FRENCH HATS AND FURS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 74, 20 December 1907, Page 3

FRENCH HATS AND FURS.

The..' crowns of hats are increasing in size —some in height, some in width, some in length, some in circumference, for all Sorts of shapes are the mode. Some of these gigantic crowns have comparatively small l>nms; others are immense both as to brim and crown. But the best milliners' are also making toques. The re-introduction of fur in headgear has doubtless suggested their revival. Also a definite reaction was necessary against the unreasonable proportions which millinery was assuming. 'J'he cabriolet or poke bonnet is being launched,' I notice (says a writer in an English paper), by one of the first Rue de la Pais modistes and several lesser stars of that particular world. The great fashion is for natural— that is, undyed—ostrich plumes; but feathers of this description, dyed or uridyed, providing they be as long as possible, <are the rage. Never have more beautiful 'feathers beeiji put on the market. Naturally their cost lias gone up almost double last' 'year's figure. leather stoles, too, are' much favoured for ovening wear; and, from £20 to £40 is not an abnormal price for« some of these. Ostrich feather stoles are also an oxpense as far as their cleaning is concerned, and 1 notice that many black velvet hats arc lavishly trimmed with whito plumes.; I might say that almost anything which is expensive, luxurious, and rare is fashionable nowadays, whatever form it may assume. Thus not only the most costly fur's are worn, but their original expense becomes doubled since they have to be trimmed with embroideries and braid motifs of all sorts and descriptions, besides requiring flip most careful, tjio most studied, cut to. suit eiicli individual, figure and the demands of fashion. Since all the big couturiers have taken up the confection of fur garments a great improvement in their application Has been the result. Consequently also a marked increase in their . price. The fur garment of yore was a barbarous disguise, almost on a par with the rude covering of a savage, compared with the works .of art evolved out of the same skins to-day. A change from the scalloped and frayeti silk ruchings for morning hats are turbans, of ribbon ends, wired and edged with biais. These tags, as it were, remind one of certain mats into which thousands of bits ; of woollen ribbon had been knitted—an occupation and a result characteristic of the Jiarly Victorian era. Very few felt hats are worn, and those are generally edged ; or lined with velvet or satin. Many hats are lifted up on one side, alter the' late eighteenth century style. Silk and satin are no longer stretched, but glued on the frame. Two shades—one above, one below the brim —are the rule.