The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-14
The FIRST SPRING HATS
THEY ARE IN EVERY VARIETY OF
COLOR AND MATERIAL.
Flat Hats Prevail, but They Are
Modified to Suit Each
Face.

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, March 1.-THE first hats
of the spring are charming. Not so long
ago we waited for Easter to bring forth
new headgear, and did not so much as
think of changing before that date. but,
year by year, the time of abandoning win
ter bonnets has become earlier and earlier,
until now we see new things almost before
Lent has begun. This year the display is
an especially good one. 1 am sometimes re-
minded of the girl who declared whatever
was fashionable was pretty and am
tempted to wonder that we can allow
selves to be completely led; but, even
were IL not for that peculiar quality which
enables US to see beauty in current styles,
let them be as inherently peculiar as they
may, these new hats must be declared
handsome and in the best of taste. Elegant
simplicity is the rule in all of the better
sort. and color schemes are simply de-
lightful, quite apart from any practical
use. The general tendency in shapes is to
be low and fiat, but they are less exag-
geratedly so than was the case last year.
<and almost uniformly there are distinct
crowns. Materials are unusually beautiful
and exceptionally varied. Colors are ex-
quisite. With two such conditions existing
as foundation 1t has been simple mat
ter for the designers to bring forth good
and desirable things.
Styles divide themselves into two sorts,
the simple hats of morning wear and suit
able for the plain tailored suit and the
elaborate hats and bonnets designed for &C.
casions of dress. The former are the ones
first in demand and are really fascinating
in form and in color. Turbans are almost
ubiquitous and show multitude or varia-
tons Together with the the sailors they very
changed and modified until they differ
widely from that original shape. Straws
are, in themselves. study and are beauti-
full as never before. Besides the familiar
sorts there is a multitude of fancy braids
that are marvelously pliable and which are
used in many ways and fabric woven
from straw that lends itself to trimming
with singular success. Many black models
are shown, but are for the most part
touched with white or some bit of color.
A most tasteful turban is of the favorite
somewhat broad shape and is made of the
new soft, yet tough, straw. About the
crown is twist Of this straw fabric and
at the left side is a bunch of black aigrettes
held by cabochon of turquoise set in and
| traced with gold Another in much the
same shape but slightly pointed at the
front, is of soft black straw braid made up
| with tiny bands of chiffon between each
| two strips. A twist of straw finishes the
| crown and black and white quilts rise at the
left side. There is marked preference for
high trimmings just at this point, by the
way. Quilts, aigrettes in lunches, pompons
and what are known as brushes are being
| freely used.
STRAW OF TWO COLORS.
Combinations of straw in two colors are
much used and one sees straw trimming
in these so that the entire hat is of one
material. An exceedingly smart sailor
shows a crown of red with brim of white
and is trimmed with straw braid and a ro-
settle of straw at the left side from which
rise two softly colored quilts. Red is to
be much worn during the early season and
is offered in a multitude of forms. A most
| striking turban is of what is known as
caterpillar braid-red combined with
| crown of rough straw and is trimmed with
quilts only. Red and green too are COM
| bined and red with white, all the materials
being straw. A most charming model for
| immediate wear is made of straw woven in
| shades of red with a soft blush gray until
| an iridescent effect is produced. The tur-
ban is simply trimmed with bias red velvet
| appears to be coming into its own once
more What with the craze for panne and
| for all light and flmy things it has not
| been much used for several seasons, but is
| TO be found as decorations for many Of
| the best of these new hats. really de-
| lightfully spring-like sailor, with a broad
| brim, is made of fancy straw combining
| cream with tender green, and is trimmed
with band and bow of green velvet with
a single broad quill to give height. A most
alluring turban of black and white straw
is entirely trimmed with black velvet
| stitched with white: and so the story goes.
/ Slightly more elaborate turbans or
| toques are made entirely of quite new
straw and are charming for occasions of
/ semi-dress. The models ali imported
| and are handmade. The braid combines
/ two or more colors and is made into forms
1 such as conventionalized four-leaf clover,
| long, slender leaves and the like. These
| forms are sewn to form the turbans. which
/ are then trimmed with quilts. with POM
/ pons or with bunch of flowers The beau
| ty and novelty lie in the marvellous flexi-
! bility of the straw and in the blended
colors which give most peculiar effect.
| In one instance varying blues are COM
| bined in another browns, tans and cream
are used. in third coral shades are blend
| ed and many other combinations might be
| quoted An exceedingly handsome hat is of
| black, green and white, the black making
| the main portion. the green and the white
| forming narrow edges and is trimmed with
| green velvet and two OF the new round
| stin feathers at the side. The velvet forms
! bow with loops and ends and falls down
| over the hair in the back, a feature that
is noticeable in all the more elaborate
/ spring styles. Whether il means that hair
| Is to be worn low on the neck or is not re-
| mains to be seen. That the trimming was
| devised with that end in view is unques-
| tionably fact, but We all know that there
! are times when the best laid plans of men
/ come TO naught and time alone can show
| whether or not this effect will succeed.
| Other variations of the dress turban or
toque are white chiffon with brims over
| laid with sequins of jet or steel, black chif-
| fon and lace and flower and foliage hats
| galore. The turbans OF chiffon are light
| and airy trifes and will be much worn for
| receptions and the like with hetween-sea-
| son gowns. The hats of foliage and flow
ers are more beautiful than any Of their
predecessors and serve many purposes ex-
ceedingly we'll For early wear geraniums
take a prominent place and are charming
Favorite models show the crowns of the
leaves and the brims only OF blossoms. but
there are those which consist entirely OF
the brilliant mowers Small roses also are
much liked and violets always retain theil
place. Really exquisite hats are made en-
tirely OF these last and are shaped witt
rounded points at the front. White roses
forming brims. with crowns of rose leaves