The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-03-22
sTUDY-CoLoR IN DRESS.
What Brunettes should Wear an
What Blondes should Favor.

1 Inc cOlOTS OF q dress ought 10 be IN
harmony with the color of the hair,
with the hues of the complexion, and
the general character of the wearer, as
well as with the occasion on which the
dress is to be worn. Although the
shades OF hair and skin are extremely
varied, they can be reduced to certain
principal varieties, as black, fair, red,
chestnut, or ash-colored. Correspond
ing to these colors of hair are certain
varieties of complexion. 1t is rare that
black hair goes with white skin, unless
the hair itself is softened down by the
same cause that has whitened the skin,
as we may remark in the English and
Irish, whose freshness is preserved by
the dampness of the climate, and in the
women of Antwerp, in whom the mix
ing of Spanish and Flemish blood pro-
daced a clear complexion combined
with the hair of the South. Hair and
eyes of both are of brilliant but not
of the dense black which we find in
Spain and in Italy. The real bruno of
the South has dull and warm COM
plexion, ranging from yellow to olive,
and the pupil of the eye, like car
buncle, stands out On brilliantly white
membrane. Blonde beauties, such as
were called "lionnes - at the Hotel
Rambouillet, and may be seen in Ru-
bens' pictures, pride themselves on
rosy, delicate, and transparent flesh
tints.
Chestnut hair matches best with the
color of complexion most commonly
found in Europe; its dulled and faint
red is in perfect harmony with that yell
low mingled with half tones of blue
gray and rose-color which is the usual
tint of the skin. .-a
Red and sandy hair agree with
white skin, with a dazzling complexion
and eyes of chestnut color.
If fair hair be ash-colored, as if it
were covered with a slight layer of
dust, that fine powder appears also to
be sprinkled over the flesh, and to soft
en- the eyes and to subdue the brillian-
cy of the skin.
These varieties of complexion and
hair require, no doubt, varieties of
color, although there are certain colors
which go well with all physiognomies,
such as black, light gray, pearl-gray,
old oak, deep hayane, and mushroom
brown, because they are warm in the
shade, and cold in the light.
With regard to black, it is to be OBJ
served that soft and deep shade, the
black of velvet, is wanted to set off to
advantage the freshness of a blonde or
the fairness of red haired woman.
For brunette the black ought to be
enlivened by glossy appearance such
as in Lyons satin, or silk, or even by
faille, or softened like the black of vel
vet by rich reflections.
According TO general opinion, yellow
and red suit brunettes, and blue suits
blondes. Ordinarily speaking, this is
true, but subject to numerous excep-
tions in practice, for there are many
graduated tints in the compilations both
of brunettes and blondes, and the art
is to deal properly with delicate admX-
lures and shades of colors. For bru-
nette of swarthy complexion brilliant
yellows and splendid reds are the most
suitable colors, and jonquil-colOred
ribbon, scarlet camellia in the black
tresses, poppy-colored bodice, par
TALLY softened by Chantilly lace, will
be in style. But if we have to deal with
delicate brunette, with slightly jaded
features, or brunette whose skin is
comparatively fair, or the eyes of a
velvet black, we must no longer make
use of striking and decided colors.
Here, on the contrary, soft colors should
be employed, especially pale blue.
1t is the same with blondes. If the
hair of blonde be golden or red, it
ought to be accompanied by its compile
mentary color; dark violet velvet
bonnet, tuft of violets in the hair,
deem lilac dress, will 60 with it marvel
ously well. Green, of a medium in
tensity, likewise suits all shades of red
hair. Ii the complexion of the blonde
be delicate and fresh, an orange, Tur-
key, or ruby red will set off the delica-
cy and freshness, partly by similarity,
partly by contrast. Red, then, is not
exclusively the color of brunettes; it
plays part also in the dress of fair
beauties. The same may be said of
yellow, if matched in hue to the lightest
shade of the hair, and heightened by
well contrasting color.
Women with chestnut or ash colored
hair, who are placed, so to speak, in
the half shades of color, may wear eth
er what suits brunettes and blondes,
provided the tones of their dress and
ornaments be subdued in proportion to
the degree of warmth in their complex
ion. Half tints, such as pale yellow
maize, deep yellow, turquoise blue and
hazy blue, harmonic well with the neu-
trail character of these natural colors.
Light chestnut admits of the colors
suitable to fair hair, but with little
less decidedness in the tints. As to
those who have ash-colored hair, and
skin in keeping with it, eyes blue as
the sea or sea-green, their delicate and
extreme softness calls for half-warm
tints with suggestions of neutral gray
or slashings of pale blue. Black velvet
gives them fairness without detracting
from the Characteristic distinction and
delicacy of their complexion, and
pearls form in their ornaments q hap
Ply consonance, provided their cold
color is relieved by a decided contrast,
concentrated within short space, such
as polished but uncut garnet, ruby,
or trinket of gold.
An Alaska Incident.
Bishop Whipple, writing to the