Tie Trouble

Another marvelous cartoon by Art Helfant, published in a 1921 issue of The Haberdasher.

Exchanging Hats

Here is another Art Helfant comic strip about the haberdashery business. This time it is from from The American Hatter in 1921. 

The Collar Struggles Continue

The quest to wear the latest in snug 1920s collars, claims another fashion victim , in this Art Helfant cartoon from a 1921 issue of The Haberdasher. 

Fashion Victim

Looking trendy is not always easy, especially when being the pinnacle of fashion means adopting extreme styles, like the close-fitting, perfectly crisp, and perfectly unforgiving stiff collars of the 1910s and 1920s. When starched to their limit, they could render their wearer quite uncomfortable, and, according to a few contemporary reports, sometimes even constricted gentlemen to the brink of faintness. 

A major draw-back to extreme trends, is that when they are in full swing, it becomes much more difficult for those who wish to be stylish and practical, to find products that are both. 

Example: An ad by J.C. Leyendecker,   

Note the cutting fit of the stiff collar.

Mr. Art Helfant weighs in on the situation, in a 1921 issue of The Haberdasher:

It's no wonder that through the 1920s, soft collars slowly began to gain in popularity, and by the 1930s, their conquest of collardom was virtually complete. Infact, the same issue, in which Mr. Helfant's cartoon was printed, contains an article with the following headline: 

Majoring in Taste

I found this charming little illustration (by Forbell) and excerpt from an article by Richard C. Bohem, summarizing 1922 style trends on college campuses. In the first part of the article, Bohem discusses the disparity between the way college boys were portrayed on the stage (often loudly dressed, and a little sloppy), and actual campus fashion, which consisted mostly of comfortable, tidy, looks, with an occasional preppy, or fashion-forward perspective. After mentioning sportswear, and sack coats, which had become a college staple, the article is concluded with the following:

Is Your Hat Becoming a Habit?

Poor Mr. Jones. There is no special thrill for him, on those days when he would like to "feel that he is helping decorate the landscape." He needs to find a clever hatter, like Mr. Smith's. One who can suggest the perfect hats to go with his suits. 

This little pair of captioned illustrations were printed in a 1921 issue of The American Hatter, providing their readers with hints and inspiration.