Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-31
Spring Hats Seem Prettier Than
Ever Before.
WHITE FELT HAS A SEASON AHEAD
Turbans and Round Forms, Both
Stiff and Dressy.
TRIMMED SAILORS REMAIN

NE" 1ofth. march 1SDb
This Is one of those rare and restful
| seasons in which the spring hat does not
strike terror to the eye. Usually the first
spring bonnets. coming as they do before
the robins and at time when we are
still in the mood for somber shades are
loud, or at least look so to our eyes, I'M
accustomed to gay colors.
For one thing, the contrast is not as
great as usual. All winter long white hats
have been seen in the evening, and for the
last month pink pale blue stitched taft
feta affairs have been worn to teas and
receptions, as well as to the theater 1t
has been an "open'' winter, and frocks
and bonnets have been bright in color
partly because of the weather and partly
because We grow more cosmopolitan and
cheerful in our tastes year by year.
The materials of which the new hats are
fashioned are various. To begin with,
white felt will be worn all summer 1t
has beauty quite of Its own. which straw
cannot approach. With white lace white
silk or white wool dresses it is more ap-
propriate than straw. You buy
white felt now and wear 1t with afternoon
frocks and for dinners at hotels or res
taurants and constantly to the theater I'M
I'll you are ready to leave town, then have
the dust OF the metropolis cleaned from it,
and 10! it is ready for white frocks during
the summer campaign. White felts are
more severe in outline than straw hats.
Inc former are very often seen with
rather high crown and straight or droop-
ing brim. The usual trimming is white
ostrich tips and black velvet piled high
on the left side or long plume curling
over the brim perhaps a white pompon
PINK roses under the brim.
Favorite Turban Shapes.
There are white hats of silk or lace with
oIer md
summer. The favoite shape is a turban
rolling rather high in front, especially at
the left side, and low in the back with
low, round crown. This is called the Miss
Hobbs" is becoming to every one and has
only one falling. 1t Is too popular 1t Is
made Of white, pink or pale blue tucked
taffeta, which is put over the wire frame
Usually the only trimming is a large knot
at the left side, which may be back vel
vet, tulle. chiffon or poInpons. Hats of this
shape made of pleated chiffon or of yellow
lace over white are even prettier and so far
not quite SO numerous.
In straws the weaves are very light and
airy. Tuscan straw, which is featherweight
on the head, vies in favor with Neapolitan
or rice straw of a decade ago. On account
or these transparent weaveS there is a ten
dency to face hats with soft fabrics which
lie prettfly on the hair, and by their artistic
folds are responsible for a large part of the
becomingness which is such a cheering
characteristic Of the Easter hat.
So transparent. indeed, are the straws
that they can be bought by the yard, many
of them, and before your very eyes your
milliner will crumpe up for you hat out
OF a fiat piece of straw, and it will be very
much crumped, too, yet extremely pretty
1t may end with f1uted crown and
large bow. all Of straw, mind you. So popu-
lar are these straw hats that one can
buy them in any color and shape, from
toque and turban to walking hat, with the
straw so manipulated into hat and trim
ming that the only necessary addition is a
bunch of flowers or a knot of velvet or
SILK, according to the character of the hat.
Quite Out Do the Toque.
Turbans and round hats of every de-
scription are rather more popular than the
toque Of last summer. One woman said
the made turbans reminded her of the ban
danna handkerchief her old nanny"
used to wear. Not in color she fastened to
explain. but in shape. And really they are
very much like that, only "ole mammy's"
aim was to have her turban on straight,
while those of the present day are apt to
droop little over the right eye and have
the trimming higher on the left side than
in any other place.
A turban of cream lace and white chiffon
which was worn to the theater the other
night was not only much the shape of
mammy's' bandanna, but its principal ma
terial came from the land of the cotton and
4
skillful and patient fingers of a southern
girl in the old plantation days. 1t was a
wedding veil, made and worn by the grand
mother of the present owner of this dainty
headgear. The foundation of the turban is
of course. the white chiffon. Draped about
this is the old wedding veil, now so soft and
worn with time that the net which forms
the center is threadbare But the pattern
embroidered all around the edges. and at
least four inches deep on the ends which
covered the face and hung down over the
Tram mas only grown more beautiful with
Inc lapse OF time. The veil is so disposed
that the net IS tucked away but the edge
shows all around the hat and forms a knot
or rosette on the left side. Poised on ton
OF TINS is a gauze butterfly, which was made
by the clever fingers of a worthy descend
ant OF woman who could eubroider her
own wedding veil. The body of the butter
ny mas silver wire crossed on it Just as the
INES cross the body of the real insect. The
wings are of silk gauze, outlined by silver
wire, while the delicate silver and eray
shading on the wings of a white butterfly
Is simulated by the clever use of water col,
ors. There is little jeweled pin, the only
olt OF color on the hat. The whole effect is
charming, but l rather fancy the first
owner OF the veil would be shocked at her