Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-04
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DIsPATCH,l
TUESDAY. March 8. :

OFFICE OF P1TTSBURG DISPATCH,
TUESDAY. March D.
Millinery Goods.
There are in this city three jobbing milli-
merry firms as follows: Porter & Donaldson,
j. d. Bernd & Co. and Rennick, Ellis &
Co. For nun Der OF years past these firms
have their grand spring opening for the dis
play of new styles on the first Tuesday of
March, the display lasting through Wednesday
and Thursday. At these openings of spring
goods there come from near and far retailers of
millinery goods to spy out the land and catch
on to the styles for the season. Retailers
usually have their openings about the middle
of March, or as soon after the wholesale Open
ing as they can get good ready.
A visit to the wholesale houses yesterday de-
veloped the fact that retail dealers were pres
ent in larger force than in any previous season.
And the display Of goods showed greater va
riety and elegance than ever before. The beau
tiful things on exhibition in the way of artiti-
cial flowers and ribbons exceeded anything of
former years. The average passer-by has little
conception of the pretty things to be seen by
stepping aside for a few minutes from the
great thoroughfare. A representative of one
of the firms named above had this to say of tho
trade: "The season for our goods starts
out earlier this season than for sev-
eral years past. Styles have changed
from dark to lighter goods. Flowers
season than for many years. Goods are a
shade more expensive this year than last, but
the materials used are much finer. In the line
OF ribbons and trimmings for hats and bOnnets
there will be much more gilt used this season
than last Swiss imported braids are taking
the place of plain straw goods, and are in &C.
tive demand. Hats are more artistic in de-
sign than they have been in any former season.
The basis for all hats seems to be round fat
plateau, which is made over frame and
bended Or cramped into great variety of
obar ST.,
seasons trimmings. as are also gauze effects.
The ribbons used will be wider than those of
last season. AS to colors. beige, ecru fawns
gold browns and drabs will have the lead
For the past three seasons black has been the
leading color. The tendency of fashion now is
to get away from black and the other colors
named will likely lea for the next few years"
member OF another firm said: although
the weather has been unpropitious our spring
opening has been very satisfactory. Of the
two dozen imported patterns for ladies' bon
nets we had on exhibition all were promptly
taken at $50 to sS5 apiece. The bonnets built
on these patterns will cost from Sl2 to SIS EACH
Uncle Sam charges 90 per cent for the privilege
of bringing bonnet patterns from PARIS,
to the Government and few dollars more to
freights. packing, etc" American ladies who
keep up to style. must of necessity, pay more
than double what is required in Paris for head
gear. When General sherman attributed the
Republican defeat las fall TO the opposition of
our wives, mothers and daughters to the Nc
k1nley Dill lie knew wnereo1 ne anlr1ned,
The first day of The millinery opening has
been a success. and larger things are looked for
the remaining days of display. While the bulk of
Pittsburgs wholesale millinery trade is
fined TO radius of 100 miles, there were GUS
toners hand yesterday from as far
West as Fit. Wayne and Richmond, Ind. and
as far East as Huntington and Cumberland.
The enterprise of Pittsburg firms has pushed
trade close up to Chicago. Cincinnati and Bal
timore, and occupied fields which naturally be-
long to those cities.
One Pittsburg dealer reports a customer
from as far West as Iowa. The distance from
which customers have come TO the opening is
longer this season than ever before. Pitts
burg's reputation as a center of heavyweight
industries is fully established. Jobbers of
lightweight goods are also doing their part in
pushing trade, and in millinery lines there is
enterprise enough to place our city at the
'front.'