The Washington herald., 1911-02-26
CONVENTIONAL MOURNING
Its Observance and Its FormS-What May and
May Not Be Worn.

ment which usually keeps up the family
until after the funeral. the time comes
to plan what to wear. For. however
little one cares for dress when in deep
grief, it is a question which has to be
settled. For the benefit of those who
do not know what are the conventions
in mourning. l will give few sugges-
tons governed by propriety and good
form.
Mourning has become less rigid in its
oDservances than formerly, common sense
and the laws of health having changed
some of the strictest customs. OF course,
mourning worn for a husband is the
deepest.
The widow wears usually a veil Of
crepe over her face for six months, or
three, as she likes After this, it is thrown
back from her face and worn thus for
two years, or at the least, eighteen
months. A young widow wears a small
hat of crepe, the correct shape being
round. so the veil, which reaches to the
waist, can be draped over It properly.
An older woman usually has Der veil
draped over a bonnet frame. Sometimes
veil of grenadine. with a deep hem of
the~same material, or one Of crepe, is
used by those who do not like to wear
the more somber crepe. The chief thing
TO be avoided in selecting mourning is
that it should not be conspicuous in any
sense. Extreme styles in dress or hat
are utterly bad taste for the woman who
wears black.
Crepe may trim the widows gowns
while she wears her veil but with il no
lace or embroidery-chiffon or net may be
used for yokes or sleeves. She wears
turnover collar and cuffs of white or
nrtr nlf Oh
all times except with evening gowns.
For a parent or a daughter or a son.
a sister or a brother. the mourning is
worn for at least eighteen months. usu-
ally two years. The veil is draped over
the hat. but is not often worn over the
face. except for three months A young
unmarried woman wears a face veil of
crepe instead Of the one hanging in folds
from the hat. For those who object
TO the crepe, chiffon or grenadine wells
can be substituted. After six months a
dull silk hat or one OF uncut veHet-a
distinct mourning fabrfc-or some other
material with no luster is used Many
women have the hats faced with white
crepe. even the widows hat or bonnet
being allowed to show a white ruche at
the edge.
Black furs are. OF course. the only
proper kinds for mourning, though seal
SKIN ana SKUNK, Delng very dark, are
often used. The lighter furs are out of
the question for the woman who wishes
to be quite correctly gowned. II crepe
IS used. care should he taken to see that
other materials match. Cloths should
have a dull finish. and IL braid is used
or other trimming, It should have no
luster. Dull jet jewelry or the fashion
a BILE gun metal is in good form II a few
pieces. such as are almost necessary,
are worn. Pearls are permissible also,
even in deep mourning
Shoes and gloves should he OF dull
skins or feathers, and the handbag, coin |
purse. &C. should have no glaring gold |
OF silver finish, but match the jewelry ,
in dull tones. The tailor-made clothes |
should be of simple styles. and of dull
serge, cheviot. broadclOth or other
The wise woman. who has to |
count her dollars in fitting herself out !
n black. will buy only q few clothes. but /
see that they are OF only frst-class !
as quality counts much more !
n this case than does quantity. A black !
iress can be worn much Oftener than |
color, as one doesn't tire of it so
quickly. Several blOuses of taffeta, crepe
ie chine. or of chiffOn-an afternoon
rock of dull crepe cloth. crepe meteor.
house dress Of cashmere. poplin. and
IN evening gown OF chiffon-these are
ome of the suggestions which the wo-
nan in mourning may heed.