DRESS 249 



A gray topper with a narrow black band is rather 

 smart for showing hacks at spring shows. It is too 

 flashy, however, to be used other than rarely. In shape 

 it should be identical to the silk topper, and in color a 

 darker gray than that of the gray bowler. The band 

 on it should be one and one-half inches wide and of 

 black cloth. This hat should only be worn as "dress," 

 when the rider is exquisitely turned out and well 

 mounted, and it is correct only on a saddle horse. 

 Unfortunately, in common with many other of our 

 smartest styles, it has been badly copied by many 

 hatters in this country and has been overdone. 



For summer and country wear, an English white 

 straw sailor-hat with a fairly high crown and narrow 

 brim is very smart. As a rule, however, straw hats 

 are unfortunately not very becoming to the average 

 face, and are in reality no cooler than a gray bowler, 

 which therefore does quite well for summer, as well as 

 for spring wear. Panamas are floppy, uncomfortable- 

 looking affairs, and so-called ''continentals" are far 

 from smart. It goes without saying that caps and 

 other weird shaped hats are tabooed by any woman 

 making any pretense to smartness. A good "som- 

 brero," however, makes a nice hat for knocking about 

 the country. In our hot American climate the Egyp- 

 tian "sola topee," or the white pith (cork) helmet, 

 worn by poloists, can also be used with success. They 

 are extremely cool and light, and if given a coat of 

 white paint, they will, although losing something of 

 their smartness, last longer and be quite water-proof. 



All riding hats should be placed squarely and firmly 

 on the head; they should not be so small in size, that 

 they perch on top like "Charlie Chaplin's," nor yet 

 so large that they resemble a candle-snuffer. The 



