The Reporters Dress Chart for Men 1908

The Reporters Dress Chart provides a listing of the materials, types or styles worn by men circa 1908 for each type of clothing article. Includes formal and informal evening wear and afternoon wear, business and outing wear.

Evening Dress (Formal)

• Coat—The Swallowtail.
• Overcoat—Inverness or Chesterfield.
• Waistcoat—Single-breasted, of same material as coat; double-breasted or single-breasted, of white or gray silk or pique.
• Trousers—Same material as coat.
• Hat—High silk, with broad silk band. Opera hat for theater.
• Shirt—Plain white linen, with attached cuffs.
• Collar—Lap-front or poke.
• Cravat —White lawn or silk.
• Gloves—White or pearl kid.
• Jewelry—Shirt-studs and link cuff-buttons of pearl.
• Boots — Patent leather shoes, button, cloth tops, or patent leather pumps.

Evening Dress (Informal)

• Coat—Jacket, black or Oxford.
• Overcoat—Covert or Chesterfield.
• Waistcoat —Light gray linen or silk.
• Trousers— Same material as jacket, with plain side seams.
• Hat—Black Derby or Alpine.
• Shirt—White, plain, or plaited bosom, with attached cuffs.
• Collar—Wing or turndown.
• Cravat—Square end black or gray silk.
• Gloves—Gray suede or gray silk.
• Jewelry—Gold studs and link cuff-buttons.
• Boots—Patent leather.

Afternoon Dress (Formal)

• Coat — Frock. Overcoat — Chesterfield.
• Waistcoat—White duck, pique or silk.
• Trousers—Striped worsted, gray tone, or same material as coat.
• Hat—High silk, with broad silk band.
• Shirt—Plain white, with attached cuffs.
• Collar— Wing or poke.
• Cravat—Ascot or four- in-hand silk, light shade.
• Gloves—Gray suede or light-color kid.
• Jewelry—Gold.
• Boots—Patent leather, button, cloth or kid tops.

Afternoon Dress (Informal)

• Coat—Frock or walking coat.
• Overcoat —Chesterfield.
• Waistcoat—Same material as coat or pique.
• Trousers—Same material as coat, or fancy worsted.
• Hat— High silk.
• Shirt—Plain or pique, white, with attached cuffs.
• Collar—Wing or poke.
• Cravat—Ascot or four-in-hand.
• Gloves—Gray suede.
• Jewelry—Gold.
• Boots—Patent leather.

Business Dress

• Coat—The Sack or Walking Coat.
• Overcoat—Chesterfield.
• Waistcoat—Same material as coat, or a fancy pattern.
• Trousers —Same material, with sack coat; same material, or fancy stripes with walking coat.
• Hat—Derby or Alpine; silk hat may be worn with the walking coat.
• Shirt— Plain white or colored.
• Collar—Wing or fold.
• Cravat—Ascot, four-in-hand, or broad-end tie.
• Gloves—Tan cape or gray reindeer.
• Jewelry—Gold or silver.
•  Boots —laced calfskin boots or Oxford.

Outing Dress

• Coat—Sack, Reefer or Norfolk Jacket.
• Overcoat—Heavy Norfolk or raincoat.
• Waistcoat—Fancy plaid or knitted.
• Trousers—Serge, tweed, or flannel.
• Hat—Alpine, golf, or yachting cap.
• Shirt—Flannel or Madras, with attached cuffs.
• Collar— Self or fold. Gloves—Knit, tan and golfing.
• Jewelry—Gold or silver links.
• Boots —calf or russet.

“The REPORTERS DRESS CHART” in Dry Goods Reporter: Men’s Wear Section, Part Two, Chicago: Dry Goods Reporter Company, Vol. 38, No. 39, 26 September 1908, p. 21.