Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1912 — French Plumes [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

French Plumes

F|RENCH plumes. very slightly curled, and in innumerable varieties colorings, are in high favJr. they are used in clusters and singly on hats big and little. Black, white, and all the colors, soft or brlllilant, are brought into use for them. They all show in many shadings of . one color, or cleverly dyed into several colors on the same flue. Some of the most fascinating ones are made with one ply mounted over another in a contrasting color, and these two over a third. King’s blue and brilliant cerise have been In evidence all over the country, with a liberal sprinkling of mustard color and all the gold shades and the natural tones. One could not go amiss in selecting colors. The day of the narrow plume is vanishing. Every one wants a broad spread of flues. Natural plumes with short flues must be used by the manu-

facturers for mode pieces known as “ostrich fancies.” The process of tying the flues (so much the vogue in willow plumes), has led to many new effects in tied feathers and has come to stay. Wreaths and pompans, crown covers, bands and fancy upstanding pieces provide an outlet for the use of nar« row plumes. The distinguishing feature in the use of trimmings at present lies in the abundance of one kind of trimming on a shape. Three to six long plumes decorate big picture hats, but do not conceal the lovely lines of the shapes on which they are mounted. Short plumes are used in clusters in which four or five in a group maybe confidently looked for on a good model. But their purchase is not extravagance, because good plumes are durable and may be cleaned or dyed. They are therefore useful for many seasons.

JULIA BOTTOMLEY.