Nov 04, 2017 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)

In an earlier feature this year on the "Fashionable Ladies of Greenwood", we noted that in our local historic papers, men's fashion got more coverage than women's:

"Even a quick flip through the archives of the Boundary Creek Times will show the reader that much more emphasis was given to fashion for men. Both in terms of advertisements and mentions in the Personals, what men were wearing in 1800-1900s Greenwood was a topic of regular conversation. The nattily dressed man, from head to toe, was much discussed and catered to. While women were also enticed with advertisements for new clothing coming into stores, their couture seems to have gotten only half the coverage."

Today we'll look at what the men were wearing in turn of the century Greenwood. Like the ladies, there was a surprisingly broad array of clothing styles available to them, from upscale work gear to more sophisticated dress. Merchants offered suits and overcoats, hats and shoes, shirts and ties in all the latest styles and European fabrics, and directed their advertising to the seasonal buyer. In Greenwood, 'needs be' buying started with the arrival of winter.

Boundary Creek Times — Nov 03, 1905 p. 8

"Guess these last few days have set you thinking about your winter Overcoat. Well! We're ready for you with a select stock, in the accepted styles and beautiful cloth patterns."

Among Greenwood's most established mercantiles, Rendell & Co. was one of the most active marketers. Among the steady stream of promotions they aimed at male buyers,_[1] they often equated the theme of being well dressed with that of 'doing good business'. This applied both to them as purveyor of goods, and to the businessman, who should always be found looking sharp.

"A Sound Business Principle is always to give the purchaser the best value obtainable for his money. This week we are making a special drive on Men's High Grade Suits and Pants. Bear in mind, your money cheerfully refunded if the goods don't suit."

Among the menswear advertised under this campaign were best Canadian tweeds, reliable Halifax tweeds, sun-tested combination tweeds (both square corners and double-breasted), heavy Scotch chevoit, and all wool Scotch hopsacking.

Boundary Creek Times — Sep 08, 1905, p. 4

"We have suits that are in perfect accord with the Spring season. Soft browns, grays and greens — in quiet checks and stripes or a little livelier if you would have them so. The style has none of the freakish or advanced features. Just the comfortable, well-cut, refined lines which the well-dressed man requires in his clothes."_[2]

Rendell's offered Greenwood's men the finest 'west of England' dress suits of full finish, creaseless, fast color English vicuna with the best Italian lining… equal to any tailor-made.

One brand label that Rendell's energetically advertised was Shorey's Clothing, about which they proclaimed:_[3]

"Science preserves for us all things which the world has found. The science of selling clothing is to sell such goods as will keep for you all patrons once gained. This store sells Shorey Clothing, with the private contract that money is to be refunded if goods are not satisfactory. Overcoats and Ulsters sold by us are not made to order, but to fit."

Boundary Creek Times — Jul 06, 1906, p. 6

Where are you going to purchase your Fall clothes?

"Talk this question over carefully. Determine which store can reasonably do the best for you. Such talk will bring you here. We court discussion and investigation. We are now ready for fall buyers. Our variety is fascinating. Styles were never before so elegant and effective. And low prices prevail — prices consistent with high grade goods. It is not a question of value in our store — you know you will get your money's worth. You have only to please your fancy."

"Broadway Clothing"
Boundary Creek Times — Sep 8 1905, p. 6

Ulsters were a very popular overcoat at the turn of the century. Usually sporting a short cape to keep one's shoulders dry, this coat was a daytime work overcoat cut in hard-wearing fabrics, like tweeds and herringbones. Here in Greenwood, the cape was apparently discarded for a more straightforward look, and the price of a heavy Ulster ran from around $5.50 to $10.00.

The Ulster
Boundary Creek Times — Jan 15, 1904, p. 1 (with inset)

Overcoats like the Ulster have remained fashionable for more than a century. The design is still popularly worn today, such as the Western Duster, which sports the full cape. But even in 1900's Greenwood, a line was drawn between workday clothes and the finer quality suits. In an August 1907 article from the Times we find this fashion statement, in a promotion from the Semi-Ready garment company:_[4]

WHEN A FASHION IS KILLED
When Garments are Seen at Every Corner and Get Popular

"Popularity is the surest way to kill a style or fashion. Men who are exclusive in their garments, those who have taste and originality, discard modes as soon as they become popular. They demand that their garments be original and fitted to their peculiar individuality. Style, to them, is a secondary consideration.

In overcoats, when one wants something distinctive and different the new French Chesterfield or the Imperial overcoat in the Semi-Ready Wardrobe offers both good taste and originality. Like all the garments tailored by the Semi-Ready Company these overcoats, are of exclusive design and have the advantage of being uncommon. $25 is the prevailing price, though one may get $30 and $35 quality in the same styles."

Editorialists for the Semi-Ready company had no end of good fashion advice for Greenwood men who wished to be nattily dressed on all occasions. This missive came from a London woman who addressed herself to "the sterner sex":_[5]

MAN AND HIS DRESS

"Some men are vain enough to imagine that neither men nor women pay any attention to the clothes of a man. There never was a greater mistake than this. Surely women, who are constantly studying the cut, the lines and the fashion of their own clothes, necessarily observe the cut and the fashion of men's habilments.

"It was rather the custom of man to associate the idea of a well-dressed man with an empty fop," she forcibly writes, "but the modern man has an eye for beauty and appropriateness of attire combined with great cleverness in other directions."

The Semi-ready idea in men's dress permits the wearer to see a suit as it will look when he wears it. He dons it at the Semi-ready Wardrobe just as it stands ready to finish up. Tailored superbly, designed in a smart and cultured style, the fabrics are the best from England's mills. The modern man knows that misfits and cheap materials are not economical, for one's success in both social and business life depends upon good tailoring. There is a Semi-ready tailoring shop in nearly all the chief towns of Canada."

Stepping down from the lofty heights of London fashion advice, we close with a word of advice that is much more "Greenwood style":

Boundary Creek Times — May 14, 1898, p. 16

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Boundary Creek Times — Nov 19, 1898, p. 16
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170575

[2] Boundary Creek Times — May 01, 1908, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171246

[3] Boundary Creek Times — Oct 25, 1901, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172953

[4] Boundary Creek Times — Aug 23, 1907 p. 2
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172599

[5] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 11, 1907 p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172500