Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1877 — Mourning Bonnets and Veils. [ARTICLE]

Mourning Bonnets and Veils.

English crape bonnets are worn at all seasons of the year for the deepest mourning. The best bonnets have two thicknesses of crape laid Over silk. Widows’ bonnets are so covered with the veil that they are made entirely without trimming, or at most they have only a band of the crape laid abound the crown. The widow’scap in front of the bonnet now consists of but one, or perhaps two, small puffs of crimped white tarlatan. If the close bonnet that this requires is objectionable, some folds of black crape are put above the cap to fill it in. Some widows who are still young have their bonnets made in the old-fashioned close shape known as the poke ; others-select the Marie Stuart, and have.the.pointed front lilled in with a widow’s cap. The veil for widows is three yards long, with a hem at each end from three-eighths to half a yard deep. It is thrown over the bonnet, with the front falling just below the waist, and the back hanging very low; or else this is reversed, so that the front falls almost to the foot and the back only to the waist; it is pinned on each side of the bonnet with slide pins that are also covered with crape. This veil is of double-width crape measuring from one yard to forty-two inches, and should not have a fold in the middle, as the best qualities are rolled on a stick. Ladies wearing deep mourning for a parent or any other near relative, except a hus band, have black crape folds for face trimmings and around the crown. The crape veil is then only a yard long and of single width, and is plaited down the left side of the bonnet to the back of the crown, and left to hang behind; a mask veil of Brussels net is worn over jho„ face. With such bonnets some pipings of gros grain are put in the folds, and loops or a bow of gros grain ribbon. Strings of gros grain ribbon arc added to all mournirig bonnets. Quite young ladies wear white tulle ruches for face trimming. Silk bonnets trimmed with feathers and jet are worn in light mourning; these are not trimmed with crape. The silk is plain on the frame, and there are stiff, small, set bows in the baek; a curtain band is piped with silk. Felt bonnets with silk trimmings are- used for—second best. Jforpc r 1 s rjagqr. ■ ’■ 1 ■ ".S