The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-05
HANDSOME NEW BoNNETs
The Crowniess ones are Said TO be
the Most Becoming and Most
Stylish.
lcorresnondence Of the Press

NEW YORK, April 3.-Like Tennyson's
brook, the bonnet goes on forever, and
though this season it is not exactly seek
ing new heights to surmount. it still
maintains its own with regard to price
and becomingness. l must admit that
[ don't think the lower shapes of this
season half as chic or becoming as those
we were all abusing SO. Still, when you
happen to see pretty face surmounted
by wreath of tulle and blue forget-me-
nots just the color of pretty pair of
eyes, you are about ready to give in that
the present styles are certainly not ugly.
The newest and perhaps the most sty-
fish of the bonnets are the crownless
ones. They have a sort of twisted coro-
net of tulle or Grape, lace or velvet,
somewhat in the form of horseshoe,
leaving an open space through which the
hair shows and where the fancy comb
stands up aggressively. Strings of rib
bon to match tie under the chin.
Many of these crownless bonnets have
the whole front made of small flowers
like daisies, buttercups, lilies of the val
ley or forget-me-nots or small rosebuds,
and the strings match the color of the
flowers. These bonnets will be more
worn in theatres, ct receptions, for car
riage and church than on the promenade,
though they are not prohibited there
either.
One lovely bonnet has a foundation of
pink silk lace, rising in puffs quite high
above the forehead, and nesting among
the puffs Of lace and under the sprays of
apple blossoms is a small blackbird. The
strings are of black velvet ribbon.
A very handsome bonnet for matron
was shown, made with full bandeau of
prune colored velvet, this stuck full Of
little gold and jet pins. The crown was
open, only covered with dotted net, the
dots outlined with gold thread. There
was lace butterfly, wired stiff and
worked with purple chenille and gold
thread, and prune velvet strings. The
whole is rich and elegant bonnet, and
must have cost the milliner as much as
30, SO that the price, S25, was really quite
| reasonable.
Chip, in black, brown, dark blue and
beige colors, are very fashionable for
young ladies, and they are of every i'm
| aginable form, only that they have rath-
| er low crowns. Ribbons, feathers and
flowers are all used as trimmings, and
| all are in vogue. Hatpins are really
quite objects Of art and handsome enough
| for brooches.
Transparent hats of lace will be very
popular, as, indeed, they ought to be,
being light, cool and most becoming.
The frame is made of wire, over which
Is drawn a single thickness of black net.
The lace, which can be plain Brussels net
Or dotted or figured lace, is then shirred
on loosely over crown and brim, the
| edge of the brim having either double
ruffle of net or gathered fall of figured
lace. Strings of lace or tulle are fastened
TO the back and are brought down in
front to tie. The trimming of flowers is
thrown carelessly on the crown and al
lowed to fall forward in natural posi-
ton.
A pretty new caprice is to have home
toilet or tea gown made of jet black
China crepe, with the front of pale pink,
blue or cream crepe. The novelty con-
sists in using black crepe for the gown.
1t, however, is lovely, soft fabric, glossy
and rich, and it drapes in the clinging
folds that are now the style. The pretty
tea gown here presented has the prin-
cesse back in the black China crepe, and
the front is in shell pink China crepe,
with the edge embroidered in black and
gold. A pretty pink pearl buckle and
Cots Of ribbon add elegance to the grace
full drapery of the front.
I saw another of these new black crepe
dresses which had an embroidery all
around in key pattern in silver. Another,
lgain, had trimming of ruby velvet
applique all around the train and up the
front, which was of ruby crepe. The
material has always been known, but 1t
how takes the place of a new discovery,
Is it has never bean made up into gowns
before.
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