THE SPRING HAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22200, 29 August 1935, Page 4

THE SPRING HAT

! CHOICE FOR EVERY WOMAN VERSATILE AND CHARMING BY BARBARA After glancing at the sketches on this page I think you will agree with me that never beforo have you seen hats at once so versatile and so flattering. To-day it is only the ninnies who need wear a bonnet that does not become them. Every woman is freo to chooso tho hat of her dreams; there aro no hard and fast rules as to shape, trimming or texture, and instinctivoly you will turn to the ono which most enhancos your type. If you aro proud of your profile thero is ono of the grand hats that roll up at the side exposing the features; if your eyes are your fortune thero is a straightbrimmed sailor for you and for extra effect a sheor veil which hangs two inches over its rim. If you are tall and statuesque, you may chooso an Ed« wardian veil which encircles your crown and floats enchantingly behind. If it is flowers you have been longing for, hero they are to your heart's content —they nestle bewitchingly behind one oar or they run riot over tho entiro crown and upper brim. Then if you aro a girl who looks her smartest in a small hat thero aro shapes aplenty —with brims swooping up off the face, dipping down ovor ono oye or perched in a dead straight lino across tho brow. This year there is no excuse —you may have a fat faco or you may have a thin face, and you may be beautiful or you may bo smart —but whichever you are there is a hat which will not only suit you but it will do something for you, and it will be of a colour that sots off your skin. Thero aro some straws as glinting as glass and others as dull as doeskin. There are fine weaves and coarse weaves, some with "rippled" surfaces and others which look like watered silk. There aro leghorns which have been dyed in exquisite subtle shadings and there aro toyas, crinolines and Panamas. You can suit your fabric to your type. Your hat may be of taffeta —stitched, ruched or corded—or it may be of soft, feather-weight felt or exquisite, pliable antelope. Whichever you choose, be svre that it is of a shade and texture which will bring the sparkle to your eyes and make your skin bloom.

Now for the hats in my sketch. Reading from left to right we first of all see a shallow-crowned cloche, rather vtfide of brim and entirely covered with pale blue michaelmas daisies. This is a bonnet for the blue-eyed and romantic. Under its brim, blue eyes lo6k bluer,

and on its deliciously flattering crown a shining black butterfly bow is perched in the centre front.

Next in line comes a stitched crepe Edwardian shape with traditional ved, bewitchingly 1 shading the crown and tied in a crisp bow at the back. The restrained elegance of this model is worthy of great occasions. Now, in the centre of the page is a gem of a hat. It lends enchantment to the very youthful and flatters the middle-aged. It is a white Panama with brim sweeping upward and out, and lined with straw of a soft, dull brown. The square-backed crown is finished in front by a corded ribbon chou of disconcerting naivete. A huge lettuce-green taffeta swirl trims the tiny toque of black, mesh straw shown in the bottom corner. A wide, stiffened veil of coarsish mesh becomingly shades the eyes. Last of all conies one of the new sailors, which arc worn halo fashion—up and off from the face. It is made with tucked brim of fine, white toya banded in black, and has two marguerites with shining, black centres caught under the brim at one side. These wide-brimmed off-the-face hats are an extremely smart style for the young girl in summer. I saw another model in navy blue straw with a spotted band of navy pulled across the hairlino in front and then through to tie in a knot at the back. Another entertaining hat I saw in the spring collection was made of fine navy straw and had a miniature vegetable garden perched over the brim in tho centre front.

Navy, of course, is just as popular in tho millinery world as it is in the world of dress. Navy blue straws and navy blue trimmings on white hats are obvious everywhere. One charming Suzy moclel, I saw, was mado of very fine, white Pannina and had a surprise in the form of a navy osprey placed on the front of the folded down brim. A stiff navy veil' came from under the brim and shaded the eyes. Another navy sailor had a rolled up brim which was edged with a fluting of white corded ribbon. ,

You will notice that although these 'tats are indisputably individual in stylo, they, nevertheless, have in common a refreshingly, youthful charm. Whatever their shape they are of necessity the perfect complement of the spring fashions—their very versatility proves that. Perhaps it is a platitude to say that a new spring hat is as good as a tonic, but this year it is undoubtedly true. These hats are as gay and as romantic as the hearts of the very young, and yet they suit the older women just as well as the debutante. They will give you confidence and make you sparkle—and, above all, their frivolity is in perfect taste.