Men’s Winter Fashion Fads of 1900

Men’s fashions and fads change almost as often as women’s…  The following is from the Winter of 1900– “All these are fads and fancies, jotted down for reference. Collars are still being made with a curved surface in the back and two great pokes in front. Even the all-around turn-down collars have this rounded back. In England there has been a perfect mania for brilliant hosiery, and even the “socks” worn with evening clothes are no longer of the conventional black silk, but are of the brightest hues.”

Long-sleeved undershirts are an abomination, and the better class of goods are so made that the sleeve does not reach below the elbow. The long sleeve is very easily remedied. It can be cut off and the arm hole bound with tape. Many men refuse to wear drawers which extend below the knee, and they have these garments made reaching only to the knee or have the superfluous part cut off. In that case it is almost necessary to wear garters, and many other men insist that these stop the circulation of the blood and are useless.

All these are fads and fancies, jotted down for reference. Collars are still being made with a curved surface in the back and two great pokes in front. Even the all-around turn-down collars have this rounded back. In England there has been a perfect mania for brilliant hosiery, and even the “socks” worn with evening clothes are no longer of the conventional black silk, but are of the brightest hues. Violets and red in checks seem to be about the most popular. The combination known as Roman is also very much in vogue, and in silks these are always pretty, with the harmonizing though contrasting colors of pinks and blues.

Violet is also used in the new tie colors and the new shirtings. Stripes are still popular in four-in-hand ties, and combinations of violet and black, and violet and white, and black and white for four-in-hands are very effective. There is also a fad in London just now to make very bad knots. careless and one-sided and anyway. This is to show that you have not purchased a ready-made cravat.

Among the other English novelties seen recently was a double-breasted, claret-colored evening waistcoat, with garnet buttons worn in shape of a “V.” All the evening trousers made in London have white braid down the sides. – The New York Times, 1900

 Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Men’s Fashion Etiquette of Winter 1900

The English call this a “morning” coat, because to them there is no afternoon, and day is divided into lightness from the rays of the sun and the proverbial candlelight, which is dusk followed by night.
–photo source, Pinterest 

Among the novelties in men’s dress this Winter there has been an effort to bring again into popularity the old-fashioned black cutaway coat. The English call this a “morning” coat, because to them there is no afternoon, and day is divided into lightness from the rays of the sun and the proverbial candlelight, which is dusk followed by night. 

The morning coat, which has been in use some time in London, is a long cutaway coat, of black material, single breasted. Again the outside breast pocket makes its appearance. The skirts or tails are almost the length of the frock, and extend nearly to the bend of the knee. This coat can be worn to afternoon affairs, and is as good form as the frock, except at a wedding, where it seems no other garment except the “Prince Albert,” as it was once called, will do.

Some of these coats, like the very ultra fashionable frock coat of the seasons, are bound with black ribbon. This is somewhat out of the conservative run, and the new “trimming” does not improve the looks of the coat. You cannot have a frock or a cutaway coat too plain. It is in its absolute absence from any “fixings” wherein lies its style.

The cutaway coat is also used a great deal for riding. In this case, it corresponds in texture and pattern to the riding brecches, and it has a hip, as well as outside breast pocket, and it is made with a decided regard for the waist line. The coats of to-day are so fashioned, that at first glance, one would think that the wearers had corsets underneath. In England, many military men wear stays, and there is a rumor that a few do the same here. There is, however, a very well-fitting undergarment which has a waist to it, very much in principle the same as corset, and which gives–with the cut of the coat– the appearance of a decided figure. – The New York Times, 1900

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia