down the prejudice that bas existed for so long against a variety of colours in sports trousers.

"Syncopated" Sports Clothes Last year, manufacturers had some success .in introducing blue-grey and navy-blue flannels and they Have now burst forth into such flamboyant shades as Breton red, royal blue, Lincoln green and oatmeal. Another experiment in sports clothes is a suit made of one type of material, but with a checked coat and striped trousers. Another suit has a 1 'syncopated"/ effect, the coat and trousers having stripes of different widths. Checks will be very popular in sports coats during the coming season. The most arresting item shown, however, is a material of a colour known as "ox blood." It has hitherto been seen only within the confines of the golf links, but is said to be increasing in popularity.