Fashion is the only tyrant against whom modern civilization has not carried on a crusade with success, and its power is still as unlimited and despotic as ever. There is no part of the body which has been more exposed to the vicissitudes of fashion than the head, both as regards its natural covering of hair and the artificial covering of hats and bonnets.
For a long period the world has acknowledged the French to be leaders of fashion. We look to Madame Virot, and other leading modistes of Paris, from season to season, for what might be termed first ideas, but still in all we are obliged to soften down and modify them to suit the more simple taste of American ladies.
Ancient Mourning Costumes,
the outward signs of woe and sorrow, have always been demonstrated by some peculiarity in color in all nations.
The Roman women under the Republic wore black; under the Emperors white was adopted.
Grecian women covered their faces and wear black.
The Chinese, Siamese, and Japanese wear white.
Turks wear blue or violet.