THE NEW SPRING HATS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 October 1939, Page 3

THE NEW SPRING HATS

COLOURFUL AND TINY The first of the spring hats are now being viewed and blossom like flowers in a garden. They are small and varied. Some are of the latest straw —peach basket—which is rough to the touch; others are of angel’s skin ribbon, a meshed type of silk, and many, particularly the turbans, are fashioned from American silk net, which is twisted into some fascinating shapes —one of those shapes being the souffle, a heartshaped model, with a thick cluster of contrasting material topping the flat crown.

Crowns are tiny, in the doll’s nat tradition, but have grown up, and are now quite tall. When, however, the actual crown is flat, the hat is made to look high by bows, which stand up straight at the back, feathers or twists of felt or velvet.

One lovely model of rough Italian straw in a natural shade had a high stiff bow of black taffeta to give it height.

Birds are still the favourite adornment, with huge bunches and clusters of flowers. Yards of veiling encircle the small hats and it is often in a contrasting colour to the hat itself. In the large-brimmed hats the tiny crown predominates, while the Breton type features the tall Mexican crown. From Hollywood comes a collection of summer weight felts, as soft and light as a summer’s breeze.