SHOPPING FOR THE WELL-DRESSED MAN

A Word on Shooting Clothes and Some Summer Sundries

Robert Lloyd Trevor

TO say that no man would attempt to crank a motor car with a latch key, seems almost obvious enough to be an epigram. Any one who happened to be caught essaying it would be promptly committed to an institution where the walls are soft.

And yet hundreds of men, of whom the world has a right to expect common sense, show themselves to be no less inane—especially as regards their sporting dress.

There appears to be a theory, held by a certain type of man—a type generously sprinkled throughout our population—to the effect that to wear clothes specially designed for and suited to outdoor pursuits is effeminate, fussy and indicative of the novice. Men who share in this view are to be seen every day, cluttering up respectable golf links and tennis courts with their dirty trousers, sweaters and flannel shirts.

It is undoubtedly a part of their theory that since clothes worn afield are submitted to the hardest kind of tests, any old rag will do. But they are not far-sighted enough to see that these rags will afford them less comfort, and satisfaction, than will properly designed sports clothes.

In the case of shooting for instance.

There is no point in a man wearing a pair of old trousers and a sweater or a discarded jacket, simply on the ground that whatever he wears will be torn and muddied and stained. For he will lack certain indispensable things with which real shooting clothes are designed to supply him.

Look at the picture. Begin with the coat. Its outstanding feature is its abundance of pockets. In fact it is almost nothing but pockets; for not only are they spread all over the front of it, but there is a huge detachable game pocket inside the skirt.

Then again, the construction of the coat, its sleeves cut to afford freedom of arm movement; its deep collar—which may be turned up high and buttoned to keep out the wet; the strength of its seams and of its materials; its iron buttons, which will not break on being accidentally hit; all these things are important. They are necessary. You do not get them in old sack coats or sweaters.

A letter to Vanity Fair will bring you, in return, information as to where any of these articles may be bought. The Vanity Fair Shoppers will gladly do your buying for you at no extra charge.

And the. breeches, which lace below the knee and extend down beyond the calf. They are snug, and neat. They help, rather than hinder, progress through underbrush and difficult country.

It'sall nonsense, this business of wearing last year's hand-me-downs under the guise of simplicity and rough-andreadiness. Sporting clothes, when properly made, are no whit less simple. They are merely complete, that's all.

IN the lower right-hand corner of the page is a polo coat. This is no novelty, but nevertheless I think it worthy of a place in these columns, since its use in this country is not so widespread as it should be. The polo coat—sometimes known as a blanket coat, because it is often made of white blanket material—is extremely adaptable. It may be worn at tennis matches before or after playing—or, on chilly days, by the spectators. It is excellent—as its name implies—to throw on after a hot bout at polo. It is unsurpassed as a light and comfortable, yet pleasantly warm motoring coat, or for use over Palm Beach suits, which have become deservedly popular. In fact, it is in place everywhere but on the city streets and at the Opera.

Men who play tennis to any marked extent have undoubtedly noticed that rubber soles are a fleeting joy. They are sound to-day and gone to-morrow. It doesn't matter what you pay for them. A few fast games on a gravel court, and they are worn beyond hope of redemption. It is with the complacence of a first-aid surgeon that I introduce the tennis shoes shown below. Their soles are of a special felt, which will wear and wear and wear.

(Continued on page 86)

(Continued from page 67)

Swimmers will welcome the three articles shown in this issue for their particular benefit. First, at the top of page 67, the rubber ear plugs. Men have long complained of Providence's want of foresight in not providing them with ears that closed hermetically like those of a seal. The omission has taken half the fun out of swimming. Because, although the ear is admirably constituted to admit quantities of water, it seems to have been designed with a view to retaining it for several hours, sometimes days. For many years, humanity has had recourse to absorbent cotton as a means of waterproofing the car; and it is needless to dwell on the unpleasantness of said cotton as a sight. These little rubber plugs, therefore, should prove immensely popular.

In much the same way, there should be a demand for the men's swimming head-dress, shown at the bottom of page 67. It is made of rubberized material, and has two flaps to cover the ears. There is nothing astonishing about that provision, however. The interesting point, in connection with the ear flaps, is that each one is also a pocket, large enough to hold money and keys, and almost anything a swimmer might want, except perhaps something unwieldy, such as a refrigerator.

The belt illustrated below comes a little nearer to that ideal.

Its buckle is formed by an aluminum box with watertight cover. Equipped with this the amphibian may swim out to floats and boats, and carry his cigarettes and matches with him.

At last there is no excuse for men who go hunting to come out of the wildernesses looking like knights of the road. No longer can they escape the matutinal toothbrush and the diurnal razor. They have eluded these things heretofore on account of the difficulty and inconvenience of taking them on a trip. The camper's and hunter's toilet kit shown above leaves them no loophole. It is light, compact and waterproof.

A letter addressed to Vanity Fair will bring you in return the addresses of the shops where any of these articles may be bought, or the answer to any perplexing question with regard to men's attire. The Vanity Fair Shoppers will at all times gladly do your buying for you al no extra charge