The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-07
HOW FAMOUS FASHIONS STARTED

From the New York Evening Sun.
l"HAT many of the fashions which
became famous in their day and
have come down to our own were
ter of history. Interesting are the stories
told of the odd origin of certain styles
which an unsuspecting world probably
thought We're intentionally chosen for
their beauty or comfort.
The courts of Europe have been espe-
cially noted for their sheepli<e following
of an idea introduced by the reigning
monarch when frequently that idea was
evolved to conceal one of the ruler s
physical defects. One of the kings OF
France came to the throne a child of 10:
he wore his hair in long rnglets all about
the head. Immediately men and women
coiffed themselves likewise. The same
monarch was bald at 80, and being a
lover of all that was beautiful and FEM
inine he ordered the elaborate wig which
was taken up and reveled in during many
reigns
back and held with small bow of riJ-
bon, the style beloved of men several
hundred years ago, little girls are said
to have originated the idea, and acci-
dentally. One day a court leader hap
pened to be visiting and his hostess was
late arriving at the salon. The young
man fell asleep and the two children of
the noble lady, creeping in, saw the guest
and to play a trick tied his hair all to-
gether. The little girls, fearing to be
catght. ran away and the young man
never knew of the curious picture the
back of his wig presented. Other visitors
discovered the garnsh, laughed at the
ribbon, and the young count declared
barefacedly that he had so fastened his
hair and meant to keep 1t always so
from his neck and shoulders. Within
few days the entire nobility found the
scheme an. excellent one and adopted the
idea.
The pannier was introduced by a queen
to cover a misplaced hip bone. 1t was
an actress who finally threw the pannier
aside after it had been fashionable half
a century. One evening, just before she
was to appear on the stage the actress
discovered that one pannier was en-
tirely drenched in oil; the dress, it was
thought, was spoiled by rival
The actress and her maid quickly
thought the matter over, and both to-
gether quickly tore off the offending
member of the costume The actress|
donned the dress, but, of course, it pre-
sented a ridiculous appearance So the
other pannier was removed, and the flim
young woman appeared on the stage
more supple and graceful than ever. The
audience at first gasped, then admired
and the next day all of London dhe
scene took place. there) decided to imi-
tate the actress and her severe skirt.
The origin of the beauty spot is no
less interesting. The Duchess de Mont
morilon suffered with boil on the cheek
and put on a bit of black mixture over
night said to be healing. In the morning
she either forgot to wash her face or
goes-and the inattentive or malicious
servant allowed her mistress to appean|
"before the world with her face spotted.
Powdered and perfumed, Montmorillon
received her callers. who found the black
spot charming, SO much so that before
night they had anointed their faces with
the black ointment.
TO come down to present times, the
feather boa was originated less than 20
years ago in Boston. In an idle mo-
ment an apprentice in feather establish
ment sewed the discarded bits and ends
of poor plumes together and strung them
about her neck. The other girls laughed
at the trimming. the head of the depart
ment found it pretty. and the order was
given that no castaways in the form of
plumes be thrown in the waste basket.
All parts Of the plume were kept sewed
on to ribbon. the entire thing curled
and long ribbon loops put at each end,