^gUf^fffi^
EX LIBHIS
MERCHANDISE MANUAL SERIES
MILLINERY
BY
CHARLOTTE RANKIN ATKL'N, E.A.
Formerly Educational Director, Lasalle and Koch,
Toledo, Ohio
NEW YORK
THE RONALD PRESS COMPANY
1922
Copyright, 1918, by
THE RONALD PRESS COMPANY
Copyright, 1922, by
THE RONALD PRESS COMPANY
All rights reserved
Series ts Bebtcateb
to Mrs. Henry Ollesheimer, Miss
Virginia Potter, and Miss Anne
Morgan, who desiring to give
greater opportunity for advance-
ment to commercial employees and
believing that all business efficiency
must rest upon a solid foundation
of training and education gave
years of enthusiastic service to the
testing of this belief.
737899
MERCHANDISE MANUAL SERIES
EDITOR OF SERIES
BEULAH ELFRETH KENNARD, M.A.
Formerly Director of Department Store Courses, New York
University; Chairman of Committee on Merchandise Courses
for New York City Public Schools; Educational Director,
Department Store Education Association
CONSULTING EDITOR
LEE GALLOWAY, PH.D.
Professor of Commerce and Industry, Head of Department
of Management, and formerly Director of Training School
for Teachers of Retail Selling, New York University •
formerly Educational Director, the National Commercial
Gas Association
EDITOR'S PREFACE
As "Department Store Merchandise Manuals" these
books were originally written for salespeople and were
designed to give them reliable information concerning
the sources and manufacturing processes of the mer-
chandise which they handle. When it was necessary
to deal with scientific or historical material it was
treated as simply and concretely as possible and the
point of view taken was that of business rather than
that of the school or laboratory. In this form they
have proved their practical value not only to the de-
partment store salesperson but in the specialty shop.
It has been pointed out, however, that the material has
a wider scope than that of sales manuals alone.
As reference books, librarians will find the short,
clear statements and full indexes invaluable.
As an encyclopaedia of merchandise the series con-
tains scientific information in a simple, compact form
which makes it available for children and others to
whom the subjects treated are unfamiliar.
As textbooks they are adapted for use in commercial
schools, high schools, night schools, settlement classes,
and by teachers of household arts and domestic science.
v
VI EDITOR'S PREFACE
As source books for practical story-telling, kinder-
gartners, primary and vacation school teachers will
find in them an abundance of interesting material for
short "true" stories on the various industries and crafts,
the manufacture of household articles, such as pins
and needles, as well as the making of pottery,
glass, and steel. These manuals contain just the
material often hunted for in vain by teachers and
librarians.
As household helps and shopping guides the young
housekeeper will find the manuals her best friends be-
cause they not only describe the manufacturing pro-
cesses but tell her how to distinguish well-made articles
of good materials from the inferior and badly made.
They also tell her how to care for the clothing or
household goods which she has bought.
For salespeople and storekeepers they supply the
general and specific information about their merchan-
dise which is indispensable to efficiency, yet very
hard to gather from the scattered sources upon which
they now depend.
These changes should enlarge the usefulness of the
manuals without losing any of their specific value in
the field of salesmanship.
The subjects of color and design are of great im-
portance in the treatment of many kinds of merchan-
dise. To avoid any confusion arising from varied
EDITOR'S PREFACE vii
statements of principles the editor has put the material
into a standardized form approved by the authors of
the manuals in which these chapters appear.
We wish to express our grateful appreciation to the
manufacturers and experts who have given us such
valuable counsel and cordial co-operation.
BEULAH ELFRETH KENNARD.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
In gathering the information for this manual the
author found few publications dealing with the processes
of hat-making in foreign countries, except the United
States Government's report on " Philippine Hats." This
is due to the zeal with which foreign producers and ex-
porters have guarded the secrets of their industry, and
also to the lack of any systematic investigation of the
subject. The weaving of braids in distant countries has
been carried on in the homes, and the art has been handed
down from one generation to another ; therefore the facts
concerning it have been difficult to discover. Informa-
tion as to the millinery manufactories in this country
was more easily obtained, as the extensive and pro-
gressive establishments of the trade have shown a most
generous co-operation.
The author is greatly indebted to the original re-
searches of Miss B. Cannon, Educational Director,
Wm. Filene Sons Company, Boston. Miss Cannon se-
cured reports and information from United States con-
sular officials in foreign countries and made a compila-
tion of data on the subject. The author is also indebted
to the kindness of the United States Government expert
on commercial fibers ; to the practical suggestions of Mr.
M. B. Kreeger of the Kreeger Store, Inc., of New Or-
viii
AUTHOR'S PREFACE ix
leans; to The Dry Goods Economist, and The Milli-
nery Trade Review for certain information; also to
R. H. Comey and Company, dyers and bleachers of
straw braids, to Gage Brothers and Company, to Mrs.
E. G. McClelland of Woman's Wear, and to the editor
of the series for the preparation of Chapter XII.
For illustrations thanks are due to the United States
Department of Agriculture, The Philippine Bureau of
Education, The Millinery Trade Review, The Philip-
pine Craftsman, The National Geographic Magazine,
and Robert M. McBride and Company.
This volume, with the exception of Chapters I and
XVI, applies to the buying of hats, since the greater
knowledge of the subject the purchaser possesses, the
wiser will be her selections. Obviously, if she knows
materials, straws, etc., she will buy with greater assur-
ance. Thus the knowledge she may have gained by
observation will be greatly increased by study. A
knowledge of the colors that are becoming and of
the lines which bring out the best features of the face,
is essential in buying hats. Everyone has picked up
miscellaneous information about hats, but the scientific
study of them will no doubt be an aid to many. It is
a pleasure also, to learn the romance of millinery,
and to know how the peoples in the far corners of
the earth toil for the adornment of our heads.
It is sincerely hoped that those who take up these
X AUTHOR'S PREFACE
studies for use in the home, the store, or the school
may find this book of some service for practical appli-
cation to their needs.
CHARLOTTE RANKIN AIKEN.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I THE MILLINERY DEPARTMENT .... I
Plan of Department
General Impression
Atmosphere
Stock Tables
" Trying on " Tables
Display Cases
Counter Cases
Arrangement of Stock
" French Rooms "
Stock and Workrooms
II HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS .... 8
Most Important Material
Italian Straw Best
Climate and Soil
Gathering and Bleaching
Sorting
Centers of the Plaiting Industry
Method of Plaiting
III HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS (Continued) 14
Varieties
Tuscan Braid
Florence Tuscan Braid
Leghorn Hats
Plaiting Leghorn
Milan Braid
Patent Milan
Split Straw
xi
xii CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
Lisere
Oriental Braids
Braid-Making in China
Chinese Straw
Swiss Straw
Hemp
Hemp Hats
Hemp-Weaving Industry
Philippine Factories
Milan Hemp
Imitation Hemp
Machine-Made Braids
Chip
Yedda
Ramie
Horsehair
Pyroxylin
Chrysanthemum Braid
IV STRAW HAT-MAKING ........ 32
Hand-Made Hats
Panama Hats
Location of Industry
Gathering the Raw Material
Toughening and Bleaching
Plaiting by the Natives
Process of Making
Finishing
Method of Cleaning
Tests for Quality
Imitation Panamas
Wenchow
Philippine Hats
Bamboo Hats
Weaving Bamboo
Double Hats
Qualities of the Bamboo Hat
Buri Hats
Kalasio Hats
Buntal Hats
Pandan Hats
Minor Hat Materials
Export Trade
CONTENTS xiii
CHAPTER PAGE
V MACHINE-MADE STRAW HATS ...... 46
Development of Industry
Location of Factories
Different Kinds of Factories
Receiving the Braids
Sewing the Braid into Hats
Sizing
Blocking
Additional Blocking
Finishing
Sewed Braids
^VI FELT HATS .52
Felting Properties of Wool and Fur
Sources of Felt
First Process
Washing the Skins
Drying and Cutting
Sorting and Grading
Mixing
Cleansing the Fur
Forming
Felting Process Begun
Sizing
Dyeing
Stiffening
Stretching
Finishing Processes
Different Grades of Felt
History of Felt Hats
f\Vll VELVET AND OTHER FABRIC HATS ... 63
Use of Velvet and Other Fabrics in Hats
Manufacture of Pile Fabrics
Ways to Determine Quality of Velvet
Manufacture of Velvet Hats
Silk and Satin Hats
Durability of Silk Hats
Weighted Silk
Other Fabric Hats
New Materials
Fur Hats
Miscellaneous Fabrics
xiv CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
VIII HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS . .. ,. ., 70
Varieties
How Style Is Influenced
The Story of Trimmings
Feathers
Treatment of Feathers
Ostrich Feathers
Ostrich Farms
Forms of Ostrich Feathers
Dyeing Ostrich Feathers
Black Dye
Vulture Wings
Peacock and Pheasant
Wild Duck, Parrot, and Guinea-Fowl
Pigeon
Fowl
" Spanish Coq " and Hackle
Egret or Aigret (a Kind of Heron)
Bird of Paradise
Other Wild Birds Used for Hat Trimming
IX HAT TRIMMINGS — FLOWERS 85
Sources of Artificial Flowers
Flower Materials
Stiffening and Cutting Out
Dyeing
Making
How Flowers Come to the Milliner
Roses
Field Flowers
Applique Flowers
Violets
Small Flowers
Odd Flowers
Rare Flowers
Natural Flowers
Foliage
Fruits
CONTENTS xv
CHAPTER PAGE
X X HAT TRIMMINGS — RIBBONS, BANDS, AND
' ORNAMENTS 93
Silk Ribbons
Weaves
Ribbon Patterns
Widths of Ribbons
Bands
Ornaments
Embroidery and Painting
Other Trimmings
Fur Trimmings
XI .CHOOSING A BECOMING HAT . .... . . . 100
V Importance of the Choice
Good Taste
The Cause of Bad Taste
The Duty of Women to be Beautiful
Importance of a Hat in a Costume
The Saleswoman's Part in Selecting a Hat
Line and Color in Millinery
Observation and Study of Dress
Style in Millinery
Change in Styles
Extreme and Conservative Styles
Suitability
Putting One's Self in the Customer's Place
What Constitutes a Suitable Hat
Suiting the Age of a Customer
Actively Becoming Hats
The Most Important Elements in Choosing a
Hat
XII PRINCIPLES OF COLOR no
Importance of a Knowledge of Color to the
Salesperson
Combinations of Colors
The Spectrum
Standard Colors
Primary Colors
Secondary Colors
xvi CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
Characteristics of Primary Colors
Characteristics of Secondary Colors
Luminous and Somber Colors
Broken Colors
Absorption and Reflection of Color
Complementary Colors
Properties of Color
Hues
.Values
Color Scales
Intensity
Color Harmonies
Color Under Artificial Light
* XIII COLOR IN MILLINERY 124
Commercial Names of Colors
Training the Sense of Color
Questions of Taste Solved by a Knowledge of
Color Harmony
Bringing Out the Best Features in a Face
Reflection
Characteristics of Colors
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Violet
Variety in Color
Restfulness of Neutral Colors
Combinations of Neutrals with Brighter
Colors
How to Train One's Self in Color-Taste
FORM OR SHAPE IN MILLINERY .... 139
Choosing a Hat
Importance of the Lines of a Hat
Relation Between the Parts of the Hat
Lines, Curves, and Angles, and Their Relations
Symmetry in a Hat
CONTENTS xvii
CHAPTER PAGE
Balance
Adapting the Size and Shape of a Hat to the
Wearer
The Full, Round Face
Flat Features
Snub Noses
The Thin Face
The Angular Face
Age
Medium Type of Face
Extremes
XV MAKING AND TRIMMING HATS .... 152
Relation Between the Saleswoman and the
Workroom
Hat Frames
The Buckram or Willow Frame
The Wire Frame
Bows
Method of Affixing Trimmings
Linings
Freshening and Cleaning
XVI SUGGESTIONS TO SALESPEOPLE . . . .159
What the Customer Ts Wearing
Visiting Among Salespeople
Learning to Talk About Hats
Trade Papers and Home Study
Factory Visiting
The Care of Stock
Seating the Customer
Careful Selection of Stock
Customers Who Are "Just Looking"
Avoiding Questions
Judging a Customer by Her Dress
When the Customer Leaves Without Buying
Fitness to Meet a Customer
XVII HAT-MAKING AT HOME 169
The Economy and Pleasure of Making Hats
Obseryation the First Essential
Covering the Frame
The Trimming
xviii CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
The Lining
Colored Hats
Reblocking
Magazine Helps
XVIII CLASSIFICATION OF STOCK OF A TYPICAL
MILLINERY DEPARTMENT 175
APPENDIX 181
Books for Reference
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Chinese Straw Plaits Frontispiece
«E ... 0 FACING PAGE
1. Braiding Straw .12
2. Cutting Hemp by Hand 24
3. Thirteen-Spool Braiding Machine 26
4. Weaving a Hat 32
5. Shipping Straw Braids 48
6. On an Ostrich Farm 74
7. Diagram Indicating Primary and Secondary Colors With
Their Hues, Tints, and Contrasts jig
8. A Full Face Cannot Wear a Turban , 146
9. A Full Face Looks Well in a Large-Brimmed Hat . . 146
10. A Snub-Nosed Person Should Not Wear a Turban . . 146
11. A Person with Regular Features Can Wear a Turban . 146
12. A Thin Face Looks Well in a Turban 148
13. A Thin Face Cannot Wear a Large-Brimmed Hat . . 148
14. An Older Face Needs a Hat Soft in Material and Trim-
mings 148
15. A Youthful Face Can Wear a Hat with Stiff, Straight
Lines in Shape and Trimming 148
16. It Is Inartistic to Hide the Eyebrows 150
xix
MILLINERY
Chapter I
THE MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Plan of Department
The construction and plan of a Millinery Department
bear a close relation to the volume of sales, and have
a vital effect upon the success of the department and
of each salesperson in it. It is because certain ar-
rangements and equipment have been found so prac-
tical and helpful in the selling of hats, that similarity
prevails among the millinery sections of the best de-
partment stores of the country.
General Impression
The general appearance of a properly planned Mil-
linery Department produces an impression of roomi-
ness. The extended floor space and multitude of mir-
rors enable a customer to view a hat from all sides
i
2 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
and from all distances, just as she would view it on
the head of another woman on the street. A customer
may examine many hats, make comparisons, and
choose the one that suits her fancy. Unobstructed
space suggests out-of-doors, where the hat is to be
worn, and therefore is apt to make the possession of
a new hat seem -more desirable; also customers can be
served more easily in a large open department.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere of a Millinery Department should
always be one of dignified elegance and refined taste,
in keeping with the character of the goods displayed.
This has a favorable effect upon the patronage and
sales. A background of quiet refinement is created by
carefully chosen carpets of harmonious design and
color, and beautiful woodwork, handsome fixtures, and
proper lighting.
Stock Tables
In the Millinery Department of most large stores
large tables are given prominent positions. These
tables may be round, oval, square, or oblong; the
oblong ones are perhaps more commonly used. Gen-
erally hats of the same price are placed on a table by
themselves and arranged on standards of varying
heights.
INTRODUCTORY 3
The untrimmed shapes are heaped upon tables that
have rails around the edges. There are so many
shapes just alike that one wonders why some are not
put away in the deep drawers underneath these tables ;
but the heaping together of such a number of shapes
makes the price appear more reasonable to the cus-
tomer. This is desirable, because in untrimmed hats
particularly it is their cheapness that appeals. The
customer knows that articles cost less by the dozen
and she is apt to reason that if she sees many similar
hats, each one must be cheaper than if the design were
more exclusive. People have learned to expect to find
bargains displayed in this way. Moreover, the quan-
tity, with its suggestion of freshness and variety of
choice, produces the impression of an abundance of
stock.
A desire for exclusiveness and for a hat different
from anyone else's operates, of course, against the
appeal to customers; for this reason untrimmed hats
that can be diversified by trimming according to the
customer's tastes usually sell very well in bargain lots,
whereas hats that are already trimmed are not so
easily sold in this way.
In the drawers below the tables are the reserve
shapes. Tables for trimmed hats may or may not
have drawers beneath for reserve stock and hats not
on display.
4 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
In specialty shops the stock is generally kept in cases
and deep drawers.
"Trying on" Tables
Small tables with chairs and hand mirrors are placed
before large mirrors which face the seated customer
at well-chosen points among the stock tables. It is
better to have the large mirrors in three sections, as
the customer can then see herself from all angles.
If there are pillars in the department, they can be made
to serve as supports for the large mirrors and small
tables may also be placed back to back. It is one of
the ways of making a customer comfortable and so
disposed to purchase.
Display Cases
Around the sides of the room, hats on standards of
various heights are displayed in large electric-lighted
cases with movable glass doors. The floor of these
cases is about table height with large mirrors at the
back and with deep drawers for reserve stock under-
neath. Often only one drawer, two or more feet
deep, is constructed, instead of two drawers both of
which might be too shallow. Hats that are not easily
damaged are kept there in piles several hats deep.
Most departments arrange the hats so that those
of one price are kept together in one case, the first
INTRODUCTORY 5
case in the row containing the cheapest hats and so on
up; or if there are many hats at one price a whole
group of cases may be devoted to them. There may
be a case filled with ornaments which are too large
to be adequately displayed in the counter cases. When
customers are not numerous the glass doors are kept
closed to protect the contents from dust.
Counter Cases
Counter cases with tops and shelves of glass are
placed in some convenient section near the untrimmed
hats, and are used for displaying ornaments and trim-
mings. Flowers, wreaths, feathers, tips, wings, rib-
bons, pins, and various fancy ornaments are thus at-
tractively shown. Table displays of ornaments are
not unusual.
Arrangement of Stock
Although the arrangement of stock on tables and in
cases is usually by price, color schemes may be beau-
tifully worked out by featuring some popular shade
in a whole group of hats. A few stores arrange the
stock almost entirely by color, but to do this the de-
partment must be very large. While the main ar-
rangement is planned by the buyer or manager, details
are generally left to the salespeople who can do a
great deal to make the display effective.
6 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
In all departments there are certain prominently
located tables, cases, and counters which people must
pass frequently on the way to other departments.
Such counters may be made extremely useful for test-
ing out new goods or novelties to see whether a
demand can be created; they may also be used to ex-
hibit slow-moving merchandise which perhaps the
salespeople have neglected to bring forward because
of the fact that they have become too accustomed
to it.
"French Rooms"
A number of small separate rooms designed to aid
in the sale of the most expensive hats are generally
found opening from the main department. They are
planned to help the sale of high-priced hats in a num-
ber of ways. They create an atmosphere of exclusive-
ness and distinction. The quiet seclusion gives the
salesperson an advantage, as well as implying a special
attention to the customer.
Salesrooms of this nature are richly furnished and
generally are decorated in light colors, so as to afford
a more delicate background for the exquisite hats
shown in them. Since it is desirable to give every
advantage to customers and salespeople in the disposal
of hrgh-priced merchandise, the " special " rooms usu-
ally have daylight for selecting and matching colors.
INTRODUCTORY 7
Such a room is quite often distinguished by some spe-
cial name, such as the 'Trench Room." Dark French
rooms are sometimes very effective. Customers have
said that in such rooms any hat looked becoming.
Stock and Workrooms
It is convenient to have the stock-room and work-
room of a Millinery Department situated as near the
selling floor as possible, if not directly adjoining it.
There the trimmers work at large tables by good day-
light, altering, retrimming, and making hats, while
full supplies of hat braids, ribbons, velvet, etc., are in
drawers, boxes, or on shelves. There is a special
checker, who gives part or all of her time to describing
in a special record every hat that goes out of the work-
room. A good workroom has much to do with the
satisfaction of customers and the success of the whole
department.
Chapter II
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS
Most Important Material
Hats are made from many materials, of which true
straw, woven into braid, is the most important. Until
1840, when looms were first adapted to straw-braiding,
the different braids were made entirely by hand, but
as modern industrial methods have been developed,
more and more of the braiding is done by machinery,
and only those countries where manual labor is cheap
continue the hand-braiding, which was once a profit-
able industry.
Italian Straw Best
Straw braid is produced in many countries, but the
United States draws chiefly from China, Japan, and
Italy. Wheat and rye straw for hats was grown in
Massachusetts in the early part of the nineteenth cen-
tury, but the industry was of slight importance.
The straw from the different countries varies in
quality. Probably the finest is grown in northern
Italy, where the industry has reached its highest de-
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 9
velopment. The superiority of the Italian straw is
due to climatic and soil conditions and to the fact that
the wheat is raised largely for making hats and not
for food, whereas in China wheat is raised to serve for
both purposes. The method of sowing and cutting
wheat raised for straw only, differs greatly from the
method used when the grain is intended for food.
The latter method of cultivation produces an inferior
grade and damages the straw for hat-making.
Climate and Soil
Even in Italy only certain areas are suitable in soil
and climate for the production of hat straw. The
seeds are sown very thickly on rich, light soil, on arid
and rather high land. The stalks are very long and
grow so thickly that they touch, thus supporting and
protecting one another. This method of planting pro-
duces a fine, tall straw. If the weather is too wet,
the straws will spot and rust, while if the climate is
very dry and hot the straws become brittle. Straws
will spot also when too ripe. The wheat seed is usu-
ally sown in March, and the crop is cut when the
grain in the ear is only half developed.
Gathering and Bleaching
The straw is pulled up by the roots by hand, dried
in the sun, and then made into small sheaves.
10 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
It must be pulled by hand so that the ends of the
straw may be kept closed throughout the process of
curing and bleaching to retain the pitch which would
escape if the crop were cut with a scythe or by machine
power.
Formerly, and even now to some extent, the bundles
were allowed to lie in the sun during the day and in
the dews by night, until after several days the straw
became cured and bleached, but it is now generally
cured under cover. If the bleaching is not done by
the dew and sunshine process, the straw is bleached in
sulphur fumes in a closed chest or by other chemical
processes.
Sorting
The worker takes the sheaf of wheat between his
knees and draws the straw out by handfuls. The
wheat ears are cut off first ; the top of the stalk —
which is called a pipe because it is hollow — is then
cut away so that only the lower nine inches are kept
for plaiting. These nine-inch sections are sorted into
sizes by letting them fall through several sieves with
holes of different sizes, or through openings in a wire
frame. Those which are discolored or spotted *are
separated from the rest and must be dyed, either in the
pipe or in the plait. Bundles about four inches in di-
ameter, containing sixty straws each, are made, tied,
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS II
and sold for five or six lire per hundred bundles. (A
lira is a silver coin worth about eighteen or nineteen
cents. )
Centers of the Plaiting Industry
Tuscany in northern Italy has been the center of the
plaiting industry for hundreds of years. In the eight-
eenth century the trade was very extensive, but in 1826
England began to manufacture her own braids and in
1875 competition began with Switzerland, Japan, and
China. Although the industry in Italy has declined in
relative volume, however, the Italian braid retains its
superiority.
In Florence and in the regions surrounding the city
more than 90,000 people make their living plaiting
straw. In some villages the entire population, men,
women and children, are employed. With flying
fingers they work even while they walk along the
street, carrying the straw wrapped in a damp cloth to
keep it pliable and inserting new straws regularly
without looking at the work.
In Italy, as in every country where hats are made,
the work of making braids is carried on largely in the
homes o'f the people, although much of it is done under
the direction of men connected With large companies.
Throughout the whole world, it may be noted, straw
plaiting is done chiefly by women and children, al-
12 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
though it is occasionally done by men, and men do the
rougher work of gathering the raw material.
Method of Plaiting
The plaiter splits each pipe of straw into from four
to nine pieces, except the straw for Tuscan braid
which is woven whole. A small instrument called a
" splitter " with a sharp point to go into the end of
the straw and with knife-edge cutters radiating from
it, is inserted at one end of the straw pipe. These
cutters divide the pipe into even pieces.
The plaiter begins her braid with the required num-
ber of straws, which are not, however, of equal length.
When she approaches the end of the shortest straw she
inserts another single straw and continues to add new
straws as they are needed. This leaves a fringe on
the inside of the plait which is later cut away by scis-
sors. The straw is held under the left arm of the
plaiter and each straw is passed between the lips to
moisten it before it is inserted, unless there is some
other method of keeping it damp, as for instance wrap-
ping it in a moist cloth. Each plaiter who uses the
first method carries two or three straws in her mouth,
ready for use. Seven is the average number of straws
used, although the number ranges from four to four-
teen. The varieties of plait are endless. Florentine
dealers have exhibited more than 7,000 different pat-
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 13
terns. An old couplet describes the method of weav-
ing:
" Over one and under two,
Pull it tight and that will do."
The plaiters get wretchedly small pay for this ex-
pert work from the middlemen to whom they usually
sell their product. By working all day a woman can
plait perhaps twenty yards of seven-end braid, which
can be bought in the United States at less than a cent
a yard, after middlemen and transportation charges
are all paid.
Figure i shows natives engaged in braiding straw.
Chapter III
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS
(Continued)
Varieties
There are many varieties of straw braid and the
number seems to be increasing every year. Some
braids have been made by hand in the present weave
for many centuries. Others are the product of ma-
chines.
Straw braids are classed as:
Hand-made Machine-made
Tuscan Chip
Leghorn Yedda
Milan Ramie
Patent Milan Horsehair
Japan Split Horsehair Imitation
China Split Crepe Band
Lisere Pyroxylin
Swiss Straw Chrysanthemum Braid
Hemp Specialties :
Milan Hemp Visca
Imitation Hemp Caterpillar, etc.
14
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 15
Tuscan Braid
Tuscan plaits and Leghorn hats are made from
Tuscan straw which varies greatly in quality and value.
The Tuscan braid lends itself to fancy weaves with
much grace, and pretty " lace Tuscan " hats are fre-
quently seen.
The braid is used in wide fancy borders or in a hat
apparently woven in one piece by hand. A strong
twist of two straws may be made and used as a single
strand. Several lace Tuscan hats in various colors
were recently shown, resembling in pattern the Batten-
berg lace which was popular a number of years ago
as " fancy work/'
The Tuscan is a strong, durable braid, naturally of
a rich cream color, tending to a tan yellow. The
straw, which is very fine, is seldom split as other straws
are, but is used whole. Other straws, such as the
Panama type, which sometimes give this same effect,
are split straws specially prepared. (See Chapter IV
for information on Panama hats.)
The upper part of the stalk is yellow at first. In
addition to the bleaching of the raw straw by the sun,
several smokings with sulphur are given to the straw,
the plait, and lastly to the hat to whiten it. The lower
part of the straw which was covered by the slender
leaf is not quite so yellow, but the darker part is
known as the Tuscan.
i6 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Florence Tuscan Braid
A flat, narrow, plain braid known in the United
States as Florence Tuscan is made of seven, eleven,
thirteen, or even more straws. It is woven with quick
jerks of the hand, and is either sewed together by
hand at the edges or sewed by machine with the edges
lapping over each other, the number of rows or
laps to the inch indicating the fineness of the
braid.
As Tuscan plaits tend to a yellow color in spite of
the bleaching, it is very important for the weaver to
choose straws of the same shade and blend the plaits
carefully. The finest work on this straw braid, ac-
cordingly, tries the eyes severely, so that the plaiter
can work at it only two or three hours a day. These
very fine plaits, of course, are uncommon. Florence
Tuscan is usually imported in plaits, and sewed into
hats in this country.
Leghorn Hats
Leghorn hats, so called because they were exported
from Leghorn, a port in Tuscany, were invented about
1840. There is a standard demand for these at-
tractive and durable hats. They are naturally of a
yellow or cream color. The close, strong weave and
the quality of the straw give the hat strength and stiff-
ness, yet allow it to bend slightly in a wind. This is
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 17
an excellent feature in a shade hat, the common style
of the Leghorn.
Leghorn hats are made in the region around Flor-
ence, usually of Tuscan straw, from braids known as
" paglia," " florentina," or " nostrale." These braids
are generally of thirteen strands but sometimes of five
or of seven. Pedal Leghorn is an inferior grade. A
very cheap, smooth, extremely coarse hat is called
" Mountain Leghorn."
Plaiting Leghorn
Women and children may be seen on the streets of
the Italian villages plaiting braid for these hats.
After a few yards are made the braid is sewn together
into the hat shape or made into placques and cones
which are afterwards blocked into the shapes desired.
A coarse, twisted cotton thread is used, which is not
visible in the finished hat as the edges are fitted to-
gether so that the hat appears to be woven in one
piece. In examining a Leghorn the places where the
threads run can be detected by a slight ridge in the
upper surface of the hat. The thread is pulled tight
so that the edges of the braids interlock firmly. The
little humps along the edges which fit so closely are
called the " eyes " of the braid. On the under side
of the Leghorn the regularity with which new straws
were inserted in the braid may also be observed.
1 8 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Milan Braid
Milan braid of good quality makes a beautiful and
durable article which is usually popular as a spring
hat in dark colors and as a summer hat in creamy
white. The hat has an attractive gloss and while
somewhat flexible has considerable stiffness. Hand-
some hats of Milan braid are sometimes made double
with different colored brims sewn together. The hat
is called Milan after the city of Italy near which most
of these braids are produced.
Milan or pedal braid, as it is sometimes called, is
made of seven strands, but a coarser braid of the same
straw is five-end or five-strand Milan.
The straw used is coarse, although of excellent
quality. It is called pedal straw, and is used in many
fancy plaits besides in Milan braid. One authority
says that the lower (and therefore coarser) part of
the upper joint of the straw is the pedal straw, while
the upper part is the Tuscan. Its treatment is similar
to that of other straw.
The best Milan is hand-blocked and hand-sewed,
but in the United States much of it is sewed on lock
stitch power sewing-machines because this method is
cheaper. The hats are sized when they are blocked.
Patent Milan
An imitation of a much coarser nature, called patent
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 19
Milan, is grown and plaited in China. It is freely
used in cheap hats. Even the coarsest Italian Milan
is of a better grade than the finest quality made in
China.
Split Straw
Split straw is the straw obtained by the splitting
process already described. Two split straws are laid
together, the bright sides out, and plaited in the usual
way. English seven-end or " cord " is made in this
way.
Many hats of " split Jap " braid are manufactured
in Japan and many others are made up in the United
States from imported braid. Much seven-end split
braid is made in China where the straws are woven
singly. In a hat of Chinese split straw the shiny and
dull sides of the straw may easily be seen if they are
closely examined.
Lisere
The word lisere is from a French word meaning
binding, and this true straw braid is often called a
binding braid. It is a very shiny, stiff, narrow braid,
made generally from split straw, but sometimes from
whole straw, and imported from Switzerland, Bel-
gium, China, and Japan. A three-end lisere from
Japan is used extensively.
20 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Oriental Braids
Straw braid manufacture has developed rapidly in
China in recent years, especially in the Province of
Shantung in northern China. The chief port of trade
is Tsing-tau. Wheat straw is used, but is less care-
fully prepared than in Italy. Barley and rice straw
also are utilized.
The rice of Japan yields a stronger fiber than the
rice grown in the United States, but it is not equal to
wheat straw for hat-making purposes.
Braid-Making in China
Braid-making in China is done by the natives in
their homes, under the direction of agents of large
exporting houses. It is this labor that has discour-
aged the industry in other countries, for the people
can live so cheaply that they can afford to work for
little. Most of the plaiting is done in the interior of
the country and must be taken overland for hundreds
of miles to the seaports, where it is tied up into pieces,
sorted, and baled, 240 pieces to the bale. One woman
has to work at least two years to make enough plait
for a bale, which can be bought in the United States
after all transportation charges, middlemen, etc., are
paid, at prices varying from $20 to $40 a bale. This
makes the average wage a few cents a day. Much
braid is sent to England for bleaching and manufac-
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 21
ture and later reaches the United States. Luton is the
center of the straw-bleaching industry in England.
Chinese Straw
Because the Chinese wheat is allowed to grow till it
is fully ripe the straw is brittle, but nevertheless it is
used for braiding. Two feet of stem between the
joints in the middle of the stalk is cut into lengths.
The resulting straws are four or five inches long.
These are split into from two to seven pieces. They
are moistened to make them pliable, and woven into
braid one-eighth to one-half inch wide in odd lengths
of from thirty to one hundred and twenty yards. The
Chinese bleach this braid with sulphur fumes. They
are clever in all imitations and are more skilful than
any other nation in their methods of doing up braids
and hats in packages.
The frontispiece shows several varieties of Chinese
straw plaits.
Swiss Straw
The straw for Swiss braids is imported from Italy
and most of it is made into men's hats. The best
market for Swiss straw goods is France, where the
braids are manufactured into hats.
Swiss Milan hemp and plain hemp are today as fine
as any in quality. Also the best broad braids, known
principally as silk straw, are manufactured there.
22 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
The industry is old. The peasants of the Canton
of Aargau who carry it on have inherited their skill
for generations. Before artificial silk and pyroxylin
were invented, all fine silk straw braids came from
Switzerland. This country finds the competition of
Italy and Japan hard to meet and is able to hold its
foreign trade in this line, not so much by the produc-
tion of staple goods, as by specialties and fancy braids
for women's hats.
Most of the best grades are made in the homes of
the people, but the hand-work is limited to real straw ;
artificial or imitation braids are made in the factories.
Hemp
Hemp is not a true straw but like many other fibers
it is classed as a straw braid. There are several varie-
ties of hemp, and the plant that yields the fiber for
hat-making must not be confused with the other and
coarser sorts, such as the Sisal hemp, from which only
ropes and cordage are made.
Manila hemp, a species of banana, from the finest
fiber of which the most delicate laces, slippers, and
other articles can be made, is the source of the ma-
terial for hats; it is found growing naturally in only
one place, the Philippines. Another name used in
those islands for Manila hemp is " abaca." In the
trade abaca braids are usually known as " tagal
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 23
braids " or " tagals." These are the only hat braids
exported in quantity from the Philippines. Most hats
made by the islanders are made in one piece.
Hemp Hats
Hemp hats have been very popular and the probabil-
ity that they will remain in favor is great, therefore it
is well to consider them in detail. Some of the rea-
sons for their popularity are :
1. The ease with which the fiber dyes and retains
the dye.
2. The delicate colors obtained in dyeing.
3. Strength and durability.
4. Resistance to moisture.
5. Light weight.
6. Natural stiffness together with pliability.
7. Attractive gloss.
Hemp- Weaving Industry
In the Philippines the industry of hemp-weaving
existed before the occupation by Spain in the six-
teenth century. In many regions the plant grew wild.
The sides of hills of volcanic origin are well suited to
its growth, and fertile, well-drained soil, damp air,
and protection from too much sun and wind are nec-
essary.
Abaca is cut near to the roots before flowering (see
24 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Figure 2), the leaves and stalks are split open length-
wise, and the strips obtained from them dried in the
shade for several days. The fiber is taken in strips
from the petiole, or stalk of the leaf of the plant.
A large knife is used to separate pulp and water from
the strips, the strip being pulled between the knife
blade and a block of wood. It is important to remove
all of the pulp, for if any remains it darkens the fiber.
The hard outer fiber is used for cordage and the inner
for hat braid. Two men can cut and scrape about
twenty-five pounds of fiber in a day.
The different grades of abaca are carefully sorted
into five or six classes. Fibers of the same quality are
tied together by the rapid fingers of the weaver in a
long strand with firm, small knots. No tying machine
can make so good a knot. If parts of the fiber are too
fine, a piece may be doubled and tied. Tying becomes
automatic so that an expert tyer can almost tie in the
dark. The women's income from this work is often in
addition to their agricultural work, so that their pros-
perity is great when compared, for example, with that
of the Chinese. Hanks or skeins of Manila hemp are
exported in this knotted form for manufacture into
various articles.
Before Japan gained first place by inventing cheap
machinery for braiding, Switzerland, France, and
Italy imported knotted hemp in large quantities. The
Courtesy of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture
Figure 2. Cutting Hemp by Hand
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 2$
finest grades come from Italy. A great deal of fiber
is sent loose from the Philippines to Japan to be manu-
factured; that is, sorted, tied, and woven into braid
largely by machinery.
Philippine Factories
Several factories have been started in the Philip-
pines. Machines make braids of various widths,
though usually of thirteen strands with two or three
fibers to a strand. (See Figure 3.) Since there is
no import duty from the Philippines to the United
States and the duty averages fifteen per cent else-
where, the trade between the islands and the United
States tends to increase.
In 1910 machinery for making braid was intro-
duced, but most hats are still made by hand. The
Bureau of Education is promoting this industry in
the schools and in communities; and this helps the
people greatly since it enables them to spend their time
to greater advantage and at the same time earn more
money.
Milan Hemp
A very popular braid is known as Milan hemp.
This is simply a hemp braid in the Milan weave of
seven ends. Large quantities of both Milan hemp
and plain hemp braid are exported from Japan, Italy,
26 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
and Switzerland, the latter producing the best. The
dyeing is better in the Swiss straw; the Japanese are
not able to obtain so clear a color.
Imitation. Hemp
A German imitation of hemp is made of cotton
tape. It is extremely cheap, but is too heavy for a
comfortable straw hat and is not very satisfactory.
Machine-Made Braids
In 1840 looms were adapted to straw- weaving and
for the first time braid was woven by machinery.
Machine-made braids are rapidly increasing in num-
ber and seem destined to supplant hand-woven braids
almost entirely. Factories in every country demon-
strate this fact. There are a number of large concerns
operating in the United States, and the varieties of
machinery and materials used are endless. One large
factory in Philadelphia employs almost every kind of
machinery used in textile branches, weaving, spinning,
braiding, knitting, embroidery, etc. It utilizes many
kinds of materials, all kinds and sizes of cotton fiber
— soft, glazed, and mercerized — various kinds of
wool and mohair, silk of different grades, artificial silk,
pyroxylin, tuscan cord, hemp, ramie, art luster, etc.
It is difficult to classify all braids as either hand- or
machine-made, since so many straws and fibers are
Courtesy of "The Philippine Craftsman'
Figure 3. Thirteen-Spool Braiding Machine
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 27
made up in both ways. The following is a description
of some of the more important machine-made braids.
Few of the fibers mentioned, however, are found in
hand-made braids.
Chip
Chip braid is the only wood braid in general use.
A large number of willow chip hats are made in north-
ern Italy in the Modena province. The willows used
there grow in the valley of the Po River. The Jap-
anese have been making this braid, the chip straw from
the trees of Japan being very white. White pine and
Lombardy poplar, and also the English willow and
English native poplar, are used to make white chip
hats. In Switzerland wood-chip and silk are braided
together. Chip is made in three-, five-, and seven-
end braids.
The young tree is split into sections and planed
smooth. Another special plane of knife blades is then
drawn lengthwise clown the boards, scoring long, fine,
narrow nits, but without removing any of the ma-
terial. A smooth plane takes these fine strips off, and
a thin chip straw results. Sometimes the wood is
pounded and beaten in the process. For bleaching,
the material is washed in acids and in alkalies.
The chip hat is light in weight, smooth, inexpensive,
and has a soft, dull finish. Bending is apt tq damage
28 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
it, and in general it is more easily destroyed than some
other hats. In recent years hemp has largely taken
the place of the finest chip hats, so that only the
cheaper grades are generally sold now. In the
eighties chip hats were very fashionable for summer
wear.
Yedda
Yedda braid was first produced in Italy, but the
Japanese have made an imitation which, while inferior
to the Italian article, is so much cheaper that the Jap-
anese handle the greater part of the trade. Yedda is
a tall grass grown in Italy, Japan, and the Philippines,
and from its fiber a light, delicate hat, with a coarse,
loose weave is made. Most yedda braid is woven by
machinery, but some of the fancy yeddas are woven
by hand.
Ramie
A number of braids, usually loose and coarse, are
made from the fiber of the ramie, a kind of non-
stinging nettle which somewhat resembles flax. The
fiber is bleached, dyed, and woven by machinery. It is
called " China grass " because it was originally woven
in China, but now it is obtained from China, Japan,
the Philippines, Egypt, the West and East Indies, and
southern countries. The best is grown near the equa-
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS 29
tor, in a hot, moist climate and rich, damp soil, as
frost kills the roots. It is manufactured chiefly in Ger-
many, France, England, Switzerland, and the United
States.
Ramie fiber, which is obtained from the upright
stem, is long, glossy, silky, and very strong; it is
stronger than hemp, has more stiffness than flax, and
is almost as glossy as silk. Beautiful, fine cloth has
long been made from it, especially in China, but the
process of separating the fibers from the stem is dif-
ferent when it is to be used for braid.
The fibers are removed from the stems by hand or
by machinery. Either process is costly if done prop-
erly because of the difficulty of separating the fibers,
and of getting rid of the gummy substance which
holds them together. The degumming process con-
sists of boiling the strips of ramie in diluted soda, then
bleaching them with a powder, and washing them in
diluted acid. The best part of the carded and combed
fiber, called in the factory the " combed tops," about
four feet in length, is drawn out by drawing frames
into a fine sliver or cord, put through a bath to make
the fibers adhere together, and then treated to preserve
the gloss. After this the fibers are twisted or made
into braid.
Ramie is very durable and is not affected by water
or moisture. It could be grown in the southern part
30 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
of the United States but the cost is too great to make
the industry profitable. The ordinary nettle is some-
times used as a substitute for ramie.
Horsehair
Hair from the manes and tails of horses is made
into braids in a number of countries, but perhaps the
best are manufactured in Switzerland, largely by ma-
chinery. The best horsehair is obtained in South
America. Horsehair also comes from Siberia, China,
and Australia.
In one form this braid is stiff, light, glossy, and
resembles open lace-work. It is used especially in
dressy hats and in those made partly of other ma-
terials. It is also woven in a plain close style some-
what resembling hemp, but it may be easily distin-
guished by the sharp little ends of hair which are felt
when the hand is passed over the hat.
Pyroxylin
The popularity of horsehair braid led to its imita-
tion in an artificial silk product, known as pyroxylin
(see manuals for the "Silk Department" and the
" Notion Department ").
Pyroxylin has been manufactured successfully for
only a few years and experiments are still being made
for improving the fiber. When the process first began
HAT STRAW AND STRAW BRAIDS '3!
to be used the fiber melted if it became wet; even now
it breaks easily when damp.
It is easy to tell the difference between this fiber
and horsehair, for the imitation is not quite so stiff,
nor so perfectly rounded as hair, which perhaps causes
the slight difference in the gloss. Both are light and
flexible, but pyroxylin is not so elastic when bent and re-
leased as the horsehair is. Another way of testing is
to burn a small quantity of each braid. Burning hair
has a characteristic odor, which pyroxylin does not
have.
The artificial fiber can be made up into various
forms, from an imitation of light horsehair braid to a
heavy straw. Every large manufacturing country is
paying some attention to this product.
Chrysanthemum Braid
One of the many novelty braids made of artificial
silk is chrysanthemum braid. Strong cotton thread
stitching holds in place the stiff, glossy silk fibers
which somewhat resemble tiny chrysanthemum petals.
It is soft, light, and attractive, but not especially
durable.
Chapter IV
STRAW HAT-MAKING
Hand-Made Hats
Until the last few centuries or until hat-making
machinery was invented, all straw hats and braids were
made by hand. Today they are made by hand only
where labor is cheap, as in Japan, China, Italy, the
Philippines, and Central and South America. The
best examples come from Panama and the surrounding
country, and from Japan, China, and the Philippines.
The word '* straw " is used here in its broadest mean-
ing, as most people use it to include all hats made of
straw, chip, grasses, palms, etc. Hats made in one
piece are called " body " hats.
Body hats are made entirely by hand. They are
easily recognized, for a machine will plait only a
straight braid and cannot weave circularly from the
apex of the crown to the edge of the brim.
Figure 4 shows natives weaving hats by hand.
Panama Hats
The Panama hat is deservedly popular. It never
goes entirely out of style. Its strength, lightness, flex-
32
STRAW HAT-MAKING 33
ibility, clear cream- white color, and comfortable fit
recommend it highly to customers. It can stand very
hard wear, though it needs the same care as any other
vegetable fiber. Usually the trimming is simple, a
ribbon or scarf making it appropriate for wear as a
sport hat.
Panama hats may be classified as genuine, and imita-
tion:
Genuine Panama
Japanese Imitations
Adamba
Toyo
Formosa
Location of Industry
While few Panama hats are made in Panama, it is a
distributing center for them, which accounts for the
name. Central and South American countries produce
many, especially Colombia, Venezuela, and Guiana.
The high-grade hats come largely from Ecuador and
Peru. There has been a great increase in their use in
late years. For centuries the industry was carried on
by the Indians of Central America. Now it is the
chief occupation of remote settlements.
In the countries where it is made the Panama hat
is called jipi-japa, the name of a city concerned in the
trade.
34 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Gathering the Raw Material
The natives gather the leaves of the Panama hat
palm, which is a screw palm growing wild in large
quantities on low-lying wet land. Only the young,
tender, unspread fan-shaped leaves are used. Care is
taken not to injure the growing center of the palm,
from which other crops may be obtained.
When the young, stiff, perfect leaves are secured,
they are dampened, split into shreds with the fingers,
or rarely with instruments, and the veins and the ribs
of the plant are removed. The strips are not fully
separated but are left at the base of the leaf. These
shredded leaves are called " cogollo " in the trade.
Toughening and Bleaching
Large earthenware jars about four feet deep are
filled with water, to which the juice of five or six
lemons is added. In these jars the leaves are soaked
from six to ten days. This makes them pliable and re-
moves the sap and resin. Sometimes the leaves are
steeped in boiling water. They are then bleached in
the sun for three or four days, or until they become a
cream white. Panama hats which are bleached by
this natural method — the best one — are never of a
pure or dead white. The sorted strips are then made
up and sold in bunches weighing two pounds.
STRAW HAT-MAKING 35
Plaiting by the Natives
The hats are made in the villages by families or by
groups of acquaintances who gather for the purpose.
There are all grades of skill. The children use the
poorer straw and each child can make two of the
coarser hats in one day. A few of the adults who
have gained a reputation as the most expert weavers of
the village make the very fine hats that require several
months of labor and great skill. These were for-
merly sold in Europe or in South America for about
$150. A hat of this kind can be folded into the size
of a watch-case. Most of the hats which are sold in
America for $5 to $10 take two or three days in mak-
ing.
Process of Making
A wooden block of the required shape is placed be-
tween or on the knees of the worker. The plaiting
starts from the top of the crown, going around in cir-
cular form. There are a number of different methods
of weaving. The weavers' sense of touch is very deli-
cate and their sight is good. They are careful not to
break the strands, and must have great patience.
Moisture keeps the material flexible, therefore the part
of the hat that is being worked upon is kept wet.
Only rarely the hat is woven under water, as has some-
times been said. The plaiter of the Panama hat works
36 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
from five to seven hours a day, in the morning and
evening or at night, when the atmosphere is moist. If
the hat is woven in the middle of the day, when it is
hot and dry, the straw becomes brittle and breaks
easily; the result is an inferior hat. The rainy season
is the best for weaving.
Finishing
After a hat has been woven in a single piece and
the edge finished, it is washed and again put on the
block, where it is beaten with a wooden hammer and
ironed carefully to make it smooth. It is then fin-
ished and ready for shipping. To prevent moulding,
dry, powdered sulphur is sprinkled between the hats in
packing. They are easily sold, Cuba and Central
America being good markets. When the hats are re-
ceived here, manufacturers usually bleach, reblock, and
finish them.
Method of Cleaning
It is often well to tell a customer facts about the
care of a hat, especially the Panama. The bleaching
of hats with oxalic acid which is customary in this
country to make them pure white, is the worst possible
treatment for them. Such bleaching agents cause the
fiber to deteriorate and greatly impair its durability.
When soiled the hat should be washed with a pure soap
STRAW HAT-MAKING 37
and warm water. Some soaps are injurious, but white
soap is good. To restore the shape it may be dried on
a block or stuffed with stiff paper. Lime, lemon juice,
and sulphur assist the natural bleaching by the sun.
Tests for Quality
To prove that a Panama is of good quality, hold it
up to the light to see if there are any knots or patched
places. Sometimes strands have been broken in the
making and additional ones woven in. This spoils the
texture. It is not apparent at first, but after being
worn the ends are apt to fray out. It is hard to tell
split straw, which is much inferior. to unsplit straw,
as it is woven with such skill that only keen observa-
tion will detect it.
Another test of quality is the lack of artificial
stiffening. The straw is stiff enough naturally. Hats
of rather ordinary grade are sized with a thin gum
and polished slightly. This is done as a separate
business in the countries that ship the Panamas, and
sometimes by manufacturers here.
Imitation Panamas
Japan has imitated the appearance and weave of
the Panama hat. Among these imitations three kinds,
named for the provinces where they are produced, are
generally sold today. The finest is the Adamba
Panama, which retails for $2.50 to $10.
38 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
The Toyo is next in quality, selling from $1.50 to
$6. It was introduced into the United States in 1914
and has steadily increased in popularity. The raw
material is a sort of tough, thin, fibrous paper, folded
or crushed from about a half inch in width to the
width of the straw. This Panama will not crack when
bent nor be spoiled by dirt or water, as cleaning and
reblocking restore it to its former condition.
The least expensive, the Formosa, sells from $i to
$5 and may be distinguished by faint spots that mar
the pure white quality. It is also made of paper.
Wenchow
A Chinese body hat, called the Wenchow, is made
from a strong, stiff grass, with an over-and-under
weave, which in cloth making is called a simple or
tabby weave. It resembles close square mesh netting.
Like the Panama it is plaited by hand, in one piece.
It may be embroidered easily and effectively with
colored yarns, and may be dyed any color.
Philippine Hats
In the Philippine Islands many varieties of hats are
made by hand, some of one piece and some of sewn
braid.
The most important varieties of these hats are as
follows :
STRAW HAT-MAKING 39
Bamboo
Buri
Kalasio
Buntal
Pandan
In certain sections of the islands the natives for-
merly worked upon material which was rare in their
neighborhood, while they neglected an abundance of
other material that was close at hand, but the United
States Government is now teaching them better
methods.
The raw material is obtained mostly from bamboo
and various palms. As in other countries, the time
of day when the weaving is done is an important con-
sideration, for during the heat of the day the straw
will become brittle and crack. In one section weaving
is done in shallow wells, where the weaver sits upon a
low platform.
Two weaves are used. The " close " weave is
adaptable to straws which are apt to crack if bent.
This method, however, produces greater stiffness than
the other method, which is simply an " open " or " over-
and-under " weave, like a darn or the weave of burlap.
Bamboo Hats
Many bamboo hats are worn in the United States by
both men and women. Some are known as Java or
40 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Manila hats. The raw material goes through many
processes which, although simple, take considerable
time before the perfect, even straw is obtained.
In the fall the bamboo is gathered and the tall stalks
are dried in the shade for several days. From ten to
twenty of the middle sections of each stalk are then
cut at the joints or nodes. The sections at the bottom
where the nodes are nearer together, produce short
straw and those at the top yield weak material.
The sections chosen are split from the center into
several pieces lengthwise, and each piece is scraped on
the inside, for the inner material is too weak and coarse
to be used. The pieces thus obtained are about one-
eighth of the original thickness, and they are split into
five or six thin layers, not counting the green outer
skin which is discarded. The layers next to the outer
skin are the darkest, finest, and strongest. All are
boiled in water for half an hour to toughen and partly
bleach them, and are then bleached in the sun. The
women sort them and they are sold in bundles in the
markets or directly to the weavers.
Weaving Bamboo
The weavers, who are mostly women, finish prepar-
ing the straw. First, layers of bamboo of the same
quality are chosen and split into narrow strips with an
awl. By making a fringe of straws at one end of the
STRAW HAT-MAKING 41
piece of bamboo and running the awl over and under
these, the awl splits the whole into straw when the
piece is pulled. These straws are somewhat uneven in
width and thickness and hence must be shaved off in
a simple machine which is made by the weaver.
Weaving is easy because the straw is flexible. If
water is used to keep the straw soft, the hat becomes
yellow.
The close weave has to be used with bamboo and
helps give it stiffness. The women become so expert
with their fingers that they can almost weave in their
sleep. The length of time consumed in making the
various grades of bamboo hats corresponds to that
spent on Panamas, several hours for the coarsest and
several months for the finest.
Double Hats
Most bamboo hats are made double to give sufficient
strength and stiffness. The outer hat is finer than the
inner one. Finishing the brim by joining the edges
is expert work and is generally done by special
workers. The under brim is trimmed somewhat
smaller than the outer, and the straws of the outer hat
are turned back and under and woven into the edge
of the under brim. Examination of a bamboo hat will
show how difficult this work must be.
The outer hat is sometimes dyed a different color
42 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
from the under one, which may be left the natural
cream color. Dyes and bleaches act very easily upon
bamboo straw. The last operation in manufacturing
a bamboo hat is to trim the projecting straws and to
polish it to a finer luster by means of some smooth
hard surface, such as that of a bottle.
Qualities of the Bamboo Hat
Sizing is needed to furnish stiffness enough to keep
the shape, as the bamboo is so light and flexible a
straw.
Bamboo hats are strong but are not so long-lived as
most Philippine hats, although probably more of them
than of other kinds are now exported. The holes
made by hatpins show in a bamboo hat and damage it,
though this may be concealed by the trimming or by
using other methods of fastening. A fashionable way
of trimming, during one season, was by painting upon
the surface of the hat, birds, vines, flowers, or other
decorations. Dolls' hats are often made of bamboo.
Buri Hats
From the buri palm three distinct varieties of hats
are made. The first, called buri hats, are made from
the blades of the unopened leaf. These hats are coarse
and not very durable. They are suitable only for
outing hats and are sold cheaply at summer resorts and
STRAW HAT-MAKING 43
the seaside. As they are naturally stiff, because the
straw is rather broad and tough, they are not sized.
Neither, usually, are they blocked or trimmed, but are
bleached white. Children's hats of buri are made very
attractive by weaving in a few colored straws. The
open weave is used. Buri is easily dyed, though the
aniline dyes now used fade more rapidly than the
vegetable dyes which they have displaced.
Kalasio Hats
Another variety made from the buri palm is the
Kalasio hat, named for one of the towns where it is
made. These hats are made from the midrib of the
unopened leaf. The material is stronger than bamboo
and does not crack when bent. When brought from
the Philippines it is rather costly. Other countries,
Mexico, for instance, make a similar hat more cheaply.
The structure resembles that of the bamboo hat — a
double hat skilfully joined at the edge. Either weave
may be used or both of them together, with a band of
the open weave around the brim of a closely woven
hat. A dull finish is given by dusting the hat with
sulphur.
Buntal Hats
The third kind of hat made from the buri palm is
the buntal hat, which is called in the United States
44 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
" East Indian Panama," or " Italian straw." The
stem of the opened leaf of the palm is used. The
method of manufacture is very similar to those pre-
viously described. The natives divide the labor of
preparing, plaiting, and finishing. Since the straw is
naturally stiff, it can be made too stiff with sizing,
which is a defect. Buntal hats are strong, light, and
look more silky in texture than a Panama. They are
quite popular, especially for men's summer hats. The
whiteness is not retained long, but if they are bleached
when cleaned they look as good as new. The finish is
obtained by ironing. Buntal hats in the close weave
are the finest produced in the Philippines and are
rather costly.
Pandan Hats
Pandan hats are strong and last well. They have
a natural gray or brown color, and are of wide straw
giving a coarse appearance. Madagascar supplies
these hats at a low price. The color is so attractive
naturally that they are not often bleached.
Minor Hat Materials
Among the minor materials from which hats are
made in the Philippines are a black fern stem, the in-
terior of the vegetable sponge, rice straw, grass, the
cattail, and other plants. An unusual hat is made of
STRAW HAT-MAKING 45
rattan. It is double, with a velvety, dark smooth
straw of slightly uneven color running through the
weave. Durable and beautiful though they are, the
expense of their manufacture prevents the wide use of
rattan hats.
Export Trade
Since there has been free trade between the United
States and the Philippines, the export trade in hats
has greatly increased. With this advantage, together
with the excellent work of the schools, which are im-
proving and spreading the industry, we may expect to
see still greater use of the different varieties of hats
from these islands. Bamboo and buntal hats bring the
most money to the islands, although many inexpensive
buri hats are exported. If the special name is un-
known or not used, the hats are called simply " Philip-
pine hats," but the salesperson will be able to pick them
out from the preceding description and from the pic-
tures.
Chapter V
MACHINE-MADE STRAW HATS
Development of Industry
The word " manufacture " is applied to the making
of hats whether by hand or by machine, but having
considered typical methods of making hats and braids
by hand, we shall now take up the methods of making
and treating hats in factories.
Factory hat manufacture is a development of the
last century, and the number, extent, and variety of
hat factories, not only in the United States, but
throughout the civilized world, are surprisingly large.
A hat factory is a most interesting and instructive place
to visit, especially if one knows beforehand something
about the processes and the reasons for them.
Location of Factories
In general, the countries which produce the most
raw material for hats are those which have the greatest
number of factories, except the small countries like
the Philippines, where the population is not yet indus-
trial but mainly agricultural. All large countries
which are industrially developed manufacture hats,
46
MACHINE-MADE STRAW HATS 47
and thus, although the United States produces almost
no raw material for hats except cotton, wool, and fur,
it has many hat factories.
Very few machine-stitched braid hats are imported ;
most hats of this sort are made here from imported
braids.
Different Kinds of Factories
The modern hat factory has many specialized de-
partments and a highly organized staff of employees.
There are various types of factories and establish-
ments connected directly with the hat industry. They
may be classified as follows :
1. Foreign houses that receive braids and body
hats and ship them after putting them
through the finishing processes of dyeing,
bleaching, and blocking. Such houses flour-
ish in ports of China, Japan, and other coun-
tries that export large quantities of hats.
There are many in the United States.
2. Factories that make up braids into hats and
occasionally handle imported body hats.
These buy almost exclusively from importers
of braids and body hats in the rough.
3. Felt, pile fabric, and silk hat factories, which
may or may not be associated with the straw
factories.
48 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
4. Millinery shops and factories, including depart-
ment store workrooms, where untrimmed
hats are trimmed, hats are made of braid by
hand on wire, buckram, or net frames, im-
ported models copied, etc.
5. Importers and manufacturers of flowers, foli-
age, feathers, trimmings, ornaments, novel-
ties, ribbons, silk goods, maline, etc.
6. Manufacturers of hat frames, hat linings, ban-
deaux, etc.
7. Manufacturers of dye, finishes, lacquers, glue,
cement, sizing, varnish, dies, plaster blocks,
sewing machines, etc., for use in hat factories.
A description of the second class of factories will
include the methods of the first class.
Receiving the Braids
The braids, which are received in bales or cases (see
Figure 5), generally come in pieces 60 yards in length,
weighing one- fourth of a pound. Manufacturers
often order 10,000 pieces at once. Tagal braid from
Japan comes 25 pieces of 80 yards each to a bundle,
and 1,000 pieces to a box. Chinese braid is tied up
into pieces 60 or 120 yards long, with 240 pieces to the
bale. The larger manufacturers employ " graders " to
separate the grades of braid into several classes. The
contents of each bale vary in quality, some finer and
MACHINE-MADE STRAW HATS 49
some coarser, and in width. The value is set accord-
ing to quality. This careful standardization makes
uniform prices for material of one quality, and one
customer or retailer cannot complain that his ship-
ment of hats is inferior to another at the same price.
Sewing the Braid into Hats
The manufacturers generally make up hats in quan-
tity only as orders are received. Large factories with
sufficient capital to risk, sometimes make up what is
known as " floor " goods, anticipating the demand for
a few shapes. Each operator works on one special
model, and is usually given enough braid to make at
least four dozen of the desired type of hat. The hats
are shaped from a plaster block which is given to the
operator, and changed whenever a new shape is
wanted. Sometimes manufacturers make hats up
ahead of time, copying and modifying imported
models, but more often they are behind or just even
with their orders.
The operators work in a large, light room on power
sewing machines of a special make, that sew either
by lock or chain stitch. The plaster blocks by which
the operators shape the hats have been molded by plas-
terers in another part of the factory into the exact
shapes desired. These shapes are generally either
copies of imported models or adaptations of them, as
50 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
imported styles are apt to be too extreme for the
American taste. The operator wets the braid and
sews with great rapidity and deftness. It is interest-
ing to know that the sewers receive more per yard for
sewing by machine than the woman received for plait-
ing the braid by hand in distant China.
Sizing
The sewed hats are then taken to the sizing room,
where they are dipped into a kind of starch to stiffen
them. The luster and stiffness of the finished hat
depend very largely upon the kind of sizing used.
Blocking
The hats are dried on shelves placed one above an-
other in the drying room and are then passed to the
blocking department, where they are fitted upon hot
metal blocks exactly similar in shape to the plaster
blocks which guided the sewing of the braid. The
blocks are placed in presses or stampers, which work
by hydraulic pressure. Hydraulic presses are used for
hats requiring a smooth finish, and stem machines for
hats that are to have a rough effect. The hydraulic
pressure is 75 to 100 pounds, much less than is used on
a felt hat, where it is often 500 pounds. This opera-
tion presses the hats into the shape of the metal die,
which when it is made of zinc spelter averages no
pounds in weight.
MACHINE-MADE STRAW HATS 51
Additional Blocking
An additional process is applied to more expensive
grades of hats, which necessitates more expense, more
workers and consequently raises the price of the hat.
After the hats are taken from the presses they are put
on other blocks on a hot table, which is usually of steel,
about thirty feet long and four or five feet wide, and is
heated from underneath by gas or steam. This as-
sures a perfectly formed hat.
Finishing
The hats are then ready for ticketing and lining.
The crowns and brims of certain hats are made sep-
arately and then sewn together. Finer grades and
Panamas are blocked by hand ; wooden blocks, which
rest on the hot table, are sometimes used.
Sewed Braids
In recent years narrow braids have been used to a
great extent. There are, however, many millinery
concerns which make hand-sewed hats of wide braids ;
such as those of artificial silk, ramie, open work hair,
and lace Tuscan. To supply the demand of these shops
for wide braids and at the same time to meet the re-
quirements of fashion, the straw factories produce
bolts of braid which give an effect of three, four, or
five rows of narrow braid.
Chapter VI
FELT HATS
Felting Properties of Wool and Fur
The basal fact upon which the whole process of mak-
ing felt or articles of felt rests is the felting property
peculiar to fur and wool ; some kinds possess this felt-
ing property in a greater degree than others.
When wool or fur fibers are viewed under a micro-
scope, many tiny scales are seen upon their apparently
smooth surface; in fact, some fibers seem to be made
up of scales, all pointing in one direction, like the
ridges on a pine cone.^ Human hair is like that ; if the
fingers are run along a single hair, it will be found that
they will slide down more smoothly than they will run
up, on account of the scales. pVhen fur fibers are put
into hot water the scales expand and do not cling so
tightly to the fiber. Then when the water is drained
off and the scales close down on the hair again, they
catch and interlock with scales on adjacent hairs, mat-
ting the fibers together more and more firmly as the
process is repeated. This is why woolen goods con-
tinue to shrink unless properly handled in washing*
52
FELT HATS 53
Sources of Felt
The raw material for making felt hats comes from
many parts of the world, especially from Australia,
New Zealand, Russia, Siberia, and Scotland. Fur is
the material used in the better hats, but wool is more
common and, in cheap grades, adulterants of cotton
are used. Wool waste, or the " noils " as the fac-
tories call it, preferably of Australian or Merino wool,
is the part of wool used for felt. It is bought in the
greasy state from woolen factories.
• Most of the fur was originally obtained from
beavers, which were formerly found in numbers in the
northwestern part of the United States and in Canada.
They live in colonies, building dams across small
streams by night, and concealing the entrances to their
mud houses on the bank by having the opening several
feet under water and the passageway sloping upward.
Other prized fur comes from the otter, mink, Rus-
sian hare, Saxony hare. Scotch hare, Scotch coney, and
French coney (rabbit).
Musk rat and nutria have also been used. The
muskrat or musquash, a native of Canada, is a cousin
of the beaver, but smaller. He builds houses as does
the beaver and is very prolific. The pelt is sold for
furs as " River Mink " or " Hudson Seal." The fur
of the nutria, or coypu rat, is imported from South
America. It is most important to get the fur for hats
54 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
at the proper season. <It is much the best in the winter
when it is not being shed for warm weather, and is
called " seasoned " fur ; at all other times it is known
as " unseasoned. ^ The thickest fur is obtained from
animals which live in a cold climate.
First Process
Receiving the skins and preparing the fur for the
hat-maker is almost a separate manufacturing process,
performed by specialized factories.
The skins are first sorted by experts into eight or ten
grades according to kind, color, or quality. They are
brushed to straighten out the fur, and then, as there
are stiff long hairs sticking up throughout the soft,
downy fur, as many as possible are removed by pluck-
ing, a process which does not harm the fur.
Washing the Skins
The skins are then cleaned of the fatty matter, of
which there is a large amount, in beaver and nutria
skins especially. This process is known as " carrot-
ing," which is washing in a solution of mercury and
nitric acid. " Carroting " is so called from the color
it imparts.
Drying and Cutting
The skins are carefully dried, brushed, and then cut
into narrow strips by a machine which at the same
FELT HATS 55
time shears the fur close to the skin. The pelt strips
shorn of the fleece in this way are used for by-products
such as glue and gelatin.
Sorting and Grading
The fur fleece is then sorted into grades according
to quality. The choicest part of tlje fleece of land ani-
mals is the back, and of water animals the belly and
cheeks; towards the outer edges of the skin the quality
deteriorates. Sometimes the fur is stored to improve
with age, and sometimes dyed after it has been car-
roted and graded. It may be mixed and blended also
before being sold, a common mixture being one part
uncarroted to two parts carroted. It is put into 5
and 10 pound bags and sold to the hat manufacturer.
The process from here on is identical for both fur
and wool, and it should be remembered that the word
" wool " may be substituted for " fur " throughout.
Mixing
When the fleeces are received by the manufacturer,
the first process is weighing and mixing the grades to
make hats of different qualities. This process requires
expert knowledge. The short and the long fur are
mixed together.
Cleansing the Fur
To mix the fur and to cleanse it two machines are
56 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
used. The first is called a " devil." The fur is fed
through it three times, being tossed and whirled and
picked apart by revolving teeth and settling again in
order to have the process repeated. The fur still has
in it hairs, bits of pelt, coarse particles, and dust,
which are next removed by a machine called a
" blower." A cylindrical apparatus, inside of which a
toothed cylinder revolves several thousand times a
minute, tosses the fur upward where it is blown to
another machine, while the impurities fall down upon
a screen which sifts them. This operation is repeated
several times.
Forming
The next process is called li forming." In prep-
aration for it the exact weight of fur for a hat, in the
case of a soft hat from three to five or six ounces, is
put into a little box. A dozen of these boxes of fur
are then put into a case, and from this point on the
hats continue to be grouped by dozens.
An operator feeds the fur, box by box, through
rollers, into the machine called a " former," which
roughly forms or shapes the hat body. This machine,
invented in 1846, reduced the cost of labor to about
one-tenth that of the slow hand method. A part of the
machine whirls and scatters the fur. A cone of thin
copper plate, perforated with many tiny holes, is slow-
FELT HATS 57
ly revolved, while a suction fan revolving very swiftly
— about 4,000 times a minute — below the cone draws
the fur down evenly all over the cone's surface and
mats the fibers together. Wet cloths are thrown over
the cone, another perforated cone of the same shape is
placed over it, and the whole is put into a tank of hot
water for a minute and then passed to the next process
Felting Process Begun
This matted fur, even as it comes from the hot
water, is the beginning of the hat body. It if, about
three times larger, however, than the finished shape —
some 32 inches deep and 36 inches in diameter.
The cone might be discarded at this point, for the
process of felting has really be-^un. In order to
harden the fur bodies enough to prevent breakage in
later handling they are wra**oed in a woolen cloth still
attached to their cones, ro ,a gently by hand, squeezed,
and pressed.
Sizing
The sizing process now begins; after it has been re-
peated the cones are reduced to one-third the original
size. Three or four cones are dipped together into a
tank of water kept at the boiling point by steam, and
then rolled upon a sloping table, which is called a
" battery."
58 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
The hats are taken out of the boiling water quickly,
wrapped in burlap, and again rolled gently by hand on
the table to dry them. As the process is repeated the
hats may be treated less gently, since the felt continues
to knit more closely together. The rolling tends to
mat the fibers closely as they press together and spring
back.
In cheaper grade hats this process is done by
machine, but the hand method is considered better.
The reduction in size and thickness must be uniform,
and thte is secured by shaking and turning the cones.
By this method any imperfections are discovered and
should be corrected at this point. Foreign particles
which have escaped removal by previous cleansings
must be taken out. /The selvage is trimmed, and the
size in which the hat is- o be finished is marked on the
edge by a notch./
Dyeing
The mixture of the different colors of the raw
material results in a gray shade in the body, and if the
hats are to be dyed, they are boiled several hours at this
stage in a solution of the desired color. The dye is in
large vats and is constantly stirred to give uniform
color. In the drying room the hats are dried thor-
oughly at a high temperature. Coal tar products are
generally employed for dyeing.
FELT HATS 59
Stiffening
After dyeing, the hats are soaked in a solution of
shellac in alcohol to stiffen them. A cheaper solution
is of shellac and alkali, and since 80 per cent of the
alkali may be recovered for use again, it is generally
used. The hats are dipped again and again in the
solution and rolled,' and when thoroughly soaked the
alcohol is allowed to evaporate or the alkali is coun-
teracted by an acid. They are dried at a high tem-
perature and steamed to draw the shellac into the in-
terior of the fabric.
Stretching
The stretching department receives the hats next and
places them on machines ; here they begin to resemble
the finished shape. The felt cone is worked slowly
and gently onto a revolving block, shaped like the
crown of a hat and called a " tip," and is forced down
until it conforms to this shape. The tip-stretching
shapes the crown only; after this the brim must be
stretched. The hydraulic presses which then block the
hats into shape often exert 500 pounds' pressure.
These presses use metal dies of the exact shape of the
finished hat.
Finishing Processes
Until this stage the process has been the same for
6o MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
both soft and stiff hats, but from now on the treat-
ment is different. The soft hats are dried after the
machine blocking, softened again by steam, shaped and
stretched by hand over a die of the desired shape,
ironed by hand with a hot iron, and put to cool in a
cold water press. If the surface of the hats is too
rough, all or part of the nap is removed by a machine
with a sharp knife blade. The hat may be polished
and rubbed to bring out the best effect of the dyes and
to give a gloss. Some colors have a more glossy effect
than others. The finishing includes trimming the
brim. After an inspection the hats are packed in
bandboxes and put in cases ready for shipment.
Different Grades of Felt
The largest business in felt hats is in men's wear,
as there is a staple demand for men's felt hats. The
amount of felt used in women's headgear varies in dif-
ferent years. There are many different grades and
finishes of felt. Besides wool hats and fur hats there
are mixtures in which the wool is usually underneath.
Hats of shoddy, a combination of the cheapest wool
and cotton, are made only when felt, hats are so popular
that a very low-priced felt is demanded by a part of the
trade. The finish may be thick and downy, or like
a velour with little nap. Long hairs are characteristic
of the scratch or mohair finish.
FELT HATS 6 1
Recently there has been shown a felt of a beautiful
lustrous finish, sometimes called charmeuse. The dis-
tinguishing features are the slightly loose nap, and
the polished surface, of the flat nap. The velour finish
is dense and erect.
History of Felt Hats
Felt hat manufacture is a very old industry. * Ac-
cording to one story it was originated by St. Clement,
and the festival of the trade used to be held on his day,
the twenty-third of November. Of course, until re-
cent years all the operations were performed by hand,
but modern machinery has usurped every process, al-
though it is still believed that the hand process makes a
somewhat better hat.
As a matter of fact felt hats date back to a time even
earlier than the legend just referred to. One of the
types of ancient Roman hats, called the " petasus,"
worn on a journey, was much like the felt hats now
used.
Many traditions are connected with caps and hats.
Among the Romans the cap was a symbol of liberty.
Wearing a hat in medieval times also was a mark of
distinction.
Hatters began to flourish in Nuremberg, Germany,
as early as 1369. In 1453 the French had adopted
headcovering generally. In colonial days the hatters
62 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
of England complained of the competition of the
American colonies, and ever since America has been
very proficient in hat-making, although soft felt hats
were not worn here until 1850.
Today some of the finest hats in the world are made
in America. Centers of the industry are Philadelphia
and Reading, Pa. ; Orange and Newark, N. J. ; Dan-
bury, Bethel, and Norwalk, Conn., and Yonkers and
Brooklyn, N. Y. At the present time many hats are
exported from the United States.
Chapter VII
VELVET AND OTHER FABRIC HATS
Use of Velvet and Other Fabrics in Hats
Velvet is used a great deal for hats and hat trim-
mings. It has been popular for headgear since it was
introduced in England at the time of the Norman Con-
quest, when the men of the nobility wore bright colored
clothing and caps or bonnets of velvet adorned with
long plumes.
Manufacture of Pile Fabrics
Velvet is called a pile fabric because of the soft nap
or pile which hides the cloth that forms the back of the
material. The back of almost all velvet is of cotton;
the pile is of silk. The pile is formed by carrying part
of the warp thread over a wire and cutting the loops
afterwards, or by a special double-cloth weaving
process. (See the manual for the "Silk Depart-
ment " for a more extended description of velvet
weaving. )
63
64 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Ways to Determine Quality of Velvet
There are a number of ways to tell a good piece of
velvet, although it is rather difficult for an amateur
to do so. The closeness of weave of the back is one
indication of the quality. The two principal kinds of
weaves are the German and the Lyons. Both kinds
are made in America. The Lyons weave, which is
named for a French city which is a great silk and vel-
vet center, is generally the best. The backs of the
two kinds look slightly different, as may be seen by
examining them ; the Lyons velvet is usually lighter in
weight, and the back shows through the nap more.
Of two grades of Lyons velvet the more expensive has
the thicker pile and shows the back less. The thick-
ness of the nap may be clearly seen by folding a piece
of the velvet to determine how much the back shows
through on the fold.
Uncut velvet is sometimes used.
The quality of silk from which velvet is made has
much to do with the value of the finished article.
Pure silk from silk-worms fetf on mulberry trees, and
reeled in great lengths from the cocoons, is the best.
The waste silk — that made from pierced cocoons
from which the moth has escaped — and other in-
ferior kinds, are called schappe (spun) silks and do
not make so fine an article. Although cotton is com-
monly used for the backs, manufacturers used to speak
VELVET AND OTHER FABRIC HATS 65
of a good piece of velvet as " linen-backed," to indi-
cate superior quality.
Manufacture of Velvet Hats
Formerly, even in factories, all velvet hats had to be
made by hand ; the operators stretched and pinned the
velvet onto wire and net frames. At every place
where there was a dip in the shape, the velvet had to
be tacked by hand. This made the hats more expen-
sive and the effect was not quite so smooth and
tailored as that obtained today by a new method, by
which the velvet is pressed onto buckram or willow
frames containing glue. The heat in the dies brings
out the glue, which, however, does not come through
the fabric. This makes the velvet conform easily and
exactly to the shape of the frame. The finish of the
velvet is slightly affected by this method, but not
enough to damage it.
"^Hand-made velvet hats are often made over wire
frames which are usually bought from factories. It is
not a very difficult piece of work to make a frame, and
anyone who is skilful with her fingers can do it.
Strong wire is used and with a pair of pliers tiny
thread wire is twisted around each place where the
larger wires cross, to hold them in place. This method
is taught in millinery classes. (For further informa-
tion in regard to making hat frames see Chapter XV.}
66 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Silk and Satin Hats
Silk hats are worn between seasons when people are
tired of straw or velvet. Of late years satin has been
in favor. Satin is a silk, of course, but the weave is
usually one thread under and five to seven over, so that
the extreme glossiness of the smooth silk fibers is pre-
served. In a taffeta, where the weave is simply over
one and under one (simple or tabby weave) much of
the gloss is lost. The more tightly the silk threads
are twisted, the stronger they become but more of the
shimmer is lost.
Durability of Silk Hats
If the public were more particular about the wearing
qualities of a hat, it would pay the salespeople to know
thoroughly all about the durability of the popular kinds
of fabrics, but the average customer merely wants rea-
sonable service from a hat, as she tires of it, or the
season changes before she wears it out. So the appeal
of length of service cannot be made to many cus-
tomers. When it does appeal to a customer, the price
of a hat is a fairly sure indication of the value.
Weighted Silk
A stiff silk like a taffeta is apt to crack and wear out
sooner than a soft silk of the same value, owing to the
weighting or loading of the former. Silk fiber has the
power of absorbing certain metate in solution. The
VELVET AND OTHER FABRIC HATS 67
stiffer and cheaper the silk, the more metal (salts of
lead) has been absorbed into the fiber in its making,
and the more this so-called weighting will cause the
fiber to crack and wear out. Dark dyes absorb
weighting more readily than light. If you wish to test
any piece of silk for the amount of weighting, burn a
small piece with a match. If a soft gray ash is left,
the silk was of good quality, but if there is a stiff black
metal framework left after the silk has burned away,
the piece was heavily weighted.
, See manual for the " Silk Department " for further
information on the weighting of silks.
Silk is used in mourning hats, often in such materials
as faille or peau de soie, although the materials vary
with different years. Silk is used chiefly in millinery
shops and workrooms, especially for the more dressy
hats. Silk or satin hats are usually trimmed very
simply, perhaps because of the natural beauty of the
silk. Many hats are made with combinations of silk
or with a brim lining of silk, silk bows, or ribbons.
Hat linings are of thin unweighted silks, such as China
silks, mercerized cotton, or soft taffeta, that wear well,
stand pin holes, and give the hat a good finish.
Other Fabric Hats
Every year sees new varieties of fabric hats, made
of chiffon, tulle, maline, cotton crepes, georgettes, silk
68 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
ginghams, pongees, lace, net, silver cloth, and cloth of
gold. Outing types, as the so-called sport hats, are
simple in trimming and finish, often stiff in out-
line, and made of such materials as crash, duck,
eponge, linen, rep, etc. High-grade linen hats are
hand-blocked in the factories. The most expensive
linen or cotton hats are made in workrooms, and in
some years hardly appear ,at all. Embroidered hats
follow the fashion.
In material, form, and general style, fabric hats vary
every season. They form a most important part of
the millinery trade. A study of textiles would be help-
ful to anyone who wishes to become well informed on
the subject of fabric hats. (See manuals for the
" Silk " and " Cotton and Linen " Departments.)
New Materials
An illustration of the new materials that are brought
out now and then for hats is Pontine, a fabric manu-
factured by the Dupont Powder Mills. This material
has a silk or satin surface on one side, usually of some
pretty color, and on the other side resembles leather.
It is made from the waste obtained in the manufacture
of gunpowder. Its water-proof, light, flexible qual-
ities make it a desirable material not only for hats but
for other purposes, such as motor coats. Whether
this article and other novelty materials will win a per*
VELVET AND OTHER FABRIC HATS 69
manent place on the market and have a steady demand
yearly, remains to be seen.
Fur Hats
Whole hats and parts of hats are made of fur for
winter wear. A few appear even in the extreme
southern part of the United States. Several kinds of
fur were mentioned in Chapter VI.
Fur hats are usually close-fitting and small, or else
the crown only is covered with fur, because of the
warmth and bulk of the fur. Some furs are heavy,
but the lighter varieties are most used. White fur is
popular for dressy hats. Much more fur is used in
trimming than in body hats. Fur is used in band,
crowns, tufts, or brims are faced with fur.
Miscellaneous Fabrics
Hats are also made whole, or in part of velour,
moire, satin cire, Angora cloth, duvetyne, hatter's plush,
bullion cloths, metallic cloths, jet cloth, celophane
combined with metallic threads, panne, French kid,
wool, taffeta, satin, georgette, and others. Some, of
these, such as wool and Angora cloth, leather, or imita-
tion leather, are for sport hats.
Chapter VIII
HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS
Varieties
Every season brings change and variety in the
trimming of hats. Some fashions return after a few
years; others are eliminated permanently. It is an
old proverb that a fashion returns after seven years,
but like many proverbs this is merely a suggestion of
the truth and must not be taken too literally.
The standard trimmings for hats are:
Feathers
Flowers and fruit
Ribbons
Ornaments
Other trimmings include:
Lace ,
Maline
Chiffon
Fur
Leather
Beads
Yarn
TO
HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS 71
Feathers are found in many forms, including wings,
quills, tails, bands, aigrettes, pompons, pads, and
plumes.
Flowers are arranged singly and in wreaths, sprays,
and bunches, with or without foliage.
How Style Is Influenced
Style in trimmings follows public interest in many
cases. If the attention of the country is centered for
any reason on the Orient, Chinese ornaments may
come into vogue. A play or a popular actress may
introduce a fashion in hats. Some years ago colors
and designs followed Persian effects, and later Bul-
garian designs, when the Balkan wars were in progress.
When a pope died a number of years ago, " eminence
purple" became fashionable. The recent war gave a
military slant to all fashions.
The Story of Trimmings
The story of trimmings for hats is perhaps as an-
cient as the story of hats, and not a great deal is
known about it. A few facts are certain. For in-
stance, the question has often been asked why trim-
ming tends to be placed more often on the left side of
a hat than upon the right? In olden days when men
wore velvet bonnets with plumes and carried a sword
which they might be called upon at any time to use,
72 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
there was danger in having the sweeping plume on the
right side. If the knight were on horseback and had
an encounter with an adversary, his sword might catch
in his own plume, unhorse him, and cause his over-
throw. Hence plumes and trimmings were worn on
the left side.
For centuries men dressed in much brighter colors
than they do at present, and wore hats with trimmings.
Their dress, as we know it, was standardized in the
early part of the nineteenth century, and all ornaments
passed over to women. Men love color. Even yet
many of our leading hat designers are'men, although
the number of women in the important positions in the
trade is increasing.
Feathers
Feathers are suitable for all seasons, as they are
always attractive; and since they are of animal fiber
and designed by nature to stand all kinds of weather,
they usually wear well. The kinds in general use are
those of the ostrich, vulture, peacock, goose^igeon,
duck, guinea-fowl, barnyard fowl, owl, pheasant, and
parrot.
Until recently, a study of feathers would have in-
cluded many wild birds from this country and else-
where, but a United States law has prohibited the
importation of both wild and song birds and in ad-
HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS 73
dition many states, influenced largely by Audubon so-
cieties and other organizations for the conservation of
wild life, have prohibited the sale of certain feathers,
so that in the future such plumes as those of the osprey
and the egret will be rarely seen.
Only ostrich, domestic, and game birds are left to
furnish plumage for the millinery trade. There is
supposed to be, however, enough raw stock left in the
country to supply the demands of several seasons.
The plumage of the bird of paradise, gourah, numadie,
heron, and egret is used principally in the aigrette
form.
Treatment of Feathers
Feathers are put through various processes before
they are ready for branching or pasting. In the final
forms they are known to the trade as plumes, pom-
pons, aigrettes, breasts, wings, pads, bands (to encircle
the crown or to outline the Srim), and quills. A table
follows, showing what kinds of feathers are made up
into each of the various forms of branching or past-
ing.
Ostrich Feathers
The ostrich, which is now bred for commercial pur-
poses on large farms, was formerly a native of the
deserts of Africa and Arabia: It is a very large bird;
74 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
<u
bo .2
'< ^
C/l
rt
M
*O C
rt ctf
PL, PQ
bjo
a .55
O fS . -^
ex oT i> J2
5 ^.Sf *3
Ostrich
X
X
X X
Vulture
X
X
X X
Paradise
X
X
X
Numadie
X
Gourah *
X
X
Heron
X X
Egret
X X
Peacock
X
X
X X
X
Pheasant
X
X
X X
Parrot
X
X
X
X
Guinea-fowl
X
X
X X
X
Pigeon
X
X
X
Goose
X X
X
X X
X f X
Duck
X
X
X
Turkey
X
X
X
X X
Bafnyard Fowl
X
X
" Spanish Coq "
X
X X
* Gourah; plain, the female; Imperial (with eye in plumage), the male.
t Soft side feathers. The larger breast feathers of the goose are tech-
nically called " Nagoire."
an adult male weighs 300 pounds and can look over a
fence 9 feet high. The female is gray, the male black
with wings and tail bordered in white.
The ostrich has the reputation of being a very stupid
bird, which thinks to escape its enemies by hiding its
head only. ' The fact seems to be that the bird, scent-
HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS 75
ing danger from afar, conceals itself in a shadow, its
head behind a rock if possible. It is now said, indeed,
that when the head is concealed the bird is practically
invisible, as the body blends with the color of the sand,
and so the device is really clever. At any rate, other
habits, for example its skill in concealing its nest,
show no lack~of cleverness.
A few hens and one cock make and guard one nest
of eggs, feeding the one or two dozen young birds
that hatch upon the extra eggs which the hens have
scattered about the nest in the sand. The heat of the
sun does most of the hatching in the deserts, but the
ostrich broods in addition, probably to protect the eggs.
Ostrich Farms
Ostrich farms are conducted in Cape Colony, South
Africa, and in California and the western states. Fig-
ure 6 gives a view of a large number of ostriches on
an ostrich farm. At regular intervals the birds are
deprived of their plumes. The first feathers are
plucked when the bird is a year old. They increase in
beauty and value until the fifth year, and are good for
many years afterward. Three hundred feathers may
be taken from a single ostrich.
The plucking must be done very carefully in order
that new plumes may grow. The feathers are graded
and sold by weight.
76 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
The varieties of feathers obtained from the ostrich
are as follows :
Floss — under the wing feathers, used for bgas,
muffs, trimmings, fancy pompons, and head
dress.
Booze — tail feathers, used to fill in.
Byax — wing feathers, used for tips.
Long — (first grade) wing feathers, black and
pure white from the male. Three or four raw
feathers are put together to make an ostrich
plume, the stems being carefully shaved down
so that they may not be too thick.
Chicks. The feathers of young birds are used
for imitation aigrettes and birds of paradise.
The flue is burned away by chemicals.
Spade — body feather before it becomes fully de-
veloped. The top is not filled out.
Male and female feathers. Black and pure white
feathers are from the male bird. Feathers
from the female are gray or mixed.
Bleached feather, ready for dyeing.
Forms of Ostrich Feathers
Ostrich feathers are made up principally in plumes,
tips (small plume feathers), pompons, and bands.
The plumes are usually two- or three-ply, that is, of
HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS 77
two or three feathers. When three-ply the inner fill-
ing is composed of shorter lengths.
A plume may be curled at different times to give
the effect of different sizes according to the demands
of fashion. A tight curl will naturally give a nar-
rower appearance than a broad or full curl. The
length of a plume is frequently deceptive as the head
may be curled over, to a greater or less extent.
Willow plumes were very popular a few years ago.
Each tiny feathery fiber is lengthened by having several
lengths of the same kind knotted to it, a tedious, fine,
hand process. The result is a plume with long, sweep-
ing feathers.
Plumes are measured from the stem where the flue
begins to the tip of the head. -The width is deter-
mined by laying the plume perfectly flat and measuring
its total width at a point about in the center. Ostrich
feathers are frequently treated with acid and glycerin
to give a much thinner appearance to the flue. When
so treated they are generally used in aigrette form or
branched in some novel way. This is called burnt
ostrich.
Dyeing Ostrich Feathers
If the color is to be light, the dye liquor may be cold,
but darker shades require cold water first, and then
slow heating until the water is very hot — though
78 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
never boiling. The quill and butt, or end, of the
feather are dyed first, and later the tip and flues, be-
cause the former parts may take twenty or thirty
minutes to absorb the color, whereas the tip and flues
will take the dye in two minutes. If the stem does not
take the color thoroughly enough, it has to be painted
afterwards. After a thorough rinsing in warm water
the feathers are partly dried by soft rubbing with a
cloth, then laid on paper and covered with powdered
dry starch. The starch is gently beaten and shaken
out, and the process repeated until the starch is fully
removed and the flues fluffed out. If starch paste
forms on the feather it may ruin it, or if too much dry
starch remains on the flues the feather may look woolly
and have to be redampened and starched over again.
Wet starching, a process employed by professional
dyers, consists in rubbing the feather in a milky mix-
ture of cold starch and water (not a paste), then dry-
ing by running it between folds of cheese-cloth through
a wringer, and placing it in a [warm room or sunlight.
When thoroughly dry the starch is beaten out gently
on the edge of a table.
Black Dye
The secrets of the black dyeing of feathers are kept
by good dyers ; but the process with logwood dye,
which is the best, takes about six days. The methods
HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS 79
of dyeing, except for the black feathers, are quite sim-
ple. The feathers are dyed in small quantities. Acid
dye stuffs, either formic or oxalic acid, are best in
color and fastness. If the feathers are not bleached
before dyeing, they are washed thoroughly in castile
soap and water and rinsed. They are then soaked in
hot water half an hour to get the stems and quills soft
enough to take the dye well.
Feathers are often painted with oil paint and gaso-
line, but the color rubs off and there is danger of plas-
tering the tiny barbules together if the paint is too
thick. Barred or stenciled effects may be obtained by
painting.
Shaded effects are made by first dyeing the whole
feather in a weak bath, and then strengthening the
color gradually as the feather is withdrawn bit by bit.
Only the end is put into the last and darkest bath of
dye.
After steaming, the feather is curled by hand with
a special knife.
Vulture Wings
The vulture, a large naked-headed bird of prey, is
found in many countries, including Arabia, Egypt,
Africa, and America. The large wing feathers are
admirable for quills when that trimming is in vogue.
The other plumage of the vulture resembles that of the
8o MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
ostrich chick and is principally used in aigrette effects
after it has been treated with acid and glycerin. The
longer fiber vulture plumage is frequently used to imi-
tate numadie.
Peacock and Pheasant
Peacocks are raised in Europe and are native to
India, Ceylon, and Malay. Formerly the peacock was
eaten but is now used for the plumage, or as an orna-
mental bird. In ancient Greece the peacock was sacred
to the goddess Juno, and later was used in Christian
Byzantine art as a symbol of the resurrection.
The long-tailed pheasant has been introduced into
the United States from Asia and Europe. The plum-
age of the male bird is very brilliant. The longer tail-
feathers of the peacock and pheasant are frequently
used in their natural state, or sometimes burnt with
acid.
They may be used as separate feathers to encircle
the crown or to outline the brim, or may be placed at
some odd angle on the hat. They are frequently used
in aigrette form after they have been burned with acid.
The breast feathers of these birds make excellent pads
or breasts. The peacock in this form is invariably
used in its undyed state, whereas the pheasant is fre-
quently dyed.
The Lady Amherst pheasant is specially popular.
HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS 8l
Wild Duck, Parrot, and Guinea-fowl
The plumage of the wild duck, parrot, parrokeet (a
small parrot), and the mottled plumage of the guinea-
fowl are generally used in their natural undyed state
in the form of wings, pads, and breasts, as these
feathers are excellent for pasting. Sometimes they
are used alone but not infrequently they are combined
with pigeon or fowl feathers of a solid color, thus
forming an attractive color contrast. The pointer, or
long wing feathers, of these birds are used to supple-
ment their small feathers in making wings.
Pigeon
The pigeon is found in almost all parts of the
world, and there are many domestic breeds. The fine
breast feathers of the pigeon, technically known as
" rond," are used for making the finest of pads, breasts,
and pasted bands. They, together with pigeon pointer
feathers, are also used for making the costlier wings
in small and medium sizes.
Fowl
Wild fowl of all kinds contribute largely to the crop
of feathers. Domestic fowl, including goose, duck,
turkey, and barnyard fowl, or chicken, are very much
used in European countries and now also in America.
Such fowl are raised almost as much for their feather
82 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
value as for their meat value. This is particularly
true of the pure white varieties which can be easily
dyed and treated. The feathers of such birds are
burnt with acid, dyed, and made into all sorts of ai-
grette effects. If not burnt they are used in making
wings, pompons, pads, breasts, and bands. Their long
pointer wing feathers, in addition to being useful for
finishing made wings, are also excellent for single
quills.
" Spanish Coq " and Hackle
The saddle feathers, the long slender feathers which
droop from each side of the saddle of the barnyard
cock, are commonly known as hackle feathers. When
dyed various shades they have an attractive brilliancy
and are employed principally for breasts and pads,
though sometimes they are used to give finish to wings
and in pompon effects. The dark bronze green tail
feathers of the barnyard cocks of certain breeds are
valuable for pompons and sweeping aigrette effects.
These are particularly durable since they are in-
variably branched with wires and not pasted in the
process of manufacture. COQ_ is a shaded tail of
feathers. Coq is also spelled "coque."
Some of the birds of which importation is now for-
bidden are still used. A few words about the most
important of them follow.
HAT TRIMMINGS — FEATHERS 83
Egret or Aigret (a kind of Heron)
Many people object to the use of the true aigrette
plumes because they are the nuptial plumes of the white
egret. This small white heron formerly Hyed^ in
swamp lands, from Florida to as far north as New
Jersey. It has been practically exterminated in North
America, although it still exists in South America,
whence many lawless hunters try to smuggle the sprays
into the United States. The plumes of the crest grow
only when the mother bird is tending her helpless
young.
The " dead feathers " which naturally fall from the
crest are not very desirable, so the hunters, not satis-
fied with these, tear the crest from the bird's head, thus
obtaining what is technically known as " live feathers."
The hunters either kill the bird or leave her to die,
while the young in the nest die also. One crest has
about forty plumes.
There have been very bitter legal fights about ai-
grettes in almost every state. The spray is so beauti-
ful and delicate, as well as so strong and graceful,
that it has been hard for beauty-loving women to give
them up, and the price they bring — a single plume
often costing hundreds of dollars — tempts hunters
to get them. Imitations are rapidly taking their
place.
84 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Bird of Paradise
In 1521 the bird of paradise was introduced into
Europe from New Guinea and adjacent islands. It
received its name because it was supposed never to
alight upon the earth, but to live in the sunlight in
some miraculous manner. The reason for this fancy
was that the feet had been removed from the first skins
sent to Europe.
The plumage of the male is of great beauty and
of an odd shape, the two delicate long feathers ex-
tending from under the wings far beyond the tail
have a tufted feathery tip like a question mark at the
end.
Some birds of paradise are green in color, while
others are of velvety red with plumes of purple tipped
with green. Natives kill them with blunt-headed ar-
rows during the courting season. The skins are cured
by smoking and sent to market.
Other Wild Birds Used for Hat Trimming
The gourah is a species of pigeon, living upon the
ground and known as the crown-pigeon. It comes
from the islands of New Guinea or Papua. The emu,
a large ostrich-like bird, comes from Australia.
Storks, which are a kind of heron, have been used for
plumage also. The marabou stork lives in India.
Chapter IX
HAT TRIMMINGS — FL OWERS
Sources of Artificial Flowers
Until recent years almost all fine flowers were made
abroad, chiefly in France. The Italians were the first
people in Europe to excel in the art of flower-making,
and later the French became very proficient. Ger-
many and Austria made a great many of the lower
priced ones.
Almost all small flowers, such as forget-me-nots,
heliotrope, verbenas, lilacs, and wisteria were made in
E.urope until the war. Since then they have been well
made in the United States, for the most part in and
about New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Chicago.
Violets, however, have long been made here by Ital-
ians. Roses and other fine flowers are made here also.
In former years much artificial flower-making was
performed by sweat-shop labor in places which were
often unsanitary. In English trade schools fifty years
ago children were taught the craft and allowed to work
as soon as they were able to move their fingers accu-
rately, even at the early age of three. It is a relief to
85
86 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
know that today most of the work has been taken over
by factories. It is hard to supervise the sanitary con-
ditions under which work is done in homes.
Flower Materials
The materials generally used in flower-making are
muslin, silk, satin, velvet, and velveteen; but tinsel-
cloth, ribbon, chenille, leather, celluloid, straw, crepe,
felt, and feathers are also occasionally seen. The
great majority of flowers are made of a thin, fine mus-
lin such as batiste or nainsook.
Stiffening and Cutting Out
The white muslin is first stretched on a frame and
brushed with a mixture of starch and gelatin to stiffen
it and to give the proper finish. The patterns of the
flowers are then cut out. If they are to be " specialty "
flowers, they are cut out by means of a die pounded by
hand with a heavy mallet, but the less expensive ones
are stamped out by machine. The layers of stiffened
cloth are placed one above another and from half a
dozen to seventy-two petals may be cut at one time.
Dyeing
They are then separated and dyed in bowls accord-
ing to a color chart which, in the better factories, comes
from Paris. The shading is done by dipping a brush
HAT TRIMMINGS — FLOWERS 87
into a deeper color and touching the flowers with it
while they are still wet. The color spreads and shades
off in a very natural way. Fine flowers are finished
with a stencil, or are hand-painted. The finished
petals are laid on sheets of blotting paper and dried
either in the air or in ovens by artificial heat.
Making
Many Eowers are cut in flat circular pieces with a
hole in the center and the petals only partly formed.
These are called " slip-ups." The flower-maker takes
a bunch of " peps " or flower seed pods, which come
already prepared, and fastens them to a wire. She
then slips the number of circles required upon the wire,
puts on a little paste, and finishes off the stem. If
flowers are cut in separate petals, these petals must be
pasted on one at a time. When separate petals are cut
they are pinched into shape or " goffered " with pincers
or a hot iron to give them a natural curl. The slight
pull and twist which an expert can give a rose leaf
changes it from a flat piece of muslin into a perfectly
curved petal.
The stamping machine also cuts out, dyes, and veins
the leaves. The stems are wound with some ma-
terial or covered with a tube of green rubber com-
position.
There are various finishing processes, such as gum-
88 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
ming, waxing, and dusting. Powdered glass gives a
frosted effect. Fine cambric is used to a great extent
for petals, and silk in expensive flowers, with some-
times a gauzy net backing to give strength and shape.
Taffeta and velvet are much used for leaves.
The flowers made in this country are not yet
equal to the best French flowers, as we are not willing
to give the time necessary to do artistic work. In
France the workman is an artist who imitates nature
as carefully as if he were painting a picture. The
last touches are put on with the living model before
him or from a perfect copy. A flower-maker is
usually kept at work on one kind of flower, i.e., a rose-
maker always makes roses and a violet-maker violets.
They naturally become very expert, but operators who
are constantly changing their work cannot produce
such results.
How Flowers Come to the Milliner
There are a number of forms in which flowers come
to the milliner for use. They are put up singly, or in
bunches, sprays, clusters, or groups of one kind to be
opened and used as desired by the trimmer ; or flowers
and foliage which blend as to kind and color are com-
bined in wreaths, bouquets, or clusters, thus forming
a trimming ready to be applied without further blend-
ing or combining on the part of the milliner.
HAT TRIMMINGS — FLOWERS 89
The kinds of flowers in general use may be classed :
Roses
Field flowers
Applique flowers
Violets
Small flowers
Odd flowers
Rare flowers
Natural flowers
Foliage
Fruits
Roses
Roses come in large, medium, and small June sizes.
They are crushed for applique trimming with or with-
out foliage, with or without combinations, with for-
get-me-nots, cowslips, or similar small flowers. Amer-
ican Beauty, LaFrance, Neron, cabbage, or other
round or flat shapes with either foliage or ribbon, or
both, are used for trimmings of softer effects. They
are sometimes combined with other flowers in wreaths
or standing clusters. June roses are used principally
for children's or misses' hats or for mixing in tight bou-
quets.
Field Flowers
Poppies, bluets, daisies, buttercups, and pansies
90 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
vary greatly as to size. Large single daisies and pop-
pies are frequently used for appliques. Field flowers
are generally used, however, in combination, fre-
quently with foliage. The small and medium sizes
are almost always used for misses', children's, and
sport hats ; although the dainty, small clusters are used
on the dressier styles as well.
Applique Flowers
Dahlias, asters, camelias, gardenias, chrysanthe-
mums, and poppies are used almost altogether in ap-
plique.
Violets
Parma, wood, and Russian violets are frequently
combined with roses or other flowers, and are used
principally on early spring hats. Trimmings of all
violets are usually confined to matrons' hats, except
occasionally in outlining the edge of a large, drooping
brim.
Small Flowers
Forget-me-nots, heliotropes, verbenas, cowslips,
primroses, lilies of the valley, hyacinths, etc., and
blossoms are generally used in combination with other
flowers, either as the basis of trimming or in branch-
ing.
HAT TRIMMINGS — FLOWERS 91
Odd Flowers
Lilacs, wisteria, orchids, hydrangeas, and sweet peas
are used at times. These are especially subject to the
changes of fashion; sometimes they are in great de-
mand and in some seasons not employed at all. While
they are frequently used as the basic trimming, they
are generally combined with other flowers.! They are
especially adapted to toque and turban trimmings,1 al-
though when in style they are used on hats of various
shapes. Nasturtiums, apple blossoms, and baby's
breath are also used somewhat.
Rare Flowers
Narcissi, fuchsias, jonquils, water lilies, and pond
lilies are not very generally used, but when fashionable
they offer a decided relief from the more conventional
kinds of artificial flowers.
Natural Flowers
Natural ferns, sea moss, wheat, and mignonette are
often used after being dried and treated. Most of
these are also reproduced artificially.
Foliage
Foliage of all kinds is used in branching the various
flowers with which it is found in nature. In some
seasons, however, entire hats or entire crowns are
92 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
made of foliage, or the crown edges or the brims are
outlined with foliage. Entire hats are also made of
flowers which are sewed flat to the frames and relieved
with a little satin or velvet ribbon or an aigrette.
Fruits
Several kinds of fruits, such as grapes, cherries,
small apples, peaches, and oranges, are used in trim-
mings.
Chapter X
HAT TRIMMINGS — RIBBONS, BANDS, AND
ORNAMENTS
Silk Ribbons
Ribbons are usually made of silk, and so a few
words about that material and the comparison of
weaves follow. (For a more exhaustive treatment of
the subject, see the chapter on " Ribbons " in the
manual for the " Silk Department.")
Silk is the strongest, most beautiful, elastic, and
durable of all the important textile fibers used for the
manufacture of cloth. The story of the cultivation
of the silk-worm is familiar to all of us. It is fed on
mulberry leaves for about five weeks, then it spins a
cocoon from which a gauzy thread averaging 2,000
feet in length can be unwound. The moth must not
be allowed to escape and so he is killed by heat before
the time has arrived at which he is due to emerge
from the cocoon. Hot water softens the gum with
which the silk-worm cemented the cocoon, in a " de-
gumming " process employed by the manufacturer.
93
94 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Then the silk can easily be unwound. The outer fuzzy
silk and the weak fiber from the very center of the
cocoon are inferior in quality and are used in the
cheaper grades of silk. Sometimes the cocoons are
pierced by escaping moths and these too make inferior
silk. Under the chapter on silk in body hats was dis-
cussed the question of the loading or weighting of
silk, and the resulting damage to the wearing qualities
of the silk.
Weaves
The simple or tabby weave found in silks such as
taffeta is the simplest of all weaves, and it wears very
well. Two-tone ribbons are made in this way, but the
lengthwise, or warp, threads are a different color from
the crosswise ones.
Satin ribbon, if of a cheap grade, is likely to catch
and roughen, for a large number of the crosswise or
filling threads are on the surface of the cloth to give
greater luster.
Ribbons with a ribbed effect in the weave, such as
faille or grosgrain, usually have cotton or wool yarn
in the concealed bars which go into the filling of the
ribbon. They wear well, except in the cheaper grades,
in which they tend to wear out along the bars as the
silk warp threads are not thick and strong enough to
stand the rubbing along the heavy filling.
RIBBONS, BANDS, AND ORNAMENTS 95
Plaids and stripes are made by using different
colored threads for the variations of the pat-
tern.
Velvet ribbons, woven with an extra warp, which
is sheared to make the pile, are of varying grades.
The backs are usually of cotton, but in the finest grades
Of velvet ribbon, the backs are of silk with a satin fin-
ish. This ribbon makes beautiful bows.
Velvet brocade ribbon is unusual, but exceptionally
handsome. Silk brocades of the Jacquard or pattern
weave are much used many seasons. These are made
on the complicated Tacquard loom which weaves intri-
cate patterns.
Ribbon Patterns
The changing demands of fashion. govern the uses
of ribbon, deciding not only the quantity required for
trimming but also the weaves that shall be used.
Some years Jacquard patterns, where a figure or de-
sign is woven into the ribbon, have, been in favor.
Popular ribbons now are grosgrain, faille, taffeta,
moire, cire, satin, velvet, metallic, and novelties, many
of which are made up of a combination of two or more
of these weaves.
Cire or " stovepipe " ribbons are not distinguished
by the weave, but by the finish, the polished appear-
ance being due to an ironing process in the manufac-
96 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
ture. Usually satin ribbons are cired, and soft faille
also takes the finish quite well. Polished, metallic
ribbons are stifTer than cired ribbons, but give the
same effect.
Moire has a watered effect produced by pressing taf-
feta, faille, or grosgrain ribbons between stamped roll-
ers. Taffeta ribbon is not apt to wear so well as the
others unless it is of good quality with little weighting.
Widths of Ribbons
Widths in millinery ribbon vary from number one
baby ribbon to sash ribbon fourteen inches wide. Dif-
ferent types of ribbon are used for different styles of
hats, and the style of the season also determines the
width of ribbon to be used.
Narrow widths are used principally in bands, cock-
ades, bow-knots, plaitings, and shirrings. These are
used mainly for children's and misses' hats, though
narrow bow-knots are frequently employed as a finish
to elaborate flower or feather trimmed hats. Not in-
frequently narrow ribbons of velvet or other material
are shirred flat around the brim of a large dress hat.
Wide ribbons are often used in scarf effect around
the crown and also partly on the brim of sport hats.
Wide ribbons are used in bow effect on afternoon and
evening hats in combination with flowers or other soft
trimmings. The bows may be in high loops or broad
RIBBONS, BANDS, AND ORNAMENTS 97
and flat, as the lines of the hat and the styles of the sea-
son suggest. Frequently broad ribbons, especially of
satin or velvet are drawn softly around the crown of a
picture hat, and then through the brim, forming back
streamers, or being finished in a loop.
Ribbons are either finished smooth at the edge, or
with a heavy cord, or with a picot edge. Cords often
serve as bands.
Bands
Originally bands were used solely in making toques
and turbans over a foundation of maline or chiffon.
More recently, however, bands have been used around
the crowns of sailor hats and others of various shapes.
This is especially true of the narrow conventional
bands, or of bands made of worsted in bright oriental
combinations of color.
Bands are made of various materials. On founda-
tions of net or some other delicate material, appliques
are made of sequins, chenille, straw, or embroidery
silk, either in straight rows or in a design. Some-
times two or more of these materials are combined in
a band. Bands are also made of metallic material
either embroidered or composed of solid pieces of
metal joined together. Some bands are made of
white, jet, steel, or iridescent beads strung together or
embroidered in a design t n the usual foundations.
Half bands are similar in construction, but are usually
98 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
of less conventional design and are used as appliqued
motifs. Flowers are appliqued on bands.
Ornaments
Trimmings known as ornaments comprise buckles,
slides, cabochons, pins, and motifs of jet, steel, rhine-
stones, mother-of-pearl, beads, soutache braid, tapes-
try, gilt, silver, oxidized metal, copper, ivory, and
crystal. Many of these ornaments, particularly those
made of sequins or scale jet or jet beads, imitate wings,
leaves, roses, and other objects. They are appliqued
on net, maline, or velvet.
Among the most novel ornaments may be mentioned
emblems and objects typical of certain countries or
historical facts and periods. Even human figures are
reproduced in tapestry and wool or silk embroidery to
be appliqued on sport hats. Some of the more deli-
cate ornaments are used as a finish at the base of the
feather on feather trimmed hats. Ornaments when
used with ribbons are popular on tailored hats. Quills
of celophane are used. Copper is often seen on bows.
Embroidery and Painting
Recently hand-embroidery; painting, and stenciling
have been used more or less in trimming hats. The
embroidery material is silk floss, wool, yarn, or metallic
threads. Polka dots, croovs-stitching, and other de-
RIBBONS, BANDS, AND ORNAMENTS 99
signs have been used. The painting has been in thin
color, of bird and flower designs, showing a strong
oriental influence. Bamboo straw takes paint well.
Usually when conventional or formal designs are used,
the hat will remain attractive longer and one will not
tire of it so quickly. The naturalistic designs repro-
ducing pictures or scenes are less artistic. Silver or
tinsel ribbonzene decorates effectively.
Other Trimmings
Lace, when employed in millinery, is generally used
either as the foundation for a whole hat or as the sole
trimming. Valenciennes lace is used in the form of
rosettes ; Mechlin, Chantilly, filet, and other thin laces
as draperies; shadow, oriental, and other similar laces
as the designs require. Soft gauzy silk maline is sat-
isfactory both for a hat foundation, a trimming or a
drapery, as well as for a veiling over other trimmings.
Maline trimming looks well in the form of bows,
choux, plaitings, and other effects. It is admirable
for veiling and softening a strong color. Metallic
cloth is used both as a foundation and as a trimming,
principally in bows, hand-made flowers, little standing
novelties, or appliqued motifs. Fringe and tassels are
sometirres popular.
Fur Tr minings
Fur Df all kinds is used in strips in trimming; less
frequently in tufts and other forms.
Chapter XI
CHOOSING A BECOMING HAT
Importance of the Choice
The chief requisite of a hat is that it shall be becom-
ing. Some people find it very easy to select a becom-
ing hat; others hunt for one in vain. Many people
do not wear the hat most suited to their coloring, their
clothes, or the shape of their heads and features. Un-
less special attention has been given to the study of
these things the disturbing element may not be noticed,
even though the effect as a whole is unpleasing.
Good Taste
It is current opinion that " good taste " or a sense
of what is becoming in clothes and hats is inborn, and
that those who lack this desirable faculty have no alter-
native but to do the best they can and to depend on the
variable advice of others. Perhaps the majority of
people belong to the second class, but it is comforting
to know that it is possible to cultivate one's perception
of beauty in form and color by study, observation, and
the knowledge of a few simple rules that generally
100
CHOOSING A BECOMING HAT IOI
hold good. " Good taste " thus becomes an acquired
trait.
The Cause of Bad Taste >,:
When we see about us all our lives mediocre or poor
taste rather than beauty in architecture, hoirsetook- fur-
nishings,/wallpapers, and carpets, it is small wonder
that we often choose wrongly when it comes to our
clothes. We think of the clothes themselves and for-
get that they should chiefly be a background for our
persons. Do we realize, for instance, that a mere
change in the line of a collar will change the whole
appearance of a face?
It would be fascinating to take up the questions of
line and color with regard to the whole costume, but
in this and the next few chapters only the lines of the
head and face are studied as these are the important
ones in choosing a hat. However, a mastery of these
principles will enable one to carry the study further,
and perhaps to dress more becomingly.
The Duty of Women to be Beautiful
It is the duty of every woman to attire herself as
charmingly as possible, for the pleasure of her friends
and all who come in contact with her as well as to aid
her advancement in any calling. It is hard not to be
self-conscious when unsuitably dressed. It is embar-
102 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
rassing to feel either that clothes are not becoming or
that the costume selected is inappropriate for the occa-
sion.
Importance of a Hat in a Costume
One. jarring note in a costume will spoil the effect of
the whole, and frequently this jarring note is the hat.
By paying a high price one can usually secure a be-
coming hat, but there are many people who do not wish
to pay a high price and yet want a satisfactory article.
It takes more skill to make a good choice in an inex-
pensive hat because the designers and the milliners
who make such hats are not high-class workers and
the materials from which the hats are made are not of
the first quality.
Materials count less in millinery than style. A cus-
tomer is apt to care less about the hat's wearing quali-
ties than about its style and becomingness. These are
the chief requisites in her mind, no matter whether she
admits it or not, though most women do admit it quite
freely.
The Saleswoman's Part in Selecting a Hat
The average salesperson knows this and her chief
exclamations as she tries hats upon her customer are,
" How well that suits you," " How pretty that looks on
you," " This is becoming." Remarks of this sort,
CHOOSING A BECOMING HAT 103
however, are so often accompanied by an unbecoming
hat, one which the customer knows is not suitable to
her, that customers are apt to be cynical and no longer
believe the saleswoman's statements. The only rem-
edy for this distrust is for the salespeople to know why
a hat is becoming or the reverse, and then to be truth-
ful in the matter. One remark setting forth the good
points of the hat and calling attention to the becoming
features would prevent the loss of many a sale and
save the customer from fruitless wandering among the
stores with the idea that she is hard to suit.
If saleswomen cultivate their observation and judg-
ment of pretty and suitable things, this knowledge will
not only bring them pleasure but will help them to
build up a following of customers who have confidence
in them. Rare is the salesgirl who does not have at
least a few customers who ask for her because they
like her personality and prompt attention, but the
woman who is in demand chiefly for her good judg-
ment, and who is a recognized authority, has countless
followers and success attends her.
Line and Color in Millinery
Good lines and the right choice of color or of color
combinations may seem to be matters of accident, and
one time in a hundred they may be, but the other
ninety-nine times they are the result of careful study
104 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
and observations. One salesgirl was sent by her store
in the Middle West to study costume designing in New
York because she took such an interest in advising cus-
tomers as to colors and ways of making the silk piece
goods she sold that the store wished to make her a
service specialist.
Observation and Study of Dress
The woman who wishes to acquire excellent taste
must be observant of all she sees, especially in matters
of dress. When she sees a passer-by, she might ask
herself: " Is that the most becoming costume that
woman could wear? Could I suggest any little im-
provement? Is the color of her hat the best for her
complexion, eyes, hair, and costume? What kind of
hat would I choose for her? "
At first your criticisms will be mostly destructive
and you may think that nine people out of ten are
poorly dressed, but as you study the problem your
criticisms will grow more constructive and you will
think of changes for the better in the things you ob-
serve. As you think of your friends, have you noticed
that some of them are more observant than others,
that maybe one of them gets more pleasure than others
out of a window, a shopping tour, or a walk on the ave-
nue and that her quick eyes miss nothing of interest?
It is just this quality of quick observation and alertness
CHOOSING A BECOMING HAT 105
that should be cultivated in studying the scientific prin-
ciples of becoming dress.
Style in Millinery
Style is an important element in millinery, but that
alone should not decide the choice of a hat. The ar-
gument for style, though a good one, ought not to be
made the chief or only one, for there are many stylish
hats in every display and it is quite possible to choose
one that is becoming as well as stylish..
It often prejudices a woman when a saleswoman
displays a hat with the remark, " This is very stylish/'
or " This is very dressy." The saleswoman should
give reasons for her statement, or she misses an oppor-
tunity and fails to impress the customer with her
knowledge and good judgment.
Women are interested to know what is new and in
the best style, and most of them glean this information
from their observations in the stores and from the as-
sertions of salespeople rather than from fashion maga-
zines and papers. Do not real articles make more im-
pression on you than pictures of them?
Change in Styles
On the other hand, styles change very rapidly in the
Millinery Department, and therefore the saleswoman
should be careful not to be too much influenced by
106 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
what is new. It is easy to become tired of hats that
have been in the department for some time and conse-
quently to neglect them and to push only the "very
latest." This complicates the manager's problem of
slow-moving merchandise.
The salesperson with natural or cultivated good
taste does not fall into this habit, because she is more
interested in what is beautiful than in what is merely
new. It is well to see and observe the new things and
to decide about them, considering what type of person
ought to wear this hat or that, perhaps having such
accurate taste that one can think, " This is the very
hat for my customer, Mrs. S. ! " One might then call
up Mrs. S. about it, provided one knew that she would
like the attention, and thereby make a sale as well as
render a service. This method of making sales is
practiced far more in other departments than in the
Millinery Department.
Extreme and Conservative Styles
Another consideration in regard to style is the purse
of the customer. If she intends to have a number of
hats, she can afford to purchase one that is rather ex-
treme in style because she will have several changes.
To be very stylish, a hat must be rather distinctive, but
one quickly tires of something that is rather extreme
unless one has something else to change to.
CHOOSING A BECOMING HAT 107
Suitability
Of the Millinery Department in a large and success-
ful store, many women say : " The only trouble with
that millinery section is that none of the salesgirls
know what is suitable. They try anything on you."
The department evidently lacks a right adjustment to
its customers, a personal feeling of good taste and
helpful service. The fact that for building up a per-
manent trade a satisfied customer is worth more in the
long run than a sale, has not occurred to one of those
salespeople. Each one is working very shortsightedly
to fill up her book for the day, not to increase her in-
dividual sales on the morrow.
Putting One's Self in the Customer's Place
Have you ever been shopping yourself and had
something shown you that appealed greatly to the one
who was displaying it, which suited her fancy, but did
not agree with your idea at all ? The saleswoman who
was waiting on you was not able to put herself in your
place? She was deficient in judgment, although this
is a quality which anyone can cultivate.
What Constitutes a Suitable Hat
To be suitable, the hat purchased must go well with
the suit or dresses to be worn with it, and a distinction
must be made as to its purpose, whether it is to be
108 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
used for street, afternoon, or evening wear, or for a
combination of these.
Suiting the Age of a Customer
Another important consideration in choosing a suit-
able hat for a customer is her apparent age. Have
you sometimes seen young girls wearing hats far too
old for them, or an older woman made almost ridicu-
lous by one too frivolous for her, one that tended to
accentuate her age by contrast with its own youthful-
ness of appearance ? Suiting a hat to a person's years
requires a knowledge of color, of line and of form,
which we shall discuss later; with such knowledge any-
one can decide whether or not a hat is suitable to the
age of the wearer.
Actively Becoming Hats
One very well-dressed woman, whom it is always a
pleasure to look at, said one day : "I never buy any-
thing because it is becoming. It must be actively be-
coming. I must look better in it than without it. It
must add to my appearance." Are any of your arti-
cles of clothing of this nature that they make you seem
even better looking than you are, that is, subdue your
indifferent points and bring out the good ones? It is
a good test question to ask yourself when you are
trying hats upon yourself or upon anyone else: " Is
this actively becoming?"
CHOOSING A BECOMING HAT 109
No two faces are alike, any more than two person-
alities. Every woman wants a hat that is distinctive.
It may occasion Mrs. Jones a great deal of pique if
she finds that her neighbor Mrs. Henry has a hat
exactly like hers. So the Millinery Department puts
the appeal of exclusiveness above all others, and in
addition strives to present so large a variety of becom-
ing hats that every customer can make a choice suit-
able to her age and appearance.
The Most Important Elements in Choosing a Hat
Color and form are the most important elements to
consider in choosing a becoming hat. While the
quality of the materials, their softness and gloss, influ-
ence the appearance of a hat a great deal, these are not
so essential to its becoming appearance as are color and
form. Color is the simpler of these two elements for
most people, because it is only a matter of persistent
eye-training.
Chapter XII
PRINCIPLES OF COLOR *
Importance of a Knowledge of Color to the
Salesperson
Color is a matter of very great importance in connec-
tion with many varieties of merchandise. In order to
judge textiles, china and glass, art embroidery, draper-
ies, rugs, ready-to-wear garments, millinery, and many
other varieties of merchandise intelligently, some fun-
damental knowledge of color is essential. The ac-
cepted theories of color and color combinations are
therefore given here briefly.
Combinations of Colors
There are two ways of combining colors which pro-
duce quite different results. They are :
The combination of colored lights.
The combination of colored pigments or dyes.
When different colored lights are combined, the re-
sult is a combination of the two colors. When colored
pigments are combined, one color seems to absorb or
* This chapter, containing the essential principles of color, was prepared
by the editor and appears in several of the manuals of this series.
1 10
PRINCIPLES OF COLOR III
counteract the other. One explanation of the differ-
ence is that the pigments are never perfectly pure, that
is, they contain elements of other colors and therefore
cannot give the same result as a combination of the
similar colored lights.
All colors are produced by the effect of light upon
the nerves of the eye, and as the eye sees them, colors
are contained within the light itself, forming when
united a white or colorless light, as in sunlight. It is
only when part of the light rays are in some way ab-
sorbed or intercepted that we see the remaining rays
as distinct colors.
The Spectrum
Nearly every one has seen the band of beautiful
colors which is formed by a beam of sunlight passing
through a prism. The same effect is produced when
the sun's rays pass through the raindrops and we see
the beautiful band or rainbow of colors in the sky.
The theory is that as the beam of sunlight passes
through the prism, it is separated or split into the ele-
ments of which it is made up and forms a band of
colors instead of a white light. This band of colored
light is called the spectrum, and the colors, whether
seen through the prism or in the rainbow, are known
as the spectrum colors. They are red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, and violet. But when we see these colors,
112 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
either in the rainbow or through the prism, there is
every gradation from one color to the next so that the
change from one color to the other is almost imper-
ceptible. For instance, the red changes through the
different degrees of red-orange to orange, and this
changes through the orange-yellows to yellow ; the yel-
low changes through the yellow-greens to green; the
green changes through the green-blues to blue; the
blue changes through the violet-blues to red.
Standard Colors
The colors of the spectrum are accepted as the nor-
mal or standard colors: red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, and violet.
These normal or standard colors are represented in
each case by the greatest intensity of the color. For
instance, the standard red is the most intense red, the
standard blue is the strongest blue, and so on.
While the spectrum has six colors which seem to be
of equal importance in the ray of light, we find that in
mixing pigments or dyes they fall into two classes
called primary and secondary colors.
Primary Colors
The primary colors are so individual that they can-
not be produced by any mixture of other colors. They
are red, blue, and yellow.
PRINCIPLES OF COLOR 113
Secondary Colors
Secondary colors may be made by mixing two of
the primary ones. They are :
Orange, made by mixing red and yellow.
Green, made by mixing yellow and blue.
Violet, made by mixing blue and red.*
Characteristics of Primary Colors
Of the three primary colors, yellow is the most " ad-
vancing," that is, seems to stand out from its back-
ground. It is nearest to white and possesses the
greatest power of reflecting light. It imparts bril-
liancy in a greater or less degree to every compound
into which it enters.
Red is the most positive. It represents warmth as it
is brilliant and cheerful, and it appears to advance
somewhat. Red expresses vibration, action, and
warmth.
Blue is the most " retiring " of the primaries and
represents coldness, appearing to recede from the
eyes. It imparts coldness in various degrees to
every color or hue into the composition of which it
enters.
* There are several theories concerning the number of primary colors in
light, but they do not alter the fact that blue, red, and yellow cannot be
made in pigments or dyes by combining other colors; while the tints,
shades, and hues of all other colors except blue, red, and yellow may be
made by means of such combinations.
114 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Characteristics of Secondary Colors
Of the secondary colors, green, composed of the pri-
maries blue and yellow, is cool or warm as it inclines to
blue or yellow. Yet in general it is cool, cheerful, and
refreshing.
Orange, composed of yellow and red, is the most
" advancing " of the secondaries. It is composed of
two luminous colors and is considered the warmest and
most powerful of all the colors. It should therefore
be used sparingly.
Violet or purple, composed of red and blue, is the
darkest of the secondary colors and is related most
nearly to black. It reflects very little light and looks
still darker in a declining light. It is a retiring color
and, although red enters into its composition, it cannot
be classed as a warm color except in its redder hues.
In yellow artificial light, such as gaslight, it appears
brown. Next to green, purple may be considered the
most pleasing of the secondary colors and has almost
universally been considered the royal or imperial color.
It is probable, however, that the Tyrian purple, of
which we have heard so much, approached a crimson or
red, rather than the deep and subdued color known as
purple today.
Luminous and Somber Colors
Colors are also described as:
PRINCIPLES OF COLOR 1 1 5
Luminous or warm:
Yellow
Orange
Red
Light green
Somber or cold :
Blue
Violet
Dark green
Broken tones of luminous colors
Broken Colors
Tertiary or broken colors are not found in the spec-
trum, but may be made by mixing two secondary
colors. They contain all three primary colors in un-
equal proportions and are named according to the pre-
dominating color :
Russet, orange plus purple — red predominating.
Olive, purple plus green — blue predominating.
Citrine, orange plus green — yellow predominat-
ing.
Besides the compound colors called tertiaries, there
are many other hues into which the three primary
colors enter. Among these the most characteristic are
brown, maroon, and gray.
Brown requires black for its basis, with a mixture
Il6 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
of citrine and olive. It is a retiring and sedate color,
but not dismal nor depressing.
Maroon is formed by a mixture of russet and olive,
with an excess of red.
Gray is always restful to the eyes. A perfectly neu-
tral gray which forms the perfect background for other
colors, is a combination of black and white. Besides
the neutral gray, there are many others, as blue-grays,
olive-grays, and green-grays, formed by adding other
colors.
Black and white make gray in whatever combination
they are used.
Absorption and Reflection of Color
The color of any object is due to its power to absorb
certain colored rays in white light and to reflect others.
An object which looks red reflects only the red and
has absorbed the other colored rays. A blue body re-
flects the blue and absorbs all other rays.
White substances reflect all the rays of light; black
substances absorb them all. For this reason black is
said to be the absence of all colors, as white is the
presence of all. (However, no mixture of colored
pigments will produce white. The theory is true only
of light rays. Mixtures of colored paints will produce
By its absorption of light rays, black lowers the tone
PRINCIPLES OF COLOR
of any color placed next to it. Some colors, such as
yellow, it " impoverishes/'
By its reflection of all light rays, white heightens or
brightens the tone of any color which is placed close
beside it.
Complementary Colors
The color rays absorbed by any substance "comple-
ment," or complete, the ones reflected in making white
light. Therefore, they are called the complementary
colors.
The complementary color of :
Blue is orange.
Red is green.
Yellow is violet.
In the diagram (Figure 7) the complementary col-
ors are found by following the various lines across the
circle to the opposite outer edge.
These colors are sometimes supplied by the nerves
of the eye itself which are wearied by looking too long
at one hue. This may be proved by a simple experi-
ment.
If a circular piece of red paper is placed on a white
background and looked at steadily for a time, and then
the eyes are turned toward a white surface, a green
circle exactly corresponding in size to the red one first
Il8 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
seen will appear. A blue or a yellow circle will pro-
duce their complementary colors in a similar man-
ner.
This exhaustion of the nerves of the eye also causes
a color to appear duller after one has looked at it a
long time. If the nerves are rested by another color —
especially the complementary one — they will become
normal again.
When the complementary colors are reflected from
another color rather than a white background, they
change the hue of that color.
To eyes which are fatigued by looking at blue, red
will appear like an orange-red, yellow will be more in-
tense, and green will appear as a yellow-green. If red
has been looked at, blue will appear as a green-
blue, yellow as a green-yellow, and green will appear
blue. After green, red will have a violet appearance,
yellow will be more like orange, blue will be a violet-
blue, and orange a red-orange. These are matters of
great importance in the display of merchandise. The
following rules should be remembered :
Red near blue seems yellower.
Red near yellow seems bluer.
Red near green seems purer and brighter.
Red near black seems duller.
Red near white seems brighter.
Red near gray is not changed.
PRINCIPLES OF COLOR
119
V GREEK!
From " Color Harmony in Dress
by Audsley, by
courtesy of Robert M. McBride & Co.
Figure 7. Diagram Indicating the Primary and Secondary Colors
with Their Hues, Tints, and Contrasts
Other colors are affected in similar ways.
These effects are produced by the natural tendency
to see the complementary of any color, which in the
case of green intensifies the red and in all the other
cases changes its color by mixing their complementary
color with it.
120 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Properties of Color
Colors may be distinguished according to their hue,
their value, and their intensity.
Hues
The word hue may be used in three ways.
In writings on the science of color hue signifies the
property which distinguishes one color from another.
In common speech it is employed to mean a particu-
lar shade or degree of color.
The word is correctly used when applied to the mod-
ification of one color by the addition of another color.
Thus, red-violet and blue-violet are hues of violet made
by the excess of red or of blue. In the diagram the
hues are found between the primary and secondary
colors. Still further divisions are possible.
Values
The value or tone of a color is the gradation from
light to dark by the addition of white in the lighter
tones and of black in the darker ones. A tone lighter
than the standard is properly called a tint, and one
darker is called a shade, but many people call both
tints and shades " shades." Rose color is a tint of red,
while crimson is a shade.
In the diagram the concentric circles represent the
tints produced by adding varying amounts of white;
PRINCIPLES OF COLOR 121
the numerals above the line represent the parts of
color; those below, the parts of white.
Color Scales
The scale of any color, whether it be a pure color or
a hue, consists of all the tones from the lightest tint
to the darkest shade. There are, for instance, scales
of green-blue, purple-blue, and gray-blue.
t
Intensity
Intensity is the strength of a color. The normal or
standard colors are in full intensity. The intensity of
a color is reduced by " graying " it with its comple-
mentary color. By the addition of orange to blue, or
of green to red, the color may be subdued to half -in-
tensity or quarter-intensity, and so on. If a large
amount of the complementary is added, the original
color will be reduced to a dull gray.
Color Harmonies
Harmony in the combination of colors may be of
two kinds :
1. Harmony of contrast.
2. Harmony of analogy or likeness.
Harmony of contrast is between colors which are
most unlike each other. It is perfect when the colors
are complementary. Blue and orange, or red and
122 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
green, are perfectly harmonious, one of the reasons for
the pleasant sensation being that each one deepens
the color of the other and makes it purer. The true
contrasting color of any color may be found by fol-
lowing the cross lines in the diagram. The har-
mony of complementary colors is very bright if the
colors are in full intensity. Grayed or broken tones
make a quieter harmony.
Harmony by contrast may also be secured with the
hues on each side of the complementary color, as blue
with red-orange, or yellow or red with blue-green or
blue-violet.
The harmony of analogy or likeness is between
colors of the same or related color scales. They may
be:
1. Different shades or tints of the same scale, as
light red and dark red.
2. Different hues of the same color, as blue-green
and yellow-green.
The first is sometimes called a mono-chromatic or
self -color harmony. The tints or shades combined
should have enough variety to be distinct, but should
not be so different as to lose their likeness and form a
harmony of contrast. On the diagram these har-
monies are shown along each line from the full color
to white.
PRINCIPLES OF COLOR 123
A dominant harmony may be formed by the use of
a number of hues of the same color, as yellow-green,
gray-green, and blue-green, which blend because green
is dominant.
Color Under Artificial Light
All colors undergo more or less change under arti-
ficial light.
Under gas or lamplight, which is much yellower
than daylight, purples and violets often appear brown.
Some of the darker hues are almost destroyed.
Blue is darkened.
Brown is made warmer in hue.
Green is yellower.
Red, orange, and yellow are all brightened.
The inverted gas mantle gives a somewhat less yel-
low light, and therefore these effects are somewhat less
pronounced.
The incandescent electric light gives a violet hue to
blue, and a reddish hue to brown. It seems to add
some red as well as yellow to colors.
The arc light and Welsbach gas mantle have an
excess of blue, which is imparted to colors.
Chapter XIII
COLOR IN MILLINERY
Commercial Names of Colors
In the field of color it is hard not to be overin-
fluenced by the merely fashionable. There are usu-
ally several stylish shades from which one may choose,
and if none of these are becoming, it is far better to
get something that is becoming, even if it is not the
" very latest."
Every year the Color Association brings out new
color cards, naming these colors just as they choose.
It is not essential to learn all of these names, but it is
helpful to know the leading ones of the year in case
customers ask for them, and also because women are
always interested in the new names.
The name generally suggests something familiar;
for instance, battleship gray, grass green, or peacock
blue. Some names last for many years and some are
not well known even for one season. The names do
not change the colors and it is .more important in
studying color to be^able to see, for instance, that a
Nile green is a green with a little blue in it than merely
to know it by the name^of Nile green. One person
124
COLOR IN MILLINERY 125
may look at a hat and say that it is violet, while an-
other may note that the violet is not pure but has a
reddish tone.
No colors in materials or dyes are really pure ; there
is always a slight admixture of some other color. In
red' found in fabrics, for instance, there is always a
little blue and yellow. The only really pure colors
are found in the rainbow and the prismatic spectrum.
The mixtures of color and the resulting tints and shades
are much more varied and pleasing for general use and
much more becoming than the pure, strong colors
would be. Altogether, the rainbow hues and the
shades and tints that can be made of these number
about 3,000 to 4,000 known colors and color tones.
It is small wonder that new tones can come out every
year and the supply still remain unexhausted. Since
there are so many possible color combinations, ' it is
impossible to know all the fancy names. But it is
possible and most useful to be able to tell the compo-
sition of each color tone; that is, what its basic color
is, and just how large an amount of black or white
there is in it. . This ability, though it is often uncon-
scious, is essential if one is to become a good judge of
color.
The head of a very successful dressmaking estab-
lishment once said : " I don't care what a color is
called. I want to be able to see what it 'is; to analyze
126 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
it." She found this power of analysis important as a
first step in deciding what would go well with a certain
color. There are a number of laws that are helpful
in determining this.
Training the Sense of Color
Does everyone have a changeless instinct for color
from the beginning? A baby reaches for colored
balls, especially for the gayest and brightest. Primi-
tive peoples and peasants show their love of bright,
vivid colors in their adornments and dress. Very
young people instinctively like gayer, unsoftened col-
ors better than older people do.
This, therefore, is a reason for not allowing one's
color sense to stay at a standstill, because with culti-
vation the taste for color becomes more refined. An
uneducated taste prefers combinations of bright col-
ors, but as the eye becomes trained it sees more color
in tones it formerly thought dull. Think of a young
boy's choice of neckties when he has his own way!
Yet bright colors are not to be condemned by any
means. Sometimes a small violet or scarlet hat is just
the touch needed to complete a certain costume.
However, it takes a trained eye to know just when
and how bright colors may be worn, for they are far
more difficult to choose and arrange than more quiet
tones.
COLOR IN MILLINERY 127
Questions of Taste Solved by a Knowledge of Color
Harmony
Color harmonies arejiot, however, matters of indi-
vidual taste, but based on scientific laws [which may be
learned by everyone. The saleswoman in the Milli-
nery Department can learn to make the right com-
binations when she knows these laws and has trained
her taste. Every day questions arise which can be
solved by a knowledge of the laws of color. For in-
stance, what color would you choose to make a sallow
complexion look a little pinker? What colors will
bring out the gold and yellow in blond hair? In
choosing becoming shades the hair, eyes, and complex-
ion all have to be considered, as all are affected by the
choice of a color.
It is remarkable how the right color in some Ceases
will make even the eyebrows appear to great advan-
tage. In a color class two shades of brown were tried
on an auburn-haired girl with beautifully penciled eye-
brows. One of them called no attention to her eye-
brows, while the other showed their beauty. Both
shades were equally becoming in other respects.
Bringing Out the Best Features in a Face
In some faces you wish to call attention to a good
feature, or to hide a bad one. The right color will
either bring out or subdue lines. Suppose tan and
128 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
putty tones happen to be in vogue. How many people
there are who should never put on such colors, since
their faces have not enough natural color to counter-
act the yellow and gray effect.
Good flesh tints cannot be brought out by colors
which, working according to the law of complements,
make the complexion look blue or green.
Reflection
In one way only is there an offset or exception to
the effects of complements, and that is when there i$
a chance for reflection. Only when the materials near
the face are glossy enough to reflect their color upon
it, will this action counteract the law of complements
and produce the effect of the same color that is worn.
With a little practice you can see cases of reflection
and even produce the effect yourself when it is needed.
Perhaps the under brim of a hat, where reflection fre-
quently works, is the best illustration in millinery.
If the under brim is silky or glossy enough to reflect
its color upon the face of the wearer, this effect will
be obtained rather than the effect of the opposite or
complementary color.
Reflection often makes gray or nondescript eyes
look dark blue.
Characteristics of Colors
As you think more about colors they seem to develop
COLOR IN MILLINERY 129
distinct characteristics and each color gains a vivid
meaning.
.RedL
Red is a stimulant which livens its surroundings.
It attracts attention, is cheerful and agreeable. Used
in small quantities it is one of the prettiest of costume
decorations. It is the color of fire and warmth and
seems more suitable for winter than summer wear.
The darker tones of red are apt to be becoming to both
blondes and brunettes, especially to those with a clear
complexion. Bright red, however, will bring out any
greenish hue in the skin. It is not at all becoming to
those with auburn hair. A red-haired person cannot
wear pink unless it is softened or veiled in some way.
The broken hues of red, such as russet or maroon, are
safer.
The trouble with a stimulant is that one is apt to
grow tired of it in large quantities. This is especially
true of red. One is likely to grow tired of a red dress
or hat long before it is worn out, and if a person is
to have only one hat it is not wise to choose a red
one.
To some people red is so intense and exciting as to
be disagreeable. Pure, red should not be combined,
with yellow or orange, but rather with blue, blue-green,
and green. All these combinations are better if one,
130 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
or both, of the colors are half -intensity or softened
with neutrals.
Red is easy to match in artificial light as it changes
very little.
Orange
Orange is a gay color, warm and bright, stimulating
and exciting. It must be used very carefully, as a little
of it goes a long way. Can you think of many people
to whom it is becoming? It is usually very trying to
wear, because it is so intense and gives the skin a
bluish tinge.
Broken tones of orange are more becoming to
brunettes and auburn-haired people. A blonde has a
good deal of yellow, cream, and tan already in her
coloring and the intense brightness of the orange
makes them look dull and faded. Besides, the
stronger tones of orange clash with the shades of her
hair.
Orange combines poorly with red and only fairly
with red, violet, and green, but well with blue, blue-
green, and blue-violet.
Yellow
Yellow, like the sunlight, brightens everything it
touches.
Broken tones of yellow make tans and browns also,
COLOR IN MILLINERY 131
of a less warm tinge ; these hues are easier to wear than
pure yellow, which is trying to the complexion. The
cream tint of yellow is very becoming, and most people
look better in a cream-colored hat than in a pure white
one.
Yellow is apt to be more becoming to brunettes than
to blondes, unless it is greatly softened. It combines
well with violet, purple, dark red, and blue, but is not
so pleasing with orange, scarlet, blue-green, or green.
Green
Green is cool, refreshing, and restful, reminding us
of the grass and trees, and perhaps because nature
shows us that it is a wise choice, we use it in hats and
clothing. The deeper, richer tones are usually ex-
pensive in imitation foliage and in straw, as the dyes
are -costlier.
Shades of blue-green are said to be the most flatter-
ing of all colors. Blue-green brings out the comple-
mentary color of soft pink in the cheeks of the wearer.
It seems to eliminate the yellow and to clear up the
complexion, and thus makes the skin look whiter. It
is particularly becoming to those with pale skins, and
so it is worn a great deal in the southern part of the
country, where the warmth, too, makes a cool color
pleasing.
The only persons who should not wear this color
132 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
are those with very bright red cheeks, or florid com-
plexions. No wonder we find so many hats in this
color, or trimmed with it, perhaps correcting another
color that is more difficult to wear.
Green is difficult to match and changes somewhat in
artificial light. Other colors go well with certain
shades of green, especially with a soft grayish blue-
green, but pure green is somewhat hard to combine
well, particularly with other tones of green. It is
good with violet and just the right shades of blue and
green are beautiful together, but often the wrong hues
are chosen.
Blue
When one thinks of blue one thinks of the distant
hills, the lakes, the ocean, the sky. Even the air seems
cooler.
Blue is perhaps the most popular of all colors for
wearing apparel, as it seems to bring out the character
and delicacy of a face.
Blue is becoming to blondes, because its comple-
mentary, orange, combines with their rose or
cream-white coloring to make a delicate flesh tint.
Pale brunettes should not wear light blue, because
it gives a tint of orange yellow to their darker
complexions.
Blue is a restful color to choose and one does not
COLOR IN MILLINERY 133
grow tired of it. In the brighter and lighter tones and
in the cheaper grades, blue straw, ribbons, and other
materials are apt to fade.
Blue is one of the hardest colors to match under arti-
ficial light and the results cannot be trusted, as blue
looks duller in any light which has in it an excess of
yellow. Blue in its darker tones combines well with
scarlet or red, and light blue with yellow or orange, but
not with violet.
VUlet
Violet is a cool, summery color, yet not too cold,
especially if it is a red- violet. It is becoming to people
with fair, rosy complexions. The blue-violet shades
are more becoming to auburn hair than the red-violet
ones. The latter combination is daring and too often
misses being just right. Violet combines well with
orange, yellow, and blue-green, but poorly with scarlet
or red, and is not so good with orange as with yellow.
The becoming effect of violet usually depends upon the
amount of pink in the complexion. It brings out the
yellow tinge in a pale or sallow skin.
We used to associate violet with old ladies, and it
was the only color that elderly people were supposed
to wear with dignity. While it is a very dignified
color, the symbol of royalty, our ideas have changed
in recent years and we are pleased not only to see chil-
134 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
dren in lavender, but also to see elderly people in blues
and even brighter colors when they are becoming.
Variety in Color
An old saying, " Variety is the spice of life," is no-
where more true than in the world of color. How
tired we should become of always seeing equal pro-
portions of colors used together. Rarely is a hat made
and trimmed with equal amounts of two or more
colors, and if it is, these are so arranged as to produce
a varied effect. The rule that varying amounts of
color are attractive generally holds good.
Variety is pleasing not only in the amount of
color but also in its degree of darkness. If two colors
do not look well together, by taking a tint of one and
a shade of the other, and perhaps softening one or
both with gray, white, or black, the two will make an
attractive harmony. A light green may go beautifully
with a dark blue, or a pink with a violet, whereas the
full green or red might not have looked so well.
Many illustrations of this law of variety may be found
in hats, especially in their trimmings.
The most economical way to dress is to find the one
or two colors that are the most becoming and to stick
to those in choosing wearing apparel. Then every-
thing matches. Many people choose dark blue, which
is generally becoming. If you have a customer who
COLOR IN MILLINERY 135
needs to be economical you can help her in this way,
and try to influence her against getting something that
will not do to wear with her other clothes.
Restfulness of Neutral Colors
A neutral color, like a neutral person or nation, is
one which favors nobody and supposedly gets along
well with all. Black, white, and gray are the most
important neutral colors. Strictly speaking, white is
not a color at all but just light, and black is the absence
of light. Any colors can be combined with them and
for this reason they are very widely used in millinery.
Neutral colors are restful and quieting to the eye.
They do not stimulate the optic nerves unduly except
in dazzling whites or in extreme combinations of black
and white, which always make a striking effect. In
choosing a hat to show to a customer who wears a
bright colored suit, it is well to select a softening
neutral. The hat may have a touch of bright color to
match the suit.
As a rule neutral colors do not attract attention and
that is why most stores require* their employees to
wear them. It is also the reason why, in arranging
hats for display, good decorators make neutral back-
grounds in order to bring out the colors of all the hats
to greater advantage, and yet avoid inharmonious
effects.
136 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
If two colors do not go especially well together, a
touch of black with them or their entire separation by
the use of black or white will soften and harmonize
the combination, and perhaps make each more effec-
tive.
Other neutrals which are much used in hats are
colors with a good deal of black or gray in them, such
as brown, green-gray, and tan. Yellow is a color that
goes well with almost every other, especially when
softened to a cream, because yellow is near white in
lightness and, like gold or the sunlight, tones in with
everything. Many straws are either tan or yellow,
and the natural straw harmonizes well with any color
of trimming.
Neutrals in dress and hats are at least safe, although
if untouched by brightening colors they are apt to ap-
pear somewhat sober. A certain distinction may often
be seen, however, in hats of black, gray, or white where
the absence of color only emphasizes the beauty of
the graceful and unusual lines.
Combinations of Neutrals with Brighter Colors
Study the effect of neutrals in combination with other
colors. It may take weeks to train the eye to be really
observant of color. Like any other faculty, it can be
developed greatly by training. When you have leisure
as on a rainy day, study the hats in your department.
COLOR IN MILLINERY 137
Note what neutrals are lightened by bits of color or
what colors would be improved by the use of a neutral
in combination. Skilful designers place a neutral
color, often white or cream, about the neck of a dress
or under the brim of a hat, in order to make them
more becoming.
How to Train One's Self in Color-Taste
One of the most successful ways of training one's
self in color-taste is to try hats upon one's friends. It
is remarkable to note the actual changes in the appear-
ance of hair, eyes, and complexions with different
colors. There is a useful old saying, " Match your
eyes for the house and your hair for the street," but
it cannot be applied indiscriminately.
Each of your friends represents a type of the cus-
tomers who will come to you, and with this practice
you may learn the colors to suggest to them. And
since you are often required to plan the trimming of
hats, note everywhere about you the effects of com-
binations of color.
In the rack of hosiery or of ties in the store, have
the articles been hung in the way that you would hang
them? Would the change of one or two improve the
effect of the whole? The pretty effect of a display
is often ruined by just one clashing color. What
colors seem to you to clash ? Do not believe what you
138 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
are told by others in this respect but test the matter for
yourself.
By persistent study you will surely increase and de-
velop your good taste. The reward of paying greater
attention to color combinations is immeasurable. So
many people wear unbecoming colors because they
know nothing of color effects.
Some day, perhaps, every woman will find it easy to
obtain this information to aid her in dressing; until
then the intelligent saleswoman should be able to im-
part it to her customer. The customer may, of course,
ask for and prefer unbecoming colors, but this hap-
pens very rarely. She is usually more than grateful
if her time is not wasted in trying on hats which are
not suited to her coloring.
Chapter XIV
FORM OR SHAPE IN MILLINERY
Choosing a Hat
" I think I'll get a tricorn," said a friend of mine,
and a tricorn she bought forthwith. In this way many
people decide the shape of the hats they wear. " I
want a large-brimmed hat or a poke," one thinks and
tries to find the prettiest hat of the type previously
decided upon. This method does not always result in
securing the most becoming hat, unless from previous
experience the customer first considers what shape is
best suited to her face. In addition to the question of
color, there is the equally important problem of the
lines of the hat. It is necessary to fit the hat to the
head to determine its becomingness.
Importance of the Lines of a Hat
The power of the line is almost inconceivable.
Faces seem to grow shorter or longer, fuller or thin-
ner, noses appear to raise or to lower their tips, and
even eyes seem to grow slanting or straight, large or
small, under the influence of the shape of the hat.
139
140 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
One artist says of hats : " The funny punch in the
brim may bring out all the gayety of a face ; the long,
soft droop may accentuate its pathos; the jaunty up-
fling on the side may give it a sudden brave note,"
whereas : " the wrong line may accentuate in a face,
not its bravery but its coarseness, not its prettiness but
its pettiness, not its pathos but its heaviness."
The science of this witchery of line is elusive and
only generalities can be stated concerning it, but the
same persistent, alert observation and effort by which
your eye for color is cultivated will develop sensitive-
ness to the magical influence of a line.
The shape of the hat may be analyzed under several
headings :
1. The relation of the parts to each other.
2. The kinds of lines, curves, and angles, and
their relation to each other.
3. The relation which the form of the hat bears to
the different proportions of the faces and
heads of different individuals.
Relation Between the Parts of a Hat
The relation of the parts of the hat to one another
has to do with the amount of trimming and the size
of the brim in proportion to the crown.
There should be the right proportion between the
width of the brim and the height of the crown* A
FORM OR SHAPE IN MILLINERY 141
poorly proportioned hat may look top-heavy or too
much like a pancake. However, rightly arranged and
massed, trimming may correct this fault in a hat.
Another way in which a hat may offend the eye is
by the appearance of too much weight at*the back,
front, or side. A hat should look as though it would
stay upon the head of the wearer without great effort
upon her part. If an unusually large amount of trim-
ming is upon one side of the hat body or brim or at
the back or front, it should be there only to bring out
or to correct something in the face. For instance, a
head that is too narrow from back to front, may wear
a hat with an extra mass in the back.
Lines, Curves, and Angles, and Their Relations
Lines are either straight, broken, or curved. In a
hat, perfection of curve makes a beautiful shape. The
curved lines should (seem to flow into one another, or
to grow out of one 'another; they should not come to
abrupt stops, but go on invisibly in our imagination.
A peculiar characteristic of a line is that when the
eye once rests upon it, it tends to follow the direction
of the line; this is why the most skilfully designed
curves seem to grow out of each other. For instance,
trimming often softens into a delicate little curve the
otherwise sharp angle at the base of the crown where
it joins the brim. If the hat is made up of curved
142 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
lines, the trimming should follow these in order to be
artistic.
If the hat has been fashioned stiffly in a more tail-
ored style with broken lines and angles, the decorations
are correspondingly stiff er, more angular, and tailored.^
This principle should guide one in choosing trimming.
Have you not noticed as a general thing that soft,
floppy hats have more curving, flowing, graceful trim-
mings than tailored hats, which favor straighter
feathers, stick-ups, stiff bows, and other angular trim-
mings? Trimming which sticks right out from some
spot on a hat is apt to be inartistic, awkward, and diffi-
cult to wear. Lines which curve and grow out of one
another are said to have rhythm, like a flowing melody
in a song. Sharp angles and lines suddenly breaking
away from the direction in which the eye expects them
to go are harder to handle. Certain seasons bring into
favor more artistic shapes and methods of trimming
than do others.
Symmetry in a Hat
If a hat is exactly the same on one side as the other,
that is, if one side, trimming and all, supposing it
folded over were to coincide with the other, the hat is
said to be symmetrical. Such a hat is more difficult to
wear than one which has different but well-balanced
sides, and if slightly askew is apt to call attention to the
FORM OR SHAPE IN MILLINERY 143
fact that it is not on straight. A symmetrical hat
never should be worn by a person with irregular
features. A very pretty girl whose nose is slightly to
one side cannot wear a symmetrical hat nor have her
hair parted in the middle without calling attention to
irregular feature.
Balance
By a well-balanced hat is meant one in which the
weight or mass on one side balances the other. For
instance, if a mass of trimming is on one side, there
should be more brim on the other to balance it. Color
cleverly used helps in securing proper balance. A
bright bit of color which attracts the attention may
outweigh a larger mass on the opposite side of the hat.
One side of a trimmed hat should appear to have
the same mass or weight, if not the same shape, as the
other side. Two curves of equal length are ,not so
good as two of unequal length. Too much contrast or
variance is as bad as too much similarity in a hat.
Adapting the Size and Shape of a Hat to the Wearer
All these relations of line and mass of the hat are
most important in connection with the person who is to
wear it. The type of her face, the size and shape of
her head, and her figure must be considered.
A dainty little lady does not look well hidden under
144 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
a hat too large for her The husband of a certain
woman insisted on her wearing large hats, which made
her look thin, and she could not change his ideas be-
cause she did not know enough about form to convince
him that he was wrong.
A large woman looks ridiculous in a hat that is eithe
too small or too large. She should divert attention
from her size by avoiding extremes.
A tall, well-proportioned woman, or one of medium
height, may wear a large hat, unless she has a thin
face.
A short woman should not be made to look shorter
by a flat, low hat, any more than the height of a tall
woman should be much increased by a high hat.
A hat that extends beyond the width of the shoul-
ders is considered inartistic.
The lines of the hat when on the head have to be
considered in their relation to the lines of the face in
order to bring out good features and to make poor ones
more attractive.
There are a number of general types of faces, but
these are sometimes changed or modified by some un-
usual element in the face, head, or person, so that
while the following discussion of types and the shapes
of hats that suit them is true in a general way, you
will wish to test its application for yourself. Study
the lines of people's hats and see how they affect the
FORM OR SHAPE IN MILLINERY 145
faces of the wearers. You cannot do this in imagi-
nation. The best method is to try hats upon your
friends and to analyze the effect of each hat you place
upon the head of a customer.
The Full, Round Face
A full, round face needs to have this fullness re-
duced, so that threatening fatness may look like soft,
normal curves. The face needs lengthening generally
and reducing in size.
For such a face a small hat is bad if it has no brim or
a turned-up brim. Medium and large-brimmed hats
are more becoming. ( See Figures 8 and 9. )
A hat with large deep curves would probably not
look so well as one with a moderately curving or a
straight brim, as the curves in the face are too broad
already.
^\A sailor looks well on a woman of this type, and
also a brim turned down slightly on one side and up
on the other. It is becoming to have the brim wider
in front than at the sides, as this also lessens the round
effect of the face.
Flat Features
The person with flat features is a type similar to the
one with round features in the treatment needed, so
that the same suggestions apply to her. An oval or a
10 II
Figure 8. A Full Face Cannot Wear a Turban
Figure 9. A Full Face Looks Well in a Large-Brimmed Hat
Figure 10. A Snub-Nosed Person Should Not Wear a Turban
Figure u. A Person with Regular Features Can Wear a Turban
146
I
FORM OR SHAPE IN MIlLlNERY 147
round hat, unless the front is deeper than the back, in-
creases the flat appearance of her face, but a brim
wider in front would be becoming, unless she had a
snub nose.
Snub Noses
To avoid accentuating a decidedly snub* nose, avoid
a crown of round conical shape or hats that turn up
front, or that have no brim in front. ( See
10 and n.) A brim of medium or large size
will hide a snub nose and tend to make it look
straighter.
The Thin Face
Softness can be given to the lower part of a thin
face by wearing the hair low and not too tight upon
the head. Waving it helps also.
A small hat with a narrow or up-turned brim is
becoming to the thin- faced woman. (See Figure 12.)
She can also wear large crowns and shapes that are
mostly crown. However, her nose may be too sharp
or too large for the up-turned brim in the front of the
hat.
A thin face with a sharp prominent nose does not
look well in tricorns. A large hat makes a thin face
look too peaked, and small by contrast. (See Figure
14 15
Figure 12. A Thin Face Looks Well in a Turban
Figure 13. A Thin Face Cannot Wear a Large-Brimmed Hat
Figure 14. An Older Face Needs a Hat Soft in Material and
Trimmings
Figure 15. A Youthful Face Can Wear a Hat with Stiff,
Straight Lines in Shape and Trimming
148
FORM OR SHAPE IN MILLINERY 149
13.) A small hat brings out all the fullness and
delicacy of curve that there is.
The oval shape, or one narrower from side to side
than frorn back to front, is good for her. She should
avoid hats with conical crowns.
The Angular
The sharp-featured face offers much the same prob-
thin face but even more difficulty, for this
be careful to choose a hat with no lines
tmitaccentuate the angles of her nose, cheeks, chin, etc.
Softness in the curves and lines of the hat, as well as
softness- in its materials, is more becoming to her.
Sharp, stiff, tailored hats are apt to increase her
angularity and thinness.
Velvet and other pile fabrics, and soft straws are
more becoming than stiff, glossy materials.
Age
For older people the materials and lines of the hat
should be soft, in order to ease the lines of the face.
As has just been said, gloss in materials usually sug-
gests stiffness.
An elderly face cannot wear a youthful hat with the
straight, stiff lines that the young can stand, but de-
mands moderate, soft curves. (See Figures 14 and
IS-)'
MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
The large, floppy style that is also becoming to
youthful faces is apt to cast shadows on an older face
and to make its wrinkles look deeper.
Foliage and flowers, graceful feathers, plumes, and
soft ribbons make more becoming styles of trimming
than stiffer forms, like stick-ups.
Sometimes you will have to suggest hats for a
younger face prematurely aged, with worried, worn
lines, which needs the same softening that
face does. The old-fashioned type of stiff, l
straw bonnet or hat for older ladies could not possibly
have been more unbecoming, and is rarely seen now
except in cartoons of old maids. Fortunately it is the
style for older people
to dress more becom-
ingly at the present
time.
Medium Type of Face
The face, which is
neither too full nor too
thin, with fairly regu-
lar features, can wear
almost any hat, large
or small, but the lines
and materials of some
bring out good points
than othefs do
Figure je.
to Hide
FORM OR SHAPE IN MILLINERY 151
It is as much a test of skill and good taste to choose
an actively becoming hat for this customer as it is to
suit harder types.
The medium face, as indeed all others, usually looks
better if some of the hair is allowed to show on the
forehead below the edge of the hat. No matter what
the style, the hair should never quite touch the eye-
brows, as this destroys their pretty lines. (See Fig-
ure 1 6.)
Extremes
Extremes of any kind are to be avoided, as they are
hard to wear and have to be chosen with great care.
Americans usually modify extremes in imported
French hats. Often the too boldly up-flung side of a
hat brim imparts a coarse, aggressive look to the face,
instead of the piquant expression a tastefully turned-
up brim would give.
Whether a woman is rich or poor, it is possible for
her to buy a becoming hat. It all depends upon her
taste, and that of the salesperson. A general smatter-
ing of knowledge will not be of much use, but per-
sistent, careful study on the salesperson's part along
the lines suggested will not fail to develop the ability
to choose tasteful and suitable hats for customers.
Chapter XV
MAKING AND TRIMMING HATS
Relation Between the Saleswoman and the Workroom
Every Millinery Department has its workroom for
the alteration and trimming of hats, and expert milli-
ners have acquired their skill through a long course of
training. Some salespeople, however, may be used in
the workroom between seasons to their own and the
store's advantage, if they know the simpler points
about custom work and have deft fingers.
Such knowledge will also help them to sell exclusive
hats, as they can point out the differences between
these and the more common styles. Suggestions as to
the renovating of hats and trimmings are also useful
to the saleswoman and appreciated by the customer.
Hat Frames
The foundation of a hand-made hat is usually a
frame, which may be altered from a factory-made
frame or made entirely by hand. Hat wire and wil-
low make a simple and practical foundation which is
much used. If a frame is to be made entirely of wire
152
MAKING AND TRIMMING HATS 153
and then covered with crinoline, frame hat wire, fine
tie wire, and a pair of pliers or pincers are necessary.
Measurements are marked on the inside of the hat to be
copied, such as the outside edge of the brim, the width
of the brim in the front, sides, and back, the depth of
the crown, the diameter of the tip of the crown, the size
around the top, and the size of the base of the crown.
In instructions given for making hats, these are called
the front brim, back, right, left, head, edge, crown,
height of crown, side to side, etc. In fancy shapes
other measurements may be required.
The Buckram or Willow Frame
A simple frame may be made of willow with a cir-
cular or oval piece for the top of the crown, a piece
shaped like a man's collar for the sides of the crown,
and a circular or oval piece with a hole in the center
the size of the head, for the brim. A pattern for the
sides of the crown can be made by cutting a straight
piece of paper and pinning many darts in it until it
fits the top of the crown and the head. The edge is
wired by sewing edge hat wire with a strong thread
and buttonhole stitch, around the edge of the brim, the
edge of the top of the crown, and the base of the
crown.
Buckram is too heavy to be much used, although
formerly it was used a great deal.
154 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
The Wire Frame
In a frame made wholly of wire, the crown and brim
may be made together, or the crown may be completed
first and then the brim extended from that. If crown
and brim are made together, a hoop of heavy frame
hat wire is made for the edge of the top of the crown,
and another for the base of the crown; where the hoop
ends overlap, fine tie wire is used to hold them in place.
Heavy wire is then used to make the spokes of the cart-
wheel effect, bent at right angles over the edge of the
top of the crown, and bent 'out again at the base of the
crown (or otherwise twisted once around the wire at
the base of the crown) to form the brim. Where
wires are not twisted but only bent, fine tie wire must
be used to fasten such crossing of wires as the work
progresses. The outer edge of the brim is made by
twisting the spokes once each about the frame hat wire
which is being used for the edge of the brim. The
ends of this wire are held together by fine tie wire as
stated above. The ends of the spokes should be cut
off in such a way that they do not stick up. Frame
hat wire is then run around the form as often as neces-
sary to make a firm, circular or oval shape, and a bit
of the fine tie wire is used to hold the crossing wires in
place.
If the crown is to be made complete before starting
the brim, the crown is finished off by twisting the
MAKING AND TRIMMING HATS 155
spokes about the base, and cutting off their ends. New
spokes then start from about an inch above the base
of the crown, being twisted around the circular wire at
that point and the ends cut off, and at the base are
twisted or bent outward at right angles for the brim.
The form is made stronger if the spoke wire is twisted
instead of bent.
These frames may be covered with thin crinoline or
similar material by securing with strong thread.
Bows
Some standard bows are the rosette, loop rosette,
butterfly bow, tied bow, Alsatian, and fan-shaped bow.
There are a few tricks in making bows. The simple
cravat bow is one that everyone knows how to make.
Upon its evenness and grace depends its attractiveness.
Rosettes may be made in several ways. A common
way is to fold a ribbon in ten or twelve even lengths,
hold them together evenly and smoothly, and tie or sew
another bit of ribbon about the center of the loops.
The loops can be pulled out into various shapes, flat or
stand-up.
A method which will make a perfectly uniform and
even rosette, with the same side of the ribbon always
out, is to measure the loops of ribbon half the length
of the rosette just described, that is, not measuring
for a double loop but for a single one. The ribbon will
156 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
be folded flat back and forth about twenty times.
With needle and thread every other crease is caught
together, forming a straight series of loops. Different
effects are obtained either by drawing the threads tight
at the base of the loops or by leaving the base ungath-
ered, just sewed flat. This method is used for making
only two or three loops for a large stick-up, or for
any series of loops. If the series of loops is to form a
rosette, the length of loops is twisted circularly and
caught with a thread. Some bows are made of ribbon
wired and glued together to give the effect of a bow.
One can practice bow-making with paper, old ribbon,
or a strip of narrow cloth. .. Some bows need wire
tacked on the inside to hold them erect.
Method of Affixing Trimmings
Formerly all trimming was sewn to the hat, but now
there are a number of kinds of " Milliner's Glue," or
cement, which is used a great deal in fastening flow-
ers, ribbons, etc., to the hat. These liquids must resist
moisture, not injure the materials, be permanent, and
have a strong adhesive power.
Often trimmings are attached to the hat by slipping
them through slits in the hat itself.
Linings
Mercerized materials and China and taffeta silks
MAKING AND TRIMMING HATS 157
are generally used for hat linings. These are of two
styles. One style is drawn up in the center by a
thread or tape and fastened to the apex of the crown.
The other fitted style is very much like the linings in
men's hats; it is in two pieces, one placed flat on the
inside of the crown, the other placed around the sides
of the crown and attached to the other piece. Linings
should be put in slightly above the base of the crown
so as not to show.
Maline is used for lining transparent hats. Satin
and ribbon are now used also. Linings usually match
the hat in color.
Some workrooms buy linings all ready to sew in, and
it takes a skilful girl between a minute and a half and
four minutes to sew one in.
Freshening and Cleaning
Customers will appreciate information upon the care
and cleaning of millinery. The saleswoman should be
able to tell her some ways of doing this at home.
To freshen velvet and to take out the creases, it is
steamed. A good method for the amateur is to run it
back and forth over the open top or spout of a kettle of
boiling water. Pressing velvet on the surface with a
hot iron lays the nap flat and makes a glossy panne
velvet effect. If the nap is not to be laid flat it must
not be ironed on the right side except with a cool iron.
158 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Straw hats may be cleaned with a good soap and
warm water, then bleached, stuffed with coarse paper
to restore the shape, and dried in the sun. This
method gives a cream-white result. A dead white is
obtained by the use of oxalic acid, but this is not good
for the straw. Lemon juice is a good bleach for hats.
A faded colored straw may be improved with a fresh
coat of shellac polish made for the purpose. The way
in which hats are put away has a great deal to do with
their preservation and fresh appearance. It preserves
the shape of a hat to put it on a form, or pin it up by
the inside, so that the brim is not allowed to support it.
The curling of feathers is rather difficult as an
amateur is apt to break the flues. Several flues are
pulled together between the thumb and the back of the
knife; this process is repeated until the flues are suffi-
ciently curled.
Although bleaching feathers requires chemical
knowledge, white feathers that are soiled and yellow
may be improved immensely by scrubbing them with
castile soap and warm water, and after rinsing dyeing
them the faintest blue.
Feathers may be dyed in the lighter shades by fol-
lowing the methods adopted by professional dyers as
given in Chapter VIII. About two-thirds of a tea-
spoonful of either formic or oxalic acid in a pint of
water will set the dye for one or two feathers.
Chapter XVI
SUGGESTIONS TO SALESPEOPLE
What the Customer Is Wearing
The skilful salesperson notices a customer as she
approaches and besides being ready with a pleasant,
alert look and a greeting, if it seems acceptable, ob-
serves what the customer is wearing, whether it is
becoming, what color and kind of hat she has on,
whether it goes well with her clothes, and her general
type of face and figure. She does not stop this mental
observation when she begins talking to the customer;
but she needs to be alert and to continue her obser-
vations while the customer is standing at the counter.
Perhaps it is the courteous practice in your department
for you to meet the customers as they come in. A
look of greeting serves as well as spoken words and
since some customers object to being spoken to, a cor-
dial appearance of attention will invite them to speak
if they so desire.
Visiting Among Salespeople
It is disconcerting and makes a customer feel unwel-
159
160 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
come to enter and find the salespeople idly talking
among themselves and paying no attention to her.
Do you not think that in most cases this visiting
among the salespeople, especially noticeable on dull
days, and a practice which every manager objects to,
is due to a lack of ambition and intelligent interest on
their part ? There are so many things they might do !
There is no lack of opportunity for study in this de-
partment. They might be studying materials, straws,
color, form, trying trimmings on hats, and even learn-
ing how to talk more effectively to the customers.
Learning to Talk About Hats
How many different words do you think can be
found to describe a certain hat? If several salespeople
try to think of every possible good expression, begin-
ning with each letter of the alphabet in turn, the num-
ber of words to be found is remarkable. For instance,
each person suggests a word beginning with " a "
which will describe a chosen hat, and this search for
words keeps going around the circle till no more can
be found beginning with " a " and then " b " is taken
up. Each word is put down on a paper and the result
counted.
Such a game will help the salespeople to avoid the
common, poor, everyday expressions which have been
BO overworked and abused that often they even offend
SUGGESTIONS TO SALESPEOPLE l6l
customers. It is not necessary to cite them. " Sweet,"
" dear," " dressy," " stunning," " little," are some of
them, and there are dozens of others.
Trade Papers and Home Study
A chance for interesting reading and study is to be
found in the magazines and papers which the manager
of the department takes. He is always very willing
to loan them to interested people.
A great number of salespeople as well as buyers sub-
scribe personally to a good department store paper,
which contains items of interest for every department.
Even if only one idea is obtained from an article, it is
worth while to read it.
Factory Visiting
In certain cities it may be possible for the salespeople
to arrange to visit some factories that produce articles
in their line. Many managers would be only too
glad to take the salespeople if they are interested, and
nothing could be more instructive and helpful than
these trips.
The Care of Stock
Perhaps one of the most important and least recog-
nized opportunities to study merchandise lies in the
daily care of stock. Simple dusting, rearranging, and
inspection may seem a homely task, but it affords a
162 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
splendid chance to handle, examine, and become inti-
mately familiar with every kind of merchandise in the
department. It affords an opportunity to learn prices,
and this knowledge may afterwards be helpful in mak-
ing a sale. While a good stock-keeper may not be a
merchandise expert, an expert in merchandise is always
a good stock-keeper.
The duty of caring for the stock should not be done
listlessly and carelessly, but intelligently, with every
faculty awake to the opportunity of learning the
goods. In addition, good stock-keeping is of the ut-
most importance to the ambitious saleswoman, for by
the personal attention she gives it she can keep her
stock in the freshest and most salable condition, and
thereby avoid the handicap of soiled or damaged mer-
chandise.
Such care helps to prevent accumulations of slow-
moving merchandise and the consequent losses through
reductions or mark-downs. An expert stock-keeper is
often invaluable to her manager, and frequently draws
a higher salary than a co-worker who sells more, but
does not keep her stock as though it were her own
treasured personal possession.
Seating the Customer
Care in seating a customer comfortably before a
mirror is a very important factor in making a sale.
SUGGESTIONS TO SALESPEOPLE 163
Fatigue leads to indecision and many women leave
without buying just because they are tired.
Careful Selection of Stock
After your customer is seated, bring her well-
selected hats to try on. It makes a good impression to
know your prices accurately; so if you do not know
the price of a hat, it is well to glance at the price ticket
without being observed by the customer. It may not
be necessary to show many hats if they are well chosen.
The salesperson with taste and judgment can suit her
patrons very easily. How many times do you sell a
customer the very first hat you show her? Do you
know what is the proportion of your sales to the num-
ber of people whom you approach?
It is well to keep a record of this for a time and to
note how your percentage increases with study. The
percentage of the persons entering a certain depart-
ment to whom sales were made has been known to in-
crease in three weeks from 52 to 90 per cent when the
salespeople were studying their merchandise and the
proper methods of salesmanship.
Customers Who Are " Just Looking "
It is of course discouraging to have a woman say she
is " just looking." But why does she say it? In most
cases because she was not met in the most tactful way.
1 64 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
She was probably asked a foolish question that meant
little, such as, " Are you looking for a hat ? " or
"Something in hats?" which forced her to reply in
that way. She has come with an interest in hats or she
would not be there. Yet she did not want to place
herself in a position where she might be made to buy
or to admit that she might buy, so she said she was
" just looking."
In some departments such an expression perhaps
might pass with the salespeople, but as you know it
does little good to " just look " at hats. They must
be tried on and fitted to the customer before anything
definite can be decided about them. It would take too
powerful an imagination to picture how the hat off the
head would look on it.
No person, therefore, who enters the department
should be allowed to " just look " at hats without a
tactful word. If she does not realize the necessity of
trying on a hat to find out whether she likes it or not,
she should be tactfully taught. For instance, the sales-
person might say, " It is hard to tell how a hat looks
until it is on the head. I should be glad to help you by
fitting you even if you do not wish to buy."
Even though the customer says she does not intend
to buy, the wise salesperson should be willing and
ready to fit her, and by this method will often make a
sale.
SUGGESTIONS TO SALESPEOPLE 165
Avoiding Questions
It is of the first importance that the customer should
not be antagonized by the questions that are so often
asked her. The best way is to ask her to be seated and
to begin to show her merchandise with as few direct
questions as possible.
Every question that you can avoid asking is a point
gained. Questions create antagonism and weariness
and if you can find out your customer's ideas about
price, size, shape, color, etc., without asking a single
direct question, you will find your sales and your clien-
tele increasing.
Show her the hats your studies tell you are the best
suited to her, and from her comments gather all her
ideas about hats. Follow the hints she gives you, and
the customer herself will guide you to a successful sale.
Judging a Customer by Her Dress
It is a fatal mistake to assume that a plainly dressed
woman will not pay a high price for something that
pleases her. Simple dressing is often the mark of re-
finement and good taste, and the most fashionable peo-
ple are apt to dress simply and plainly. Many ex-
tremely wealthy women pride themselves upon the sim-
plicity of the clothes in which they shop. Sometimes
they purposely shop in plain clothes to avoid over-
solicitations to purchase, but, if they are pleased, there
1 66 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
is no limit to the amount they can and will spend.
Aside from the unexpected rewards that sometimes
come through attentions to even shabbily dressed peo-
ple, it is no more than simple kindness to show the poor
as much consideration as the rich. The American
spirit of democracy, as well as good sense and good
service, requires it.
When the Customer Leaves Without Buying
If a customer departs without buying, no unpleasant
impression should be left on her mind to prevent her
return at another time. She should not be made to
feel that she has wasted the time of the salesperson or
that the latter is the least bit disappointed. Even
more courtesy should be shown such a customer than
if she had already bought a hat, because she still has a
hat to buy and on thinking it over may return to pur-
chase. Some departments make it so unpleasant for a
customer who does not purchase that she never returns
under any circumstances.
If the customer goes away, saying that she wants to
look elsewhere, agree with her pleasantly, but try to
impress her mind so powerfully with the beauty and
becoming effect of some well-selected hat which you
have shown her that she will remember and return for
it. If you make the mental picture of the hat vivid
enough, she is sure to remember it and nothing she sees
SUGGESTIONS TO SALESPEOPLE 167
elsewhere will put it out of her mind. The old saying,
" Distance lends enchantment/7 applies to her remem-
brance of the hat and she will not be happy until she
possesses it.
Fitness to Meet a Customer
Before a saleswoman is ready to meet her customer
on the floor, she must possess a wide and accurate fund
of knowledge in regard to her merchandise. She must
be dressed in the proper costume for a business woman
in order to prove her own good taste and to look ap-
propriately gowned. She must be physically well and
fit, as a result of intelligent care of her health. She
must be prepared to conduct the sale in accordance
with the rules of successful selling.
In Chapter XVIII is given a classification of the stock
of a typical Millinery Department. This classification
gives an outline of the information upon the stock
which every saleswoman should possess before she is
really ready to meet a customer.
The following outline gives the specific steps to fol-
low in the average sale from the time the customer
first appears until she leaves the department.
STEPS IN A SALE IN A MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
i. Be ready for the customer.
(a) Wear a business dress,
(b) Feel well, alert, attentive.
1 68 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
2. Begin to study her the moment your eyes rest upon her.
Observe her closely as she approaches. Meet her with a
pleasant greeting.
3. Seat her and bring her a few hats that you know
through your studies are the most becoming to her type. Be
guided by the hints she gives you. Do not ask questions.
Try to get her opinion, not to make her agree with you. Do
not argue.
4. Take anything she dislikes out of her sight, and don't
try to press on her what you like and she does not. The
fewer hats she has finally to decide upon, the better. Elimi-
nate the less becoming ones.
5. Close the sale pleasantly, see that she is not delayed
longer than necessary. Be sure to take her name and address
correctly, invite her to return, and suggest something which
is on sale in another part of the store. Do not leave her
unoccupied if it is necessary for her to wait for check,
change, or package, but bring to her notice something of
interest. Do not, however, show her any hat that might
upset the sale you have already made.
If you will check over your knowledge and abilities
by these outlines, and if you can honestly grade your-
self well on each point, you may consider yourself an
efficient saleswoman, and your increasing sales ancj
salary will prove it.
Chapter XVII
HAT-MAKING AT HOME
The Economy and Pleasure of Making Hats
An additional few points will be useful to those who
wish to trim their hats at home. There is much to be
said for making hats at home whether or not one does
it as a matter of economy. One can save from half to
all the cost of a new ready-trimmed hat by using old
materials and freshening them up, or new materials on
hand, such as remnants, etc. The creative work itself
is a pleasure to most women. Girls have been heard
to say, "I'd rather make a hat than eat." Sometimes
a club of girls can get together to make their own
hats, having a buyer for the club to purchase at whole-
sale rates. The sum total of their experience and taste
produces lovely hats.
The individual not only can save greatly by making
her own hats, but can have many more, match them
better with her clothes, and learn to make them more
becoming and better suited to her than the hats she
might chance to buy. Many people whom one sees on
the street are wearing unbecoming hats, or at least,
those that are not the most becoming. Some get so
169
170 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
tired of looking that they buy recklessly, some are
overpersuaded by the saleswoman, and some have not a
cultivated taste.
If a woman is able to alter the hats she buys and
adapt them to her own style when necessary, she can
make them more individual and becoming. Then too,
a winter hat of good style can be turned into a sum-
mer one, and vice versa. Perhaps the change made
by covering the straw crown with velvet or silk, or a
different trimming will do the trick. From every point
of view it is advisable for one to learn how to make
hats.
Observation the First Essential
The first step in making a hat at home, if one does
not know exactly how one wishes to make it, is to
leave home and go "window shopping" and also to
look through the millinery departments in the stores.
It is well to do this in order to be strictly up to date
and to study the detail in vogue at the time, even
though one does have in mind before starting an image
of the result desired. Fashion varies somewhat from
year to year even in the matter of putting a hat to-
gether, but an observant person may learn all of
fashion's changes. In looking at hats it is well to
know and apply the principles contained in the chapters
on color and form.
HAT-MAKING AT HOME 171
The easiest method of trimming a hat and also
the most expensive is to buy a shape that is becoming
and trim it with new materials. These can be tried
on at the store and pinned into place to get the effect.
The saleswomen are often very helpful.
Covering the Frame
It is more difficult to cover the frame. Whoever
trims her hats will soon pass from the easy work of
putting trimming on a ready body hat to the interest-
ing task of making the complete hat. Cutting the
material is the most important thing. If it is bought
on a bias there must be more of it. A turn-up or
drooping brim is usually covered with material on the
bias, unless it is of very sheer material and a soft
gathered effect at the base of the crown is desired.
Instead of buying a new frame the beginner may well
take an old hat, if in good style, rip it to pieces, and
use the old covering as a pattern. Another advantage
of ripping up an old hat is that is shows just how
much goods to buy. A straight brim is simple, being
just a circle with a hole in the center. Two such circles
for the upper and under sides of the brim can some-
times be stitched together on the sewing machine.
The seam is then turned inside.
Wire or crinolin shapes can be bought. The frame
should sit easily upon the head. If, however, a shape
172 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
is too large, by the use of a little padding or a bandeau
it can be made to fit. The covering of a frame has
to be painstakingly done, as nothing shows up so much
as uneven work or rough edges. It is a good rule
never to let a stitch show, except in embroidery. A
long strong needle is best, with strong coarse linen
thread for most of the work. Unless the goods is
quite smooth, it should be pressed beforehand. Old
velvet can be steamed as directed in Chapter XV.
The Trimming
Pin the trimming on first, putting everything in place,
then try the hat on, and change the trimming about to
find the most becoming effect. Perhaps some trimming
will have to be discarded or changed for something
else. Try it with the costume with which it is to be
worn.
The Lining
Hat linings can be bought, in white or black. Home-
made linings can be cut on the pattern of any old
well-fitting lining, and can be made to match the hat.
If the crown is transparent, the lining may be left
out, or a colored lining can be used as a trimming
for the hat.
Clubs for Hat-Making
It is nice for a club of .girls to buy one of the
HAT-MAKING AT HOME 173
inexpensive little embroidering machines which are now
extensively sold. They do neat, quick work. A club
can also buy braids in large amounts very much cheaper
than at retail.
Colored Hats
If one wishes to have a hat to match a costume,
it is pretty to use left over pieces of the gown. A
summer hat can combine the materials of several
dresses, if they happen to go together, and so be suit-
able to wear with all of them. It is well to have a
black hat always in one's wardrobe, as it goes with
everything.
Hat dyes are good but are very apt to shrink the
hat. If a piece of paper or cloth is laid on the head
of the wearer first, and then the wet hat put on, the
dye will not come off on the hair, the hat will dry to
fit the head exactly, and will not shrink. It dries
rapidly, in 20 or 30 minutes. Hat shellac will freshen
up old straws. Milliners' glue is useful for some kinds
of trimming, but the average person does not have it.
Reblocking
Reblocking of hats that have lost their shape or
need to be changed somewhat is done at many little
hat repair shops, but some adventurous girls reblock
174 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
their own hats by fitting them wet over a bowl and
using flatirons to hold them down.
Magazine Helps
There are several millinery magazines as well as
sections in Vogue, the Ladies Home Journal, Vanity
Fair, Woman's Home Companion, and others, which
may be helpful to the hat-maker. Many people, to
whom the intricacies of fitting a dress are unknown,
can trim their own hats, and it is not at all bold to
attempt it with the hints that have been given in this
book.
Chapter XVIII
CLASSIFICATION OF STOCK OF A
TYPICAL MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
DIVISIONS
A. Trimmed Hats
B. Untrimmed Hats
C. Trimmings
D. Workroom Supplies
A — TRIMMED HATS
I. Materials
(a) Straw
Tuscan
Leghorn
Milan
Patent Milan
Lisere
Split
Hemp
Milan Hemp
Imitation Hemp
Chip
Yedda
Ramie
Panama (Genuine and Imitation)
Wenchow
Bamboo
Buri
175
176 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Kalasio
Buntal
Pandan
(b) Felt
Wool
Fur
Cotton
(c) Fabrics
Velvet
Hatter's Plush
Velour
Chenille
Silk
Satin
Chiffon
Net
Tulle
Maline
Lace
Georgette Crepe
Linen
(d) Fur
Seal
Raccoon
Mink
Beaver
Squirrel
(e) Miscellaneous
Angora Braid
Horsehair Braid
Pyroxylin Braid
2. Shapes
Rolled brim
Straight brim
CLASSIFICATION OF STOCK , 177
Sailor
Mushroom
Tricorn
Turban
Toque
Picture hats
Gainsboro
3. Colors
All
B — UNTRIMMED HATS
Materials, Shapes, Colors much the same as in
trimmed hats
C — TRIMMINGS
i. Feathers and Plumage
(a) Kinds
Ostrich
Vulture
Paradise
Numadie
Gourah
Heron
Egret
Peacock
Pheasant
Parrot
Guinea-fowl
Pigeon
Goose
Duck
Turkey
Barnyard Fowl
Spanish Coq
Burnt Goose
Marabou
178 MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
(b) Forms
Aigrettes
Wings
Breasts
Pads
Bands
Pompons
Quills
Plumes
Tips
(c) Colors
Natural
Dyed
Bleached
2. Flowers and Foliage
(a) Kinds
Roses
Field Flowers
Applique Flowers
Violets
Small Flowers
Odd Flowers
Rare Flowers
Natural Flowers
Foliage
Fruits
(b) Materials
Silk
Satin
Velvet
Velveteen
Muslin
Tinsel ClotK
Ribbon
CLASSIFICATION OF STOCK 179
Chenille
Leather
Celluloid
Straw
Feathers
3. Ribbons
(a) Kinds
Grosgrain
Faille
Taffeta
Georgette
Moire
Cire
Satin (Plain and Double-Faced)
Velvet
Crepe
Metallic
(b) Widths
No. i — 14 in.
(c) Uses
Bands
Cockades
Bows
Plaitings
Shirrings
4. Ornaments
(a) Kinds
Cabochons
Pins
Buckles
Slides
Novelties
Veils
l8o MILLINERY DEPARTMENT
Beads
Worsted
Chenille
Embroidery
Bands
Motifs
Emblems
Painting
(b) Materials
Jet
Steel
Rhinestones
Mother-of-pearl
Glass
Braid
Silver
Gilt
Net
Maline
Velvet
Worsted
5. Lace
D — WORKROOM
i. Supplies
Willow
Buckram
Wire
Needles
Thread
Linings
Appendix
BOOKS FOR REFERENCE
The World's Commercial Products, Freeman & Chandler.
Ginn.
Textiles, Woolman and McGowan. Macmillan.
Shelter and Clothing, Kinne & Cooley. Macmillan.
Color Harmony in Dress, G. A. Audsley. McBride, Nast
& Co.
The Principles of Harmony and Contrast of Color, M. E.
Chevreul. G. Bell & Sons (London).
Dyes and Dyeing, C. E. Pellew. McBride, Nast & Co.
Millinery Trade Review.
Textile World Record.
Dry Goods Economist.
Modern Drapery and Allied Trades.
181
INDEX
ABACA HEMP, 22, 24
ADAMBA HATS (See "Panama hats")
AIGRET, 83
AIGRETTE, 73
APPLIQUE FLOWERS, 90
ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS (See "Flowers")
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT, EFFECT ON COLOR,
123
B
BAMBOO HATS, 39
quality, 42
BAMBOO WEAVING, 40
BLOCKING, 50
BLUE, 112, 113, 115, 132, 134
BODY HATS,
felt, 52
fur, 69
straw, 32
velvet and other fabrics, 63
BOOZE, OSTRICH FEATHERS, 76
Bows, 155
BRAIDS (See "Straw braids")
BROKEN COLORS, 115
BUNTAL HATS, 43
BURI HATS, 42
BYAX, OSTRICH FEATHERS, 76
CA»ROTING, 54
CASES, DISPLAY, 4
CHARMEUSE, 61
CHICKS, OSTRICH FEATHERS, 76
CHINESE STRAW AND BRAIDS (See
"Straw," "Straw braids")
CHIP BRAID, 27
CHOICE OF HATS (See also "Faces,
types of," "Color")
bad taste, 101
bringing out best features in face,
127, 139, 143
change in styles, 105
extreme and conservative styles,
1 06
good taste, 100
importance of choice, 100, 139
line and color, 103, 109, 139
most important elements, 109
putting of oneself in customer's
place, 107
study of dress, 104, 108
style in millinery, 105
suitability, 107, 143
•what constitutes a suitable hat, 107
CHRYSANTHEMUM BRAID, 31
CIRE RIBBONS, 95
CITRINE, 115
COLOR DIAGRAM, 119
COLORS,
absorption and reflection, 116
advancing, 113
broken, 115
cold, 115
combinations, no
complementary, 117
effect on each other, 116
harmonious, 121
hues, 120
intensity, 121
luminous and somber, 114
183
184
INDEX
COLORS — Continued
primary, 112, 113
properties, 120
reflections, 116
retiring, 113
scales, 121
secondary, 113, 114
spectrum, in
standard, 112
tertiary, 115
training color sense, 126, 127
under artificial light, 123
values, 1 20
warm, 115
COQ OR COQUE FEATHER, 82
DEPARTMENT (See also "Salespeople,
suggestions")
atmosphere, 2
general impression, i
plan, I
stock arrangement, 2-7
DOMESTIC FOWLS, 81
DOUBLE HATS, 41
DUCK, WILD (See "Feathers")
£
EGRET (See "Feathers")
F
FABRIC HATS,
pontine, 68
silk and satin, 66
various materials, 67
velvet, 63
FACES, TYPES OF, 144
angular, 149
flat features, 145
round, 145
snub noses, 147
FACES, TYPES OF — Continued
thin, 147
FEATHERS, 72
bird of paradise, 73, 74, 84
egret or aigret, 73, 74, 83
fowl, 74, 81
gourah, 73, 74, 84
guinea-fowl, 74, 8 1
laws for conservation of birds, 72
list, 74
numadie, 73, 74, 84
ostrich, 73 (See also "Ostrich
feathers")
parrot, 74, 8 1
peacock and pheasant, 74, 80
pigeon, 74, 8 r
plumes, 77
Spanish coq and hackle, 74, 82
treatment of, 73
vulture, 74, 79
wild duck, 74, 8 1
FELT,
carroting, 54
charmeuse, 61
cleansing the fur, 55
drying and cutting, 54
grades, 60
hats,
centers of industry, 62
dyeing, 58
finishing process, 59
forming, 56
history, 61
sizing, 57
stiffening, 59
stretching, 59
mixing the fur, 55
process of manufacture, 53
sorting and grading fur and wool, 55
sources, S3
washing the skins, 54
FELTING PROCESS, 57
FELTING PROPERTIES OF WOOL AND
FUR, 52
INDEX
185
FLORENTINA STRAW, 17
PLOSS, OSTRICH FEATHERS, 76
FLOWERS,
applique\ 90
dyeing, 86
field, 89
goffered, 87
manufacturing, 87
materials, 86
miscellaneous, 91
natural, 91
rare, 91
roses, 85, 88, 89
slip-ups, 87
small, 85, 89, 90
sources of manufacture, 85
stiffening and culling out, 86
violets, 85, 88
FOLIAGE, 91
FORMOSA HATS (See "Panama hats")
FRUITS, 92
FUR HATS, 69
FUR TRIMMINGS, 99
HAT STRAW (See "Straw," "Straw
braids")
HAT TRIMMINGS,
bands, 97
embroidery and painting, 98
feathers, 72
flowers, 85
ornaments, 98
varieties, 70
HATS (See also names of hats)
choosing of (See "Choice of hats")
freshening and cleaning, 157
linings, 156
HEMP, 22 (See also "Straw," "Straw
braids")
hats, 23
imitation, 26
Milan, 25
weaving industry, 23
HERON, 83
HORSEHAIR, 30
HUES (See "Colors")
GOFFERED FLOWERS, 87
GRAY, 116
GRAYING COLORS, 121
GREEN, 113-115, 131
GUINEA FOWL (See "Feathers")
ITALIAN STRAW
"Straw braids")
KALASIO HATS, 43
(See "Straw,1!
HACKLE FEATHERS, 82
HAND-MADE HATS, 32
HAT FACTORIES,
different kinds, 47
location, 46
HAT FRAMES,
buckram or willow, 153
measurements, 153
wire, 154
HAT MATERIALS, MINOR, 44
LACE, TUSCAN (See "Straw,1
braids")
LEGHORN HATS, 16
LEGHORN PLAITING, 17
LisfiRfi STRAW, 19
LYONS VELVET, 64
M
MACHINE-MADE HATS,
blocking, 50
' Straw
186
INDEX
MACHINE- MADE HATS — Continued
finishing, 51
sewed braids, 51
sewing braid, 49
sizing, 50
MAKING AND TRIMMING HATS, 152
at home, 169-174
bows, 155
linings, 156
method of affixing trimmings, 156
MALE AND FEMALE FEATHERS, 76
MANILA HEMP, 22, 24
MAROON, 116
MILAN BRAID (See "Straw," "Straw
braids")
MILAN HEMP, 25
MONO-CHROMATIC COLOR HARMONY,
122
MOUNTAIN LEGHORN, 17
MOURNING HATS, 67
NEUTRAL COLORS, 135
NOSTRALE STRAW, 17
OLIVE, 1 15
ORANGE, 113, 114, 115, 130
OSTRICH FARMS, 75
OSTRICH FEATHERS, 73
black dyes, 78
bleached, 76
booze, 76
byax, 76
chicks, 76
dyeing, 77
floss, 76
forms, 76
long, 76
male and female, 76
spade, 76
PAGLIA STRAW, 17
PANAMA HATS, 32
blocking, 51
East Indian hats, 44
finishing, 36
gathering the raw material, 34
imitations,
adamba, 33, 37
Formosa, 33, 38
toyo.33,38
location of industry, 33
method ot cleaning, 36
plaiting, 35
process of making, 35
tests for quality, 37
toughening and bleaching, 34
P AND AN HATS, 44
PARADISE, BIRD OF (See "Feathers")
PARROT (See "Feathers")
PATENT MILAN STRAW, 18
PEACOCK (See "Feathers")
PEDAL BRAID, 18
PEDAL LEGHORN, 17
PHEASANT (See "Feathers")
PHILIPPINE FACTORIES, 25
PHILIPPINE HATS, VARIETIES, 38, 45
PIGEON (See "Feathers")
PILE FABRICS, MANUFACTURE OF, 63
PLUMES, 76 (See also '"Feathers,"
"Ostrich feathers")
willow, 77
PONTINE FABRIC, 68
PRIMARY COLORS, 112
PYROXYLIN, 30
RAMIE STRAW, 28
RED, 112, 113, 115, 129
RIBBONS,
cire, 96
patterns, 95
INDEX
187
RIBBONS — Continued
silk and satin, 93
two-tone, 94
velvet, 95
weaves, 94
widths, 96
RICE STRAW, 20
ROSES (See "Flowers")
ROSETTES, 155
RUSSET, 115
S
SALESPEOPLE, SUGGESTIONS (See also
"Department")
importance of knowledge of color,
no
knowledge of merchandise, 167
putting oneself in customer's place,
107
selection of stock, 163
suiting age of customer, 108, 149
SALESROOMS, i
SECONDARY COLORS, 113, 114
SHIPMENTS, BRAID, 48
SILK (See "Silk Manual")
SILK AND SATIN HATS, 66
SILK HATS,
durability, 66
weighted silk, 66
SISAL HEMP, 22
SLIP-UPS, 87
SPADE, OSTRICH FEATHERS, 76
SPANISH COQ (See "Feathers")
SPLIT JAP STRAW, 19
SPLIT STRAW, 19
SPORT HATS, 68
STOCK, ARRANGEMENT OF, S
STOCKROOMS, 7
STRAW,
barley and rice, 20
centers of plaiting industry, u
culture, 9
gathering and bleaching, 9
STRAW — Continued
Italian, 8, 15, 17, 18, 44
method of plaiting, 12
Philippine, 22, 28, 39, 43, 44
Swiss, 21
STRAW BRAIDS,
Chinese, 8, n, 19, 20, 21, 30, 48
chip, 27
chrysanthemum, 31
Florence Tuscan, 16
Florentina, 17
hand-sewed, 51
horsehair, 30
Japanese, n, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27,
28
lace, Tuscan, 15, 51
machine-made, 26
making in China, 20
Milan, 18, 21
Milan hemp, 25
mountain leghorn, 17
nostrale, 17
number of pieces in bale, 20
oriental, 20
paglia, 17
pedal, 17, 18
pedal leghorn, 17
Philippine, 23, 25, 28
pyroxylin, 30
ramie, 28
shipments to factories, 48
split Jap, 19
Swiss, 19, 21, 24
tagals, 22, 48
Tuscan, 15, 16
United States, 26, 29
varieties, 14
yedda, 28
STRAW PLAITING,
centers of industry, n
leghorns, 17
method, 12
sorting, 10
split straw, 19
i88
INDEX
STYLE,
changes, 105
element in millinery, 105
how influenced, 71
Swiss BRAIDS, 21
Swiss MILAN HEMP, 21
TABLES,
stock, 2
trying on, 4
TAGAL BRAIDS, 22
TERTIARY COLORS, 115
TOGO HATS (See "Panama hats")
TRIMMINGS (See "Hat trimming")
TURKEY PLUMAGE, 81
TUSCAN BRAID, 15, 16
VELVET — Continued
manufacture of, 63
ribbons, 95
use in hats, 63
ways to determine quality, 64
VIOLET, 113, 114, 115, 133
VIOLETS (See "Flowers")
VULTURE WINGS, 79
W
WARM COLORS, 115
WEIGHTED SILK, 66 (See also "Silk
Manual")
WENCHOW HATS, 38
WILLOW PLUMES, 77
WOOL (See "Felting")
WORKROOMS, 7
VELVET (See also "Silk Manual")
hats, manufacture of, 65
Lyons, 64
YEDDA STRAW, 28
YELLOW, 112, 113, 115, 130, 136
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