The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-23

that Skin sense known as dress
IL sense, for whether her garments
are extravagantly or moderately expen-
sive they will look the pinnacle of smart
ness. Not in the least degree do they
resemble the clothes hanging upon the
woman who is unable to add good taste
to the purchasing price Of wares onered
bv couturiers and modistes. But be It
known that the costumes mentioned to-
day are the very glass of fashion; almost
a crime would it be for the woman lack
ing smartness to appear in them, for
they are lovely enough to demand the
very best treatment.
Days golden bright and sunny such as
we have had this week, give any modish
woman a longing for a spring hat upon
her head; there is nothing perhaps that
so soon outlives its favor as a winter
bonnet--nothing so alluring as chiifons
and flowers and bright straws and feath-
ers. after the lengthy service of fur ana
velvet and beaver. Under such sun and
such skies as we had this week il was
hard to remember that other chill days
are coming, and thus many spring hats
were sold. birmingham women appear
more conservative, however, than their
northern sisters, for great numbers OF
spring hats have appeared already in
New York. Here the greater portion of
the light and airy headgear may be rec
ognized as "last years artful bonnet,
with a bit of ribbon on it"-a makeshift
for the half season.
New Hats Are Here
hot har nd " oh
ing things they are. Most of them are
quite small-close fitted as necessitated
by the modish fiat coiffure, and showing
the new shades. Many are black; tiger
straw, made in the queer long, boat
shaped design and adorned with one or
two rich feathers in the light shades,
posed in the becoming, rare angles so
characteristic of the season. There is
one from Steele-Smith, a light Milan
straw, just the size to fit snugly next to
some softly coiffed hair ana trimmed
with a deep brown feather that follows
the line of the crown. Another attractive
one is in the wine shades, veiled with
chiffon in the flower design and the crown
encircled with pansies. This one has
broader lines; its brim, though narrow,
Is not fitted close, and in a most becom-
ing fashion it is caught in just a trifie
at the side. There is another, small and
quite severe, somewhat after the derby
model; its trimming is a straight quill
made of tiny roses in the pastel colors
and rising perpendicular to the crown.
At Hirsch's they are receiving new ship
ments of hats from the eastern market
every day. One of the clever Joseph
models is black, with the brim longer in
the back than in front, according to fash
ions edict for the season. 1t is faced
with shell pink, and the same shade is
predominant in the French plume of
graduated size which encircles the crown
and falls over the back. Another simpler
model, but stunning too, is black tiger
braid, with a wreath of roses just bit
deeper than the melon shade set beneath
the brim. An adorable bonnet fits the
head quite closely and in front has a
cleft in the center. The straw and the
geraniums set at the back of the neck
and the broad streamer of satin ribbon
that falls from it are in several tones OF
magenta.
Spring Suits
Next to her bonnet the greatest joy to
a woman's soul is her spring tailored suit,
for when she wears it, on chill days or
warm, she is neatly and appropriately at
tired. Mr. b. NJ. Bramlage, whose eXpe-
rience in this department of Loveman,
Joseph & Loeb's for a great many years,
has given him efficiency and taste, is eX-
hibiting a varied assortment of hand
some models and will have more in stock
before the formal opening of the store.
The suits are built on the same lines
as the modish tailor suits of the late
with no over-drapery, for the drapery is
all in the skirt itself. Here is a decided
variety of styles, and as the scant,
straight skirt with its conventional trim
ming of few buttons or quite obvious
drapery, has been used overlong, the nov
city of unexpected gathers. draping the
skirt at knee or in the back Will be well
coined Coats are to be either fairly
long, with tunics of godet pleats very
short; the preponderance thus far is in
favor of the "a or 26 inch length
There is a delightful variety of colors.
There is always the navy blue suit, de-
veloped in many types of elegance and
simplicity; then the new bright shades
geranium and cherry and rose-and the
checks and grays and tans make a be-
wildering array. 81. r-
Ratines, eponges. whipcords and En-
glsh cord are some of the materials.
A two-tone corded eponge, cream and
white, IS suit Wnlcn VIII De greatly du-
mired and soon sold at Loveman's The
coat is short and confined across the cut
away front with one big pearl button.
The skirt is odd in cut and will be be-
coming to a slender figure. row of
smaller pearl buttons extends down each
side of the front Another suit appro-
pirate for calling and other post-Lenten
activities is an eponge in the new Nell
rose shade; the short coat and the skirt
are graceful of line and quite simple A
very light and spring-like suit is an
eponge in striped effect. steel gray and
white. 1t is rather plain and supremely
elegant.
A novelty is the ratine suit in light
rose The coat is two-button cutaway.
26 inches in length, with loose back and
under-arm seam, and trimmed with COW
cred buttons and straps and piping OF
checked material, the straps inlaid on
the collar. The skirt has a fiat seam
straight up the front and is shirred into