The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02
The LITTLE HATS OF PARIS.
AN EXPERIMENT ~ HEiDGEAR
FOR EVENING WEAR.
Charming Possibilities In Theatre Hats
Some Bizarre Rather Than Beautiful
New York women Less Enthusiastic
Than The ParisIans About Them,

Charming Possibilities In Theatre Hats
Some Bizarre Rather Than Beautiful
New York women Less Enthusiastic
Than the ParisIans About Them.
Since the Countess Grefuhle, famous
6le0dnte n leader among the fashionable
set OF Paris, declared herself in favor OF
the small hat for theatre and organized
a campaign for the establishment of the
idea the piquant little headdress which
seems more a part Of the couture than a
detail Of millinery has received imuch at
tention in Paris, and milliners have exerted
their invention and originality in the crea-
ton Of headgear for evening wear.
In many cases the models have been
bizarre rather than beautiful; and, Incl
dentally, it may be noticed that French
men are protesting because the so-called
little hat has developed a tendency to take
unto itself soaring plumes and ornaments.
which quite defeat the purpose for which
the innovation was made, but the move
ment has produced, too, some charming
creations, and the fair Parisians are revel-
Ing in the new opportunity for coquetry.
However, despite much evidence to the
contrary, it Is a far cry from the. Rue de la
Paix to Broadway; and the fad, which has
been taken up enthusiastically by Parisians,
has so far made little impression uI on
New York women. The imp orters, con-
ecicntious in their business, have brought
over many OF the little evening models, but
customers have, as a rule, examined the
fantastic little head dress affairs with in
terest and curiosity and have bought even
ing toques or big pictures hats for evening
wear.
The small models NAV gain in favor as
the season progresses or they may not.
1t is hard to prophesy in such matters and
the American woman Of fashion does not
accept extreme fashions so unreservedly
as does the French woman; but there are
charming possibilities in many Of the freak
fish small hats and we shall probably see
worn some Of the models which are actually
nothing more han couture adornments
and cannot nationally be described by the
name Of hat.
One small shape appears in many guises
and, though extreme and demanding much
Of the couture, as do all Of these small
models, is becoming to many women. It
Is a very narrow, shallow toque, sharply
pointed front and back and covered natly
with owe or other ornaments, while
some sort Of plume usually gives the needed
touch Of height and smartness.
One OF the shapes figures in the ~illustra-
ton. the model chosen for the sketch being
covered with tiny white violets whose
petals were frosted with cleaning silver
at the edges. This same hat is made with
various trimmings, one model showing a
single ostrich plume Of white tipped with
silver, curving backward at the left side
and falling Low over the hair, while another
uAru nrafkw 1hfka and uilr,ar ronAaI haa
odd quilts, formed Of silver threads on a
central stem in place Of the plume.
The most attractive model Of this type
We ave seen was one OF the few hats Of
this class worn at the Horse Show and was
made Of exquisitely natural La France
roses, with one pink plume curling back
and down at the side. French women
are wearing this shape covered with silver
or gold grapes, but the idea suggests the
stage rather than the boxes.
The close fitting little begun, of which
Partisan milliners are fond. requires a par
ticular style Of couture and OF face, but
when worn by the right woman is pre-
eminently coquettish. II fits like a small
close cap across the top Of the head and
IL most often made Of gold or silver or
jewelled cabochons on gold or silver lace.
while at the sides above the wearer's ears
are clusters OF roses or other flowers or
O combination OF flowers and fruit.
One Of Carriers most successful begun
models is OF silver lace with cabuchons of
silver. and the trimming is in clusters Of
pink roses and small silver grapes. 1t
sounds theatrical, but it is a charming
ching in its way and quite as much in order
In front Of the footlights as it would be
behind them.
Many Of the theatre hats are little more
than a fold Of tulle or a roll OF velvet ribbon, |
holding ostrich or paradise plumes or
flowers; and these are perhaps the most
generally popular Of the models, for they
may be adapted to any face and need not
be remarkably eccentric unless the wearer
so desires. A delightful little affair OF this
kind was a c~leveriy. handled arrangement
OF white tulle, silver lace and pale blue
velvet, made without crown and trimmed
at the side with a cluster OF dandelion down
balls, whose white featheriness was tipped
with minute palette points Of gllistenins
silver. Another attractive model consisted
of a fold OF rose velvet caught by orna-
ments of pearl and strass and supporting |
at the left side a very fullsweeping paradise
plume Of pink, tipped with mauve, and
held by a handsome ornament OF pearl and
strass.
A steel diadem. narrow. beautifully de-
signed and ending in slender arrow heads,
which press closely to the hair at each side
Of the head, carries in the from a paradise
plume, which falls back straight over the
middle Of the head and droops low IN the
hair in the back; and a second modelfrom
the same Paris maker consists Of three
very narrow bands Of cut steel. falling over
the back Of the couture at intervals Of two
inches in the back. but caught together in
front by a large pink rose, from which a
black ostrich plume falls gracefully back
ward.
The steel idea occurs again in a model
which has a single narrow circle Of steel
and black enamel. supporting at the side
a chou Of black velvet from whose centre
starts a huge black paradise plume.
Silver gauze plays an important part
in the manufacture Of the small theatre
hat, and frequently a draped fold and knot