HINTS UPON COSTUME. 67 



ing atrocity. Let us hope that fashion will soon revert to 

 the broad curled brim bell-shaped Hardwicke. Nothing 

 is cheap that's bad, and nothing detracts more from the 

 general effect of a "get-up" than a bad hat. So if my 

 lady reader wants to be thoroughly well hatted, let her go to 

 Ye Hatterie, 105, Oxford Street, and be measured for one 

 of Mr. Heath's best. It will last out two or three of other 

 makers, and having done duty one season in Rotten Row, 

 will look well later on in the wear-and-tear of the hunting 

 field, preserving its bright glossy brilliancy, no matter 

 what the weather be. Order a quilted silk lining in pre- 

 ference to a plain leather one, and, when being measured, 

 let the chevelure be compact and suited for riding. A low- 

 crowned hat is the best. For young girls, and out of the 

 season, riding melon-shaped or pot-hats of felt are useful and 

 by no means unbecoming. Mr. Heath makes a speciality of 

 these, and has scores of different, and more or less becom- 

 ing, styles to select from. Hats made to the shape of the 

 head require no elastics to hold them on, and are not the 

 fruitful source of headache which ready-made misfits invari- 

 ably are. There is no objection to a grey felt with grey 

 gauze veil in the summer, but black with a black veil is in 

 better taste. Anything in the way of colour, other than 

 grey, or, perhaps brown, is inadmissible. I am not sufficient 

 of a Monsieur Mantalini to advise very minutely on such 

 important points as the ladies' toilette, as to what veils may 

 or may not be worn, but a visit to the Park any morning 

 or forenoon, when London is in Town, will best decide. 

 For dusty roads gauze is essential. 



Of all abominations and sources of equestrian discomfort 

 a badly built pair of riding-breeches are the worst. No 

 breeches, pants, or trousers can possibly sit well and give 

 absolute comfort in the saddle without flexible hips and belt- 



