The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-17
Steele.Smith.

He S6cu1u udN ol lile SpIihS opSu- ings was an ideal one for the display of flowers. soft fabrics and fetching novelties that are so enticing to the feminine world. Nature wore it's brightest smiles and few dsvotees of fashion resisted it's appeal The shops opened yesterday to exhibit feminine apparel were crowded to the uttermost until the closing hours.
 The fashionable emporium of Steele Smith was particularly alluring in it's gala dress of spring flowers Few passed the windows without stopping to examine the display. The laven- der note was predominant here as else- where throughout the store. A wealth of wistaria blossoms were disposed high aid low on walls and glass cases alike. The decorator who planned the tasteful arrangement of the Steele Smith store is deserving of much praise The walls were ornamented by large floral designs of wistsria caught upon a background of soft law ender cloth Baskets were used in effecting the decorative scheme. In one of the smaller front windows was a huge asket built of wistaria cloth. The arching handle was twined with garlands of vines and interspersed with tiny incandescent lights of vary ing colors. Within the basket stood a wax figure quite lifelike and wearing a bewildering robe of filmy lingerie and laces. On her head was a chip hat laden with plumes and from her hand was falling a wistaria blossom apparently just gathered from the festoon of blossoming vines above. The scheme followed in the large central window was somewhat similar. It was noticeable that the lay figures followed only the one plan, that of showing the various styles in lingerie toilettes. 1 Thus a pleasing harmony was estab- | lished and the effect of the windows | as whole decidedly artistic. The | frocks shown in the windows all sug l gest the directoire lines in the slight l ly shortened waisfsand narrow skirts. | Elaborate laces are combined in some 1 instances with fine embroideries and ] each frock is shown over differ l ent tint-the one over blue, another l pink, still another yellow, and one 1 over foundation of pure white. The hats shown are dressy as befits the nature of the gown Fumes and soft straws and chiffons are becomingly l combined.
 Several superb hats are shown in the windows, some from the French shops and others from the Steele l Smith work room. One that attracted much attention is combination of wistaria with soft yellow.
 It is rather flat and with a gracefully rolled brim. Two handsome ostrich l plumes in the wistaria shades droop over l the side This is a Madame Burbe. An l other notable Parisian hat is the Geor- l gette model of black Milan straw with l short brim slightly rolled and the crown surrounded with jet band cabuchon 1 of jet confines the bunch of black tips on the side.
 A hat that suggests the term "confec- tion" is shown in a separate case. It is In the mushroom shape and built of pink chiffon shirred into a brim. The crown l is made of soft masses of the chiffon and | dainty pink rosebuds lie at the intersec- ton of the crown and brim half con eealed by the folds of soft material. This is particularly girlish
 A stunning black chapeau is exhibited in 1 the millinery department, on the second
 floor It is from the shop of Caroline | Ribaut The shape is a black hemp straw | with curled brim. Surrounding the crown l is a band heavily jeweled in jet. From | one side crosses a graceful willow plume,
 which, falling over the opposite brim,
 gives a singularly chic air to the model.
 There are some fascinating poke shapes
 shown also An especially effective one is
 Virot model in rough old blue straw.
 The crown Is made entirely of small blue
 flowers and fetching black velvet bow
 is caught under the ear. Another of
 these picturesque shapes is black straw.
 A bunch of big pink roses adorns the
 side near where the streamer is caught.
 Flowers and fruit are used on many of
 the new models. wide-brimmed rough
 straw hat in white is surmounted with
 a black velvet band passing around the | crown At intervals is a bunch Of plumes
 and foliage fruit in soft tints. hat
 that created general admiration yesterday
 Is of Milan straw in the pronounced l mushroom shape. wreath of purple | orchids encircles the brim and long wis
 taria streamer is pendant from the brim.
 Another hat with trimmings in the wis
 taria tints is leghorn tilted on one side
 and almost loaded with roses and inn
 mense pansies in the lavender ana WIS
 taria shades. And so they go. almost
 without an end, of the eXqulsite coiors
 and stunning shapes
 The suit department is filled with at
 tractive gowns. some exhibited lay
 figures and others hanging up to be
 shown at will The colors are the various
 shades of rose gray and black and white.
 Blue is of course, always good, and there
 are some greens. Many of the skirts
 shown with two-piece suits are made
 with the girdle effect. There are also
 three-piece suits An especially natty cos
 tune is an old blue cloth. small yoke
 is fashioned of embroidered blue net.
 The frocks. hats and accessories shown
 in the children's department are unusually
 attractive this season.
 Another interesting department is the
 aisle in which are shown novelties in
 collars, belts, combs and pins.
 1