Hats lead in fashion news. And never have they been more diverse, planned, each one, for a particular age and type. Therefore choosing a hat becomes, not merely a pleasant task, but an artistic pastime. It reminds one a little of the type of newspaper competition where the reader is asked to sort out, and match in pairs, a medley of hats and film star faces.

It is a fur and feather season. A cap or toque may be entirely of fur, or, even smarter, of plumage. Felt, velours or velvet almost of necessity adds a soft touch of fur, or the sheen of wings. Fur or feathers, again, are ideal for the matching muff.

We will see the “dolly” hat with the spring, but for the winter season crowns are high and trimmings well to the front. Hats are perched well forward, to show a charming nape and brushed up hair.

Illustrated are hats for three ages. The young girl wears a high, pointed toque of ermine and astrakhan. It is so simple, but so — different! And how the fur enhances the fairness of her skin and the sparkle of her eyes!

The young matron dresses in more sophisticated fashion. Notice the forward dip of the black astrakhan toque, the height of the feathers, the flattery of the muff she holds to her face. I have seen a similar toque and muff in royal blue plumage—so new, so soft, so different, and just right for this fair type of beauty.

The older woman wears velours, cleverly fashioned for dignity and the forward tilt. The plumage gives lightness and smart height. The veil is subtly flattering.

Street Wear.

With the hat problem still ahead of us (but with some definite ideas on the subject) we plan the most necessary part of our winter wardrobe—street clothes.

Top Coats: Maybe we want a warm, fur-trimmed top-coat. Styles are delightful, and made for the new hat we have in mind. Interesting because of the new line they give, are bloused backs and dolman sleeves. Many of the belts and tie sashes are extremely narrow.

Fur runs riot. Quite conservative, though, is the luxurious square draped collar. Prim indeed—and very young—are Peter Pan collar and cuffs. But fur can make whole sleeves, or slip from the shoulders down and around the arm. Fur can border the front edges and form a matching barrel-muff or flat muff-bag. Fur can be used for stole fronts reaching to the hemline and held in place by a narrow tie-belt. This same stole is detachable for wear with another coat or a frock.

A delightful black coat for a young girl buttons down the front and has a narrow sash. The sleeves are covered with black lamb almost to the shoulder. Black lamb edges a little hood which can be folded down to make a draped collar.

Fur Coats: Fur coats, nowadays, are just as carefully “cut to fit” as any other garment. Most of the new coats are in a loose three-quarter or seven-eighths length. Women find them lighter to wear and much smarter.

Favourite furs are calf-skin, broadtail, Indian lamb, ocelot.

Tweed Coats: For hard wear, and for travel, nothing is more suitable than the three-quarter or full length travel coat with skirt to match, or the suit with matching coat. Tweed coats this season have exaggerated shoulders which sit comfortably over suits. They fasten with large buttons from page 58 neck to waist. They have patch pockets and full backs, perhaps with a mannish slit from the centre back hem-line.

Suits: Suits are trim and quite unobtrusive. Curved back seams make coats fit better than ever. Coats are longer, following men's tailoring trends. High revers suit the very young, but the usual long revers are better for the older woman. Skirts have pleats or a slightly circular cut.

Sports suits may have slim jackets and full-pleated skirts. An interesting suit has a striped wool tweed coat and plain skirt. Another has a six-buttoned coat and four fancy flap pockets.

The necessary colour accent is given by scarf, bag or gloves.

Two-piece Outfits: Line and trimming are important. One dress has diagonal tucks from shoulder to hip, meeting at the narrow front panel which carries a row of buttons on the bodice and breaks into a pleat in the skirt. The three-quarter coat has a high collar trimmed with Indian lamb which curves at the front towards the armhole. Novelty pockets have a touch of Persian lamb.

A slim frock with an imitation cutaway front, has an accompanying coat with a blouse top. The flat neckline, the yoke and the front edges are trimmed with corded bands of self-material.

Rain-coats: So that you won't feel too deflated on a wet day, there is a new quilted oilskin, resembling cloque. A velvet collar helps to combat the rainy-day feeling.

About Glass.

I was very much attracted the other day by a glass tray with bevelled edges. Showing through was a delightful chintz.

I began to think about household glass, and to find out the latest developments in its use. I wondered why glass tables have become so popular, and, from a collection of furnishing photographs, found the answer. Glass tables and glass wagons are specially suited to the small room because they apparently take up no room. Light passes through them and the eye is not obstructed by the solidity of wood.

Table glass becomes more and more popular. Side plates and desert dishes, table mats, a “block” centrepiece with trenches for flowers, candlesticks, may all be of glass. One may even obtain a complete heat-resistant glass dinner-service.

A new concealed-lighting idea is to have electric-light bulbs in glass wall bowls which also contain flowers.