The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-07
ESTELLE'S FASHION LETTER


New York, April This is to. be a
hat letter-and for two reasonsAfirst,
because the head covering of wo-
man Is almost as important as the
head covering of a man, and second.
because 1t is time someone said that
neither the large hat, nor the small
nat, nor the medium-sized hat is to
be worn exclusively, but the hat most
suitable to the occasion and most be-
coming to the wearer.
The real spring hat, however, the
one the bluebird and the pussy-willow
calls for this season is the narrow
brlmmed sailor. This, of course, as
natural, is really a summer hat, but
Dame Fashion this past winter has
been experimenting with it, and find
ing the shape almost universally be-
coming, has devised manner of trim
ming which lifts 1t from the simplic-
lty class and puts 1t into the ranks
OF full dress. She hints that after it
has done duty as the first straw hat
its rather elaborate trimmings can be
transformed to another shape, and
adorned with plain ribbon band
and quill will do for summer travel
ing or beach-wear.
But for present use these stylish
little sailors are gay and heavy with
ribbon, lace and flowers. In shape
they have high crowns and narrow
brims. Ribbon is the favorite trim
ming, with a stiff wired bow at the
left of the crown. If however, the
ribbon band and bow are not becom-
ing, ruchings of silk may be used,
At the back under the brim is wide
bandeau three or four inches in depth
and this is completely covered by
flowers and foliage. One of the more
elaborate of these hats was seen In
lavender straw braid, trimmed with
shaded lavender ribbon ending in the
orthodox wired high standing bow.
The deep bandeau under the brim was
lilacs and pink roses. The pink roses
were used to give abe touch of bright
ness demanded this season on all
toilettes
This touch of color is noticeable ON
the black hats, which are usually
black and white combined with a ros-
cite or flower or knot of red or blue
or yellow or pink. This mode is of
great assistance to the amateur or
home milliner, for deity followed it
gives tone or a touch that makes a
last season hat into a fairly accept
able piece of recent-day head-gear. or
puts home trimming in rank with
the show-window displays of the best
houses.
One of these renovated hats was of
rough black braid faced with white.
Black ribbon was twisted about the
crown and ended in the conventional
high bow at the left, held in place by
handsome buckle. Under the brim
at the back the bandeau was covered
with ruched black maline with large
Knot of coral pink velvet.
The millinery houses have been
over busy the past month, and there
will be no let up in the rush of bust
ness for some time yet. There have
been several private openings by
wholesale houses for the benefit of the
retail trade, and these openings have
shown conclusively that though small
hats are on the list this season they
are not the only hats by any means:
One of the novelties shown by an
exclusive house was the crownless
hat, designed evidently to circumvent
the theater managers, being more a
head dress than hat. The front was
wreath of pink roses beautifully
shaded, held to the head at the back
by a wire covered with brown chiffon
in tiny plaits. The couture showed
between the wreath and the band.
Another hat shown, a real one this
time, with crown and wide brim, was
of very fine deep plum-colored straw
covered with perfect riot and tangle
| OF violets, roses, forget-me-nots,l ilacs,
corn-tlowers and daisies. And re-
markable to say it was really beauti-
full and very becoming to the dark