Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-13
HATSANDSHOES
QUITE NOBBY
MlLADY WILL HAVE NIFTY HEAD
WEAR AND FOOTWEAR FOR
HER SPRING ATTIRE.

! 1t is recorded that the ancients wore
a single dark garment of skin, while
! they decorated their hair with bright
| beads, feathers and the teeth of their
animal prey and up until a few cen
turtles ago the same color scheme pre-
, vailed. In the street costuming Of
women this was particularly true, the
suits being of some dark, serviceable
material, trinity tailored, with plain
, black or brown shoes, inconspicuous
gloves and then riot of color on the
hat. The past few season have chang
ed all that, however, and now Madame
Smart and Miss Swagger appear hat
ted, gowned, gloved and booted in all
the colors known to the artists pal
cite which would put Solomon in all
his glory out of the running. Indeed,
the colOrS are so eXquisitely lovely
this year that one has to be a pessim-
list not to be cheered by the sight of
the seasons styles.
An unusual amount of attention is
given to the attractive fitting out of
the feet. The spring boots are quite
high topped in an effort to bridge what
is frequently social chasm between
the shoe tops and the skirt hem. Two
tone effects are very smart, two grays,
two browns, brown and cream, cream
and champagne, black and white, all
African brown, all Canary or lemon
yellow, many pure white and some all
black being the best styles. The but
tons are fancy, adding much to the
charm of the shoes, as does the fancy
stitching. The materials most popular
are dull kid and patent leather, with
some cloth tops. A new material call
ed range skin, which resembles wool
poplin and is said to hold its shape un-
usually well, is being used in combina-
ton with leather lowers for some OF
the boots. The dealers predict that
much range skin will be used with
canvas for the midsummer shoes ard
pumps. Spats are exceedingly good in
the east and are worn by many we'll
dressed women in the middle west
They are to be found at conservative
prices and in the popular white. pearl
gray. cream and champagne shades in
the local stores. Party slippers come
In dainty satin, gold and silver cloth
and fancy kid, with beading, jet. col.
onial buckles, long vamps and fancy
strappings as trimming. Many women
have been surprised this spring to be
shown buttoned shoes in the new
styles again, for it is fact that the
laced boot is no longer undisputed
queen Of shoe styles, dividing honors
with the discarded buttoned footgear
Of two years ago.
Hats Are Charming.
Hypercritical indeed must be the
woman or girl who cannot find al
charming hat to go with her Easter
toggery in the beautifully appointed
hat shops of the city. II is an aesthet-
ic pleasure to drop into the easy
chairs in the softly tinted women's
shops, before mirrors which reflect |
charming vistas, while women whose
fingers and eyes are educated into the !
problem Of hating their customers |
help in the choice of the most becom-
ing hat possible.
The lisere or shiny black straw hats |
are probably the most popular for the |
early spring models and are made up
in variety Of shapes from the sailors
which are named this year from our /!
Chinese friend, the coolie. to the |
smartly turned up turbans. High !
crowns are good and some Tam O. ,
Shanter shapes are shown, while the
dropping brims with their softening
effect of outlines are very well liked.
The best sellers as to colors are black,
citron gold, pearls and apple green
Lisere BRAND. milan hemp in two
shades and all the softer straws are
the preferred materials, with a sprink-
ling of silk. shirred, and many oddly
styles in sport hats. The
lace like horse hair braid is
very dressy as an edging on the tur-
bans and will be much used for the
larger picture hats of midsummer ac
cording to the milliners.
AS to trimming, jet and some odd,
straight feathers in rather short length
are very much used the former being
no longer confined to the hats of
matrons, but appears on the young |,
girls hats also. Tomato or cactus red.
shadow lawn green, offre blue, old
rose. lemon and beige, which is a dull
shade, appear in the trim.
nines of flowers and ribbons Appli.
lued designs, fatty applied flowers,
'insly or in clusters. nobby wings and /;
Heirdly twisted feathers and quilts vie .
With each other to enchant the eye and L
oeguile the purse strings. Cynics may |,
sniff and declare femininity frail, vain, il
out "a rag, a bone and hank of |,
lair," but there is reason to believe
hat the spring styles will do much to
present Ottumwa matrons and maids
Is ladies fair" |;