The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-01-09
About ButtOnhOle Bouquets.

II VIII De pretty generally auIHlLteu
that there is no better flower for the
buttonhole than the rose, whenever it
can be obtained. 1t must not, how
ever, be hastily concluded that every
rose is adapted for the purpose. There
is natural fitness in even such an APP
parently trivial art as adjoining this
humble portion of modern apparel:
and it is quite as easy, without due
consideration, to produce an effect of
vulgarity instead of finish. The mod
esty of Nature should always be OBJ
served. The two things we have to
consider in adjoining our buttonholes
are the colors Of the coat and-what is
too often lost sight of-that of the waist
coat also. A single illustration will
suffice. We have beautiful light
rosebud, backed up with leaf or two,
but the vest is spotless white. The eff
feet of the flower is destroyed, of
course. A brilliant scarlet bloom, how
ever, would have set off both garment
and flower. We do not, however, pur-
pose to enter upon a discussion of the
esthetics of the subject, which would
require space equal to half of M.
Chevreuil's elaborate work on color to
exhaust it properly. A few sugges-
tons are all that will be attempted,
after which the kind of roses suitable
for the purpose will be dealt with, for
the benefit of those who desire to mani
fest their taste through the medium of
their buttonhole.
To begin with coats, as the back
ground upon which the color is to be
displayed. These for the main part
black; few if any notifications; blue, in
shade, mulberry, clarets and the like;
brown, rarely now used as self color,
numerously modified in mixtures;
green, in various shades; grays, the
most modified in mixtures of all. 1t
must be recOllected that fer the most
part these are seen in tolerable masses,
and that the object of the introduction
of small touches of color upon them is
to tighten up and give smartness to
that which would be otherwise dull,
Just as artists are prone to introduce
elderly ladies in scarlet cloaks to give
life to a picture. Taking the main col
ors into account, then we have to con-
slider what may be used in connection
herewith to produce an agreeable eff
feet. Scarlet, bright reds, deep Grim
sons and maroons, always look we'll
with: grays, especially in. their lighter
tones, yellows, from rich to pale whites
(tinted or not), apricots, scarlets and
brilliant red will go we'll with black.
Indeed, nothing looks better on black
coat than small, well-matched pair of
buds, one yellow, and the other
some rich shade of crimson or red.
Pale orange tints, yellows, whites and
scarlets, are all admirably suited to
use with blue. Any tints involving a
superabundance of red in their compo-
sition ought to be avoided in connec-
ton with brown or mulberry; but
various shades of yellow, in which or
ange forms no part, may be appropri-
ately brought into use. Bright reds and
pinks will do well with green. The
heathery nondescript mixtures so fash
ionable at the present time, are partic-
ularly difficult to deal with; indeed, we
cannot attempt an analysis of the good
or bad colors for such, in the limited
space at command here. Actual trials
must be resorted to for ascertaining
what looks we'll with the garment-at
least to the satisfaction of the wearer.
In cases of doubt or difficulty, recourse
maybe had to the opinion of lady
friends-the female eye, which appears
to have an intuitive judgment as to
color, will be sure to decide right. We
may just throw out few general re-
marks. Light colors upon dark are
telling if skilfully contrasted; light up
on light are ineffective. The primary
colors. red, blue, yellow, form a good
contrast with each other, but their Sec
ondary compounds must not be brought
into Immediate contact with those
primaries in which they predominant;
thus purple ought not to be broug hit
near red or hlne. Buds are to be
chosen in preference to blooms. ii the
latter are employed they ought to DO
rather OF the small, close pstaled kind
than those having q large. she'll shaped
form. Bloom should never he more