Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-05-12
Hats and BOnnets.

power 10 50 make or mar the perfection
of "A toilette as the hat which crowns II,
and no other part of woman's dress Is
so difficult To select wisely. II one can
afford to he extrayagant only in one
portion of seasons outfit. by all
means let it be in hats. for they have
the place of honor in adorning the face
and head, and Il choice bonnet Will give
style and grace to an otherwise simple
costume. Many of us have learned TO
our sorrow that some OF the prettiest
and most uncommon shapes are never
10 be found outside of those expensive
establishments where the cheapest hats
cost twenty dollars, and the prices
climb from this 10 the most magnificent
heights French fingers seem to be
specially skilliul in changing the form
of hat and making OF ii something
quite different and much more pretty
and becoming than it was originally.
But from most of us imported bonnets
are AS far removed AS any of our other
ideals. and we are fortunate if we have
skill and taste enough 10 initiate them,
instead of being obliged to lower our
standards.
The two leading styles in bonnets
this season are the small. close shapes.
similar 10 those worn last winter, and
the large poke bonncts, which remind
us OF those worn by our grandmothers.
The Leghorn. Tuscan and other fancy
yellow straws are Used almost eNclu-
.iyely The lace braids, of which some
OF the small bonnets are made, are very
open and require colored silk lining.
Very pretty black bonnets are made OF
fine Dunsiable straw and lace braid in
stripes. Some of the shapes shown
have corone: fronts, and the crowns
are made entirely of flowers. Straw
gimps and braids form part of the trim
ming on many bonnets, and soft silks
and ribbons are used for folds and
knots. Another novelty is the steel
braid. which has the color and brilliancy
c! that metal. An exquisite imported
bonnet Of this kind was trimmed on the
left side by a knot of dark olive velvet
which held bunch of towering grasses
and short feather. both glittering
with steel. The strings were of steel
lace. Steel is also much used on bon
nets combining different shades of soft
gray. Designs wrought in steel beads
on net cover the crowns, and pins OF
cut steel, in various pretty shapes.
hold the trimming. The shaded effects
which are So popular this season appear
also on the bonnets in the flowers.
feathers aud ribbons with which they
are adorned.
Very few hats are shown at the open
ings. and most of them are large.
There l. 4 very pretty turban shape,
and another the sides of which roll up
against the crown, which are trimmed
with shaded breasts and folds OF silk or
velvet, ana are pretty for travelling
hats. The large hats, for dressy coun-
try wear. are generally OF Leghorr
straw aud trimmed with soft plumes.
II the brim turns up on one side. il is
faced with dark velvet. finished on the
edge with a fancy straw braid. Small
gilt pins with round heads are used 10
fas,en up the hriIns of these hats in all
sorts OF irregular ways. and also TO
catch the loops OF trimming.
For shade hats and seryiceable bon
nets the rough straws are much used,
aud one new style OF braid is well de-
scribed by its namc-..the porcupine."
These straws are black, white and col
ored; but the black ones seem 10 be the
most stylish in the large shapes. The
trimming onthese Is generally all black.
relieved. perhaps, by a little gilt. 1t
consists OF large dropping bow of wide
ribbon little left of the front. and two
or three black ostrich plumes over the
crown. Others are trimmed simply
with heavy silk cord and several silk
pon-pons. One shape can be worn over
the face for shade hat. or back on the
head like poke bonnet, and has
strings or not, As the wearer prefers. A
small bonnet shape has the Marie Stu
art point. The rough straws first shown
are imported, and cost from $l.25 to
$500. according TO the shape and size.
Later in the season, Is these are sold,