The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-10-01
EXQUISITE OPENING
BY STEELE-SMITHC co

| The Steele Smith store yesterday resem-
| bled nothing more than fashionable
| tea room, with its gathering of we'll
gowned women chatting over the exquisite
| array of pretty things for feminine wear,
Every department presented gala air.
| Tall palms and feathery ferns decked the
| glistening cases which bore dainty frou-
frou novelties so alluring to the we'll
dressed Birmingham woman
| Society folk who have just returned
| from the east, brave in the most fetching
frooks, chapeaux and accessories of the
| fashionable shops, commented enthusiast
| ically upon the fact that in our own city
| may be found things as natty and as up
| to-date as in any of the larger marts.
| The windows are the summum bonum
of decorative art Mr.. Ed Bernard evil
denced his skill in the variety and charm
! of the models exhibited. In one window
is the replica of an opera box. Within
sits a fashionable dame gowned in the
softest peach tint with large hat laden
with heavy plumes. With one hand she
| holds a fur. Lying upon the railing in
front of her yesterday was bunch of
American Beauty buds which had just
been brought from the florist. Another
/ occupant of the box was standing, and
flung across the back of chair was
| dainty opera coat in the blondine tint
| A charming scheme which Mr.. Bernard
| used admirably was in simulated picture
| effect In a window stood a model
| gowned in directoire frock of lustrous
| taupe. At her side was a table on which
| a bunch Of crimson roses were seemingly
| just placed. Enclosing them is a large
picture frame. There are several of these
! pictures and close at hand is the cut
taken from fashion sheet whence the
model was copied with Mr.. Demands in
imitable skill in draping.
Upon entering the store ones eye is
greeted by figure mounted high upon
| the central mahogany case and framed
| in a huge horseshoe, which was decked
| with asparagus ferns. The pre-eminence
| Of the directoire style for winter ward
| robes is suggested in every detail-in the
| taupe satin gown with its graceful sash
| and trimmings of taupe net embroidered
| in pastel shades, the large, tilted hat,
| white lined and ostrich trimmed, and the
| tall directoire cane with its flowing bow
| of ribbon.
The dress goods materials are faseinat-
ing. In everything there is AN appearance
| of soft richness. There is the series of
blues-peacock, Copenhagen, canard and
| the still popular navy; in the grays-
! taupe. elephant, London smoke and mole
| are all to be found in shimmering satin,
| silks and cloth. There are all the new
green tints-the gooseneck, bronze, moss
| myrtle, empire and reseda, which are IA
| vorites in every department. Mr.. Cren-
| shaw, the efficient manager of this de-
| partmeat was especially proud Of piece
| of two-tone visible stripe surah silk which
combined those two exquisite tints-maize
and apricot. This will make a charming
| evening gown. Another pretty bit of cloth
is jacquard messaline, with self-tone dots
in peacock blue.
| The tailored gowns are all stunning and
| in such variety. Mr.. Fuller who Is the
head of the department, has shown superb
taste in his selections. That exquisite ele-
| gance which characterizes the store is
nowhere more evident than here, for a
| simplicity of decoration and an attention
to lines, cut and material are the en-
| phasized points. Mr.. Fuller absolutely
| revels in the green costumes that he Is
| showing and predicts that this will be the
popular color of the season. He showed
tailored gowns in ten different shades of
F., green yesterday. One was fashioned of
| bronze green cloth with q satin finish.
| The coat, almost as long as the skirt,
is single breasted, Its only ornament be-
| ing broad folds on the bottom. A taup&
broadcloth suit has a three-quarter coat
irregular at the bottom. Oblong black
satin buttons with soutache braided but
ton holes trim the coat where 1t is slashed
| at the sides and the skirt Is plain.
| The one-piece gowns are stunning, too
| A black satin directoire has trimmings
| of gilt and is worn with q black beaver
hat, ornamented with snowy plumes.
| The hats were never more beautiful.
| Mrs. Weaver, who is at the head of that
| department is recently from the east where
| she imbibed many excellent ideas. She
| is possessed of the most exquisite taste
| and is herself a woman of splendid pres
! ence upon whom the most regal of the
new hats are shown to advantage. One
| of the most gorgeous of the dress hats
| is a broad black beaver drectoire with
satin lining. A great square jet buckle
| is placed on the sides of the crown, at
/ taching three long white plumes and
! bunch of curled aigrettes. A hat of me-
| dunn size which was much admired yes
| terday was developed in black satin. with
| a slightly tinted brim, showing its lining
| of cloth of silver. A single great rose
in the canard blue tint trimmed the high
| crown in combination with exquisite fol-
| iage.
| lovely model is made of green vel
| vet. 1t is a directoire turban, and
| band of gilt mesh with two heavy blue
| plumes falling over the side furnish the
J only trimming.
| Mr. Hill, who is one of the most affable
as well as one of the most experienced
| shoe men in the city, is showing some
pretty new fall models. The button shoe
! is most in favor. There are the black
| patent feathers with dull tops and having
| eight buttons-others in brown, between
| light and dark, and developed in soft
| kid. Then there is the very practical
| one with the serviceable cravenette top
| suited to stormy weather. saucy slip
per for evening wear is slender black
suede pump devoid of any trimming. In
| this department, as in others. that air of
exquisitely quiet refinement OF taste pre-
walls.
The novelties are all lovely, including
| the chic tailored dollars and elastic belts
| to be affected with plain tailored gowns
and directore sashes developed in plaids
| and Dresden ribbons with their trimmings
of wide fringe. In keeping with these
are the fluffy rufus and choux in ever so