Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-05-22
VEST BURKE.
NEW YORK FASHION LETTER.
BY MADAME RADIX.
NEW YORK, May Is.
nnNNRrg

NEW YORK, May Is.
BoNNETs.
The rank assigned to a young lady in
the scale of fashion is at present in pro-
portion to the distance between the end
of her nose and her new Spring bonnet;
the honors accorded her increasing rap
idly as she nears the last round OIL the
ladder of ambition, and she whose hat
hangs on in an absolutely impossible
way, is regarded with the same sort of
admiration by her feminine compeers as
the acrobat who performs superhuman
feats of agility. Other acrobats of in
ferior degree are ready to break their
necks in imitation and so other young
ladies buy hand glasses and stand be-
fore looking glasses, where with saint
like patience they spend hours in imi-
tating the wonderful performances they
have seen What the human mind,
when strongly bent in one direction, may
accomplish, is wonderful indeed, and
thus it comes to pass, as the result of
such determined competition, that hats
do hang on in very wonderful sort of
way, and were Spirltualist, ] would
have no doubt that unearthly hands held
them in their place, since of earthly
power l beheld none, unless it be that
pin" which, provided expressly for the
needs of the hour, Is made long enough
to be run through and through, and
fasten it to the coil. Yet even such an
ingenious contrivance appears to me in
sufficient to account for what l see, and
therefore l resign myself, if not to adj
miration, yet to wondering amazement.
Why such very pretty hats should be re-
moved so far out of sight, is mystery
likewise, for charming they really are.
IVORY TINTED CHIPS
are trimmed with softly woven silks in
faint, yellow shades, and finished with
delicate flowers, which in graceful sparys
or rich moutures almost cover the out
side. characterization of all kinds is Law.
ishly employed. but both fabrics and
flowers are so refined that the effects
produced are of similar character. Very
light tints prevail and although pale
yellow shades come first, yet we see beau
tiful bonnets in pure white, or trimmed
with faint blue, pink or lilac. Very
dark brown is constantly used as an eff
fective contrast, and the brilliant Cardi
nal red is as fashionable as it has eve
been. Contrasts between very dark anC
very light hues is indeed an idea of tn
time. and as dark colors are placed a
points of effect on hats in which yer,
light cOlors prevail. so on the other hand
we observed dark straws lightened witt
pale silks and delicately tinted flowers
and white or creamy blossoms are unite'
! with sombre foliage
COSTUMES.
The ideas of that class of individual
who devise spring costumes seem affecte
by strange perversity. Thus in orde
to be stylish, one must wear garment
which seem twisted out of their prOpe
place. One side must be different fror
the other side if one side is long. tn
: other should be short if one hang
straight, the other must be rounded off
and, to sum up the whole matter, every
thing must be crooked. twisted and pulle
out of place. One circumstance save
us from absolute confusion. and that
the necessity for the wearing of was
: fabrics during the summer season. The
, must be ''doue up" therefore they mu;
C be comparatively simple, yet even heI
S we find many crooked ideas, and whel
!. an overskirt per Sc may be of equal PR
D portion. the trimming is often placed
t such a way as to produce an effect I
: disproportion. Polonaise are worn, u
/, basques and overskirts are in the a
= cendancy. and even in wash materia
q have. obtained the preference. | ha'
= said that
L WASH FABRICS
!, save us from absolute confusion; so ali
!. do some rich materials. Thus extrem'
do meet, and while we find comparati'
d simplicity in suits of linen. percal
r. lawn and pique, we also observe son
|. few rich dresses which hang in lengt
!, ened folds Of the princesse style. The
t various drapings are. without exception
more or less 6Oufant at the back, an
+ in support Of the same crinOline, thong
l. happily in moderated form, appears q
I. most a necessity. IncOnyenient as it
;. it must be borne. but the way in whiC
d women reconcile themselves to whatev
C may be put upon them is certainly mo
than human. heard woman q