The Men of Men's Wear

Below are a collection of headers and titles from 1910 issues of Men's Wear. They are all very carefully illustrated, but at first glance, they might seem like a rather unusual choice for decorating the articles in a fashion trade journal. You see, despite the title of the publication, there is remarkably little men's wear to be seen in them. Perhaps they are the result of a bold attempt to make the magazine stand out from the rest, as undisputedly artsy. they might also be the sartorial community of 1910's equivalent to decorating the pages of a car magazine with assorted engine parts- a kind of decorative use of the figures that hold up and round out the men's wear. 

The title page is decorated with what appears to be Industry, gracefully waving a banner and balancing a globe. He is flanked by two glossy companions, who I'm guessing might be Trade and Agriculture. I keep chuckling, because the title for the semi monthly men's wear industry report is "THE SITUATION."

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The header for the "Selling Ideas" section is a little harder to interpret. Are these fit fellows thinking inside the box? Their boxes do appear to be decked with festive strands of floating ribbon. Are they gifted thinkers? 

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The Men's Wear market report header is decorated with a sheet clad horseman, riding into the fray of a fiercely competative market, perhaps. 

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Gravity defying ribbons make another appearance in the header for "Stock Taking in a Country Store." The illustrator appears to have been determined to squash his men into one of the most dramatic S curves I've seen in a while. Hogarth would have been proud! I'm pretty uncertain about the objects that the men are carrying. They appear to be mallets of some sort, but might also be a kind of a torch. 

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Last, but not least, is one of the least abstract headers in the group. It is made up of two picturesque painters in wind-swept drapery, and they seem right at home above a section of the publication dedicated to ads, signs, illustration and typography. 

Story Time

I truly felt as if I'd stumbled across buried treasure, when I discovered an entire twelve-page picture book, printed in the July 1910 issue of Men's Wear. It is a beautifully illustrated allegorical tale about a rowing match between two different marketing approaches. The whole thing is a delightful treat from start to finish, so I've gone ahead, and posted the entire piece below. Enjoy! 

The Genuine Article

No delicate hot-house fashion illustrations here, we are assured. This is a real  man,  an intense  man, cutting loose with a real,  gutsy primal bellow! And, he's wearing a real  hat, one that's just as intense as he is!

According to this ad from a 1910 issue of Men's Wear Semi Monthly, Eagle Brand Caps would include a copy of the "forceful and attractive" oil painting, with every order of a few dozen "Gaylor" hats. But, who is this rough-and-tumble force of nature featured in the painting? What kind of man was chosen to be a visual representation of manliness, confidence and indomitable spirit? A closer look at the advertisement reveals the painting's title, and the subject's occupation: 

Busy Bees

Glancing through old advertisements, I just never know what marvelous and colorful expressions I will stumble across next! Take, for example, this tidbit, tucked away in a rather busy looking ad in a 1910 issue of Men's Wear :

"Ha! Salesclerk at a haberdashery? Naw, I'm an at-home dealer. I give the honey and get the money. See?"  The full ad is below.

Virtual Tour

Here is a wonderful virtual tour of a made-to-measure factory in Chicago. It was printed in a 1910 issue of The Clothier and Furnisher. 

An All-purpose Tie

This versatile skinny tie from 1910 may be sort of a "missing link" between the cravats and neck-cloths of old, and the specially shaped ties and bow-ties that we see today! 

I wonder what the "twelve desirable colors" were?

Picking Daisies

Could you pick just one, or would you want to collect whole bouquet?

This Young Hat Company advertisement was printed in a 1910 issue of The Clothier and Furnisher. 

Self Styled?

Here is a 1910 installment of Dandies of the Stage. From "Beaunash's" little critique below, it seems that stage actors in performances with contemporary settings were, at times, responsible for styling their own costumes. Naturally, this resulted in some rather confused ensembles. I wonder if, as the film industry developed, the meticulously crafted male wardrobes featured in motion pictures, encouraged live theater costumers to dress their contemporary characters a little more carefully. 

Roxford Shoppers

This ad from a 1910 issue of The Clothier and Furnisher, shows a couple of stylish gentlemen, shopping for their Roxfords. A sales clerk carefully measures the customer on the left, to insure a that he gets a perfect fit, while the second shopper  scrutinizes the merchandise. The man behind the counter looks a little tense, watching the expressions of his choosy young customer. Will "the good knitted underwear" be good enough for him? Note the little Roxford poster hanging above the counter; an ad within an ad.  

Stockings for the Noble

Are you a good man? Are you true? Then "Onyx" Hosiery is for you!

This Onyx Hosiery ad was printed in in a 1910 issue of The Clothier and Furnisher. I love the delicate little illustrations of clocked stockings in opera pumps, and Lord and Taylor's bold claim, that they can offer "all shades, to match any color scheme desired." I wonder if they had their own dye house?

Full STEAM Ahead!

This Strauss & Bros. ad from a 1910 issue of The Clothier and Furnisher is everything and a bag of chips! It features a Muchaesque Progress, who reclines on a ship's wheel, a car, and a locomotive, while gracefully saluting the text: "High Art Overcoats for Men and Young Men." Meanwhile air-ships run rampant over an Italianate landscape, careening through a rose-decked archway that is precariously balanced on a flying globe. What a wonderfully bizarre celebration of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM)! 

No More Red Flannel

I am truly impressed with the variety of "nude" shades available in this 1910 Roxford men's long underwear ad from The Clothier and Furnisher! Their color chart also includes white, heliotrope, pearl, steel, and two shades of pale blue. 

Natural Blondes

No bottle-blonde silk used to make these summer novelties!

Speaking of "summer novelties." I couldn't figure out for the life of me, what kind of product was being featured in the ad above. Were they hat-bands? Belts? Scarfs? Finally, I found another ad from the same company, and discovered that the mysterious blondes were actually neck ties. 

Both these ads were printed in 1910 issues of The Clothier and Furnisher.