Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-23
Spring BOnnets.

BLACK and white chip bonnets, chip
fronts with silk crowns, and black net
bOnnets are the fashionable choice for
spring wear and will also comprise the
summer selection. The choice of shape
depends on whether or not the cOrOnet is
becoming, as all styles may be condensed
into those with coronets and those with
out. That the coronet will not disappear
this season is certain from the fact that
many of the finest chip bonnets imported
have cOrOnets, while it is also true that
the newest shapes have flat and sCooped
fronts. The latter, although finished with
frilled face trimming, are not designed to
lie fatty on the smooth tresses of hair in
cottage fashion, but are mounted upon a
crown braid in way that makes them as
effective as the stately coronet bonnets.
One entirely new shape has the brim
curved upward and then dropping again,
leaving groove in which a wreath or
soft puffs Of silk are placed. Black hats
will retain all their popularity; indeed,
the choice lies between black and white,
with trimmings of silk and flowers to
match the costume. Strings are seldom
seen, and this does away with the last dis
tinguishing feature between bonnets and
serves for each, as it is a bonnet when
worn far back on the head, and a hat
when tilted farther forward.
To trim these bonnets fashionably, the
coronet, if there be one, is partly faced
with silk, bias, about an inch wide, with
an edge Of chip visible; if two shades of
silk are used, the light is On the face of
the coronet, the dark behind it; soft
pleating of crepe lisse, tulle or lace is then
placed underneath with a wreath or rose
cluster upon it, or else a scarf of bias
soft silk is twisted around below it, and
tied behind in smart bow with very
short ends. If there is no coronet, trim
the inside as just described, and put a
pleating Of silk fringed on the edge, or of
tulie, or of beaded lace, sewed fatty on
the front OF the bonnet. Mass the flowers
and feathers on the front and around the
left side to the back, leaving the right eX-
tremely plain. Some rich, massive loops
directly in front of the crown, and a sin
gle ostrich tip above them, give bonnet
an air OF style that more elaborate Orna-
ment often fails to impart.
The most delicate shades of rose, blue,
green and maize are selected for trim
ming silks, and natural-looking flowers
are found to match them. Scarfs of
doubled silk, pink on one side and the
faintest green on the other, are twined
around chip hats, while the others have
chip fronts with shirred green crowns
showing rose Innings in the frilIs.
Roses without foliage, large blush-roses,
tea-roses, and the dark red Agrippina
roses, are branched together, six or eight
on stem, and almost suffice to trim a
bonnet. Black bonnets are most distin,
guished when trimmed with the palest
blush-roses, or with white blossoms, haw-
thorn, lilac, or heath. Instead of the dark
tricolor cluster of buds lately worn, there
is now the palest blush-rose, an Isabelle
rose of faint lemon color, and a single
dark Jacques Minot rose.
A French bonnet of elegant simplicity
is of black tulle with blush-rose buds.
The Normandy crown is of tulle, striped
in lines of jet beads, pleating of black
gros- grain fringed by raveling lines on
the 'front.' the face trimming is beaded
tulle pleating, dropping wing-like cape
of the silk is behind, tiny black ostrich
tip curls up in front, and the full but irreg-
ular wreath surrounds the crown.
A white chip Directoire is trimmed with
a charming combination of pearl gray
and brown with crimson roses. The cor
onet has pearl silk facing, with brown
silk on the back of it, and crimson silk
scarf tied under the edge. a twist of the
two coiors is around the crown and in
loops behind. A cluster of Agrippina
roses with dark foliage in front, and a
pearl gray feather is on the crown. An
other has crown twist, reseda on one
side and pink on the other, with a wreath
Of ivy-Ieaves and blush-roses with IN
blown lilac. Not set loop, either up
right or hanging, is on this bonnet. A
white chip front has crown of two putfs
of Nile green gros grain parting down
the middle, where double ruff shows a
pink lining; rose cluster, with some
thing like strings, but tied behind
Harper's Bazar.