The herald., 1913-06-12
SETTING A FASHION
Easy, No Matter How Freakish,
if 1t Hits the Popular Fancy.
STYLES WITH ODD ORIGINS.
The Old Masculine Trick of Tying the
Hair Behind Was the Result Of
Childish Prank, and the Beauty Spot
Grew From Boil on a Lady's Cheek.

Grew From Boil on lady's Cheek. |
That many Of the fashions which be-
came famous in their day and have !
come down to our own were due to
chance or accident is now matter of
history. Interesting are the stories
told of the odd origin Of certain styles
which an unsuspecting world probably
thought were Intentionally chosen for
their beauty or comfort
The courts Of Europe have been es-
pecially noted for their sheeplike fol-
lowing Of an idea introduced by the
reigning monarch, when frequently
that idea was evolved to conceal one
Of the rulers physical defects. One
of the kings of France came to the
throne a child of ten. He wore his hair
in long ringlets all about the head.
Immediately men and women coiffed
themselves likewise. The same mon
arch was bald at thirty. and, being a
lover of all that was beautiful and
feminine, he ordered the elaborate wig
which was taken up and reveled in
during many reigns.
As for the hair being caught In the
back and held with a small bow Of
ribbon, the style beloved of men sew
eral hundred years ago, little girls are
said to have originated the idea, and
accidentally. One day a court leader
happened to be visiting, and his hos
tess was late in arriving in the salon.
The young man fell asleep, and the two
children of the noble lady, creeping in,
saw the guest and to play trick tied
his hair all together. The little girls,
fearing to be caught, ran away, and
the young man never knew Of the
curious picture the back of his wig
presented. Other visitors discovered
the garnish. laughed at the ribbon, and
the young count declared barefacedly
that he had so fastened his hair and
meant to keep it always so from his
neck and shoulders. Within a few
days the entire nobility found the
scheme so good they adopted the idea.
The pannier was introduced by a
queen to cover q misplaced hip bone 1t
was an actress who finally threw the
pannier aside after it had been fash
ionable half a century. One evening
Just before she was to appear on the
stage the actress discovered that one
pannier was entirely drenched in oil.
The dress, it was thought. was spoiled
by a 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-
scented a ridiculous appearance Sc
the other pannier was removed. and
the slim young woman appeared on
the stage more supple and graceful
than ever The audience at first gasp
ed, then admired. and the next day
all of London (the scene took place
there) decided to initiate the actres:
and her severe skirt
The origin of the beauty spot Is NJ
less interesting The Duchess d'
Montmorillon suffered with a boil OF
the cheek and put on bit OF blaci
mixture overnight said to be healing
In the morning she. either forgot t.
wash her face or did not use enough
care, so the story goes, and the mat
tentive or malicious servant allowet
her mistress to appear before tn
world" with her face spotted. Powder
ed and perfumed, Montmorillon receiv
ed her callers, who found the blacl
spot charming, so much so that befor
night they had anointed their face
with the black ointment
To come down to present times, tn
feather boa was originated less tina
twenty years ago in Boston In a
idle moment an apprentice in feathe
establishment sewed the discarded bit
and ends of poor plumes together an
strung them about her neck. Tn
other girls laughed at the trimming
the head of the department found
pretty, and the order was given tha
no castaways in the form Of plume
be thrown In the wastebasket A
parts of the plumes were kept, sewe
on to a ribbon, the entire thing curle
, and long ribbon loops put at each ent
and the feather boa was the success
the season.
> The uncurled plume was purely tt
result Of an accident The bigge'
n race of the year, the Grand Prix dA'
a teuil, was on, and women were thel
q dressed within an inch Of their live
! A fearful rainstorm came up, and pc
pie were drenched. Plumes that ha
left home finely curled were wet, an
each spiral stood apart 1t was n
pretty. the effect, but 1t was origins
and one of the milliners, not wishir
to take the trouble to have the plum
of all his customers recurled, advise
them to allow the garnish to remain
It was.
That week following the Grand Pr
fAuteuil saw nothing but straight 81
raj plumes, and women liked them
y much that before the following Su
y day, when the Grand Prix de Lon
J. champ was to be, women who h'
4. CURED plumes had the wave taken o
G. so that they might appear like the OF
n er fashionables. For more than ye
the defrissee plume was sought. As
whole fashion Is, like IN this instant
L only the result of an accident Son
le times 1t Is the outcome Of an expe
y ment; but, like the women. 1t Is cap
a cious and changeable.-New York ST.