Page Prepared by Agricultural Research Service January 1954 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office. Washington 25, D. C. Price 15 cents. Buying women's coats and suits A well-chosen coat or suit can be worn year after year—as long as it is presentable. A poorly chosen garment often becomes a disappointment, so hangs idly in the closet or is discarded after little wear. Sound coat or suit shopping begins at home. Planning for your purchase before you go to buy saves money, time, and materials. Take stock of your needs. Decide the qualities you want most in the new coat or suit. Consider the rest of your wardrobe ... the occasions on which you will wear the outfit ... the climate in your locality ... the time and money you can spend on upkeep ... the way you travel ... styles and colors most becoming to you. In short, know what you need and want and what you can do without if you can't find one coat or suit that has everything desired at the price you can pay. On the following pages, facts are presented that may help you plan and judge whether a suit or coat has the qualities that meet your needs and whether it has values right for the price. Weigh values with price Decide on a price limit before you go shopping. This will keep you from overspending and will narrow your choices so that you can concentrate on getting the most for your money. Shop at stores with a reputation both for merchandise of good quality and for fairness to customers. If you are tempted to slip into a shop that sells clothing that looks the “same” but costs much less than at another store, remember there's a reason for that lower price. Quality has been cut in some way. For example, the outer material may have been cheapened by the kind or quality of fibers used. The garment may be skimpily cut, and unskilled machine work may have been used in place of skilled machine and hand work. Suits and coats of good quality have many hidden values—in materials, cut, and workmanship—which justify a reasonable price. These hidden values will keep such clothes in service long after socalled bargains fail. When a coat or suit seems higher priced than you think reasonable, ask why. Perhaps the cloth is of scarce imported fibers; but it may not look better or wear better than a less costly domestic material. Perhaps the design was originated by a famous designer; designs by lesser knowns may be just as good. If you can afford and get satisfaction from the luxury of name designs they may be worth the price to you; but, if you are searching for service in proportion to money spent, avoid such merchandise. Best wear values in both coats and suits are in simply designed classic styles. In dressmaker coats and suits where much of the cost goes into styling less wear may be obtained for the money spent. Consider style and color Before you shop for a new suit or coat it is well to have your mind made up about the general style and color you want. But be prepared to adjust your wants to the stock available or you may never find anything that satisfies. Study current styles and colors, keeping your needs in mind. Read dependable fashion books and magazines and learn the differences between good styles that will look well for several seasons, and short-lived fads. Each season certain colors, style features, and silhouettes are in high fashion. However, a suit or coat in high fashion is not a good buy for you unless it looks well on you, fits your way of life, and promises to stay in fashion as long as you must wear the garment. Take stock of your wardrobe, considering clothes on hand and clothing you intend to buy, to be sure the new garment will go well with them. If you're buying a coat or suit primarily for warmth, make certain that the style as well as the material actually contributes to warmth. If you are buying a coat or suit for work or school a classic style is a good choice. Classic styles are designed for sports and utility wearchange little year after year. For the comfort so |