=THE MODERATE TROUSSEAU=

The moderate trousseau simple cuts the above list into a fraction in quantity and also in quality.  There is nothing of course that takes the place of the smooth fineness of really beautiful linen—­it can no more be imitated than can a diamond, and its value is scarcely less.  The “linen” of a really modest trousseau in this day of high prices must of necessity be “cotton.”  Fortunately, however, many people dislike the chill of linen sheets, and also prefer cotton-face towels, because they absorb better, and cotton is made in attractive designs and in endless variety.

For her personal trousseau, a bride can have everything that is charming and becoming at comparatively little expense.  She who knows how to do fine sewing can make things beautiful enough for any one, and the dress made or hat trimmed at home is often quite as pretty on a lovely face and figure as the article bought at exorbitant cost at an establishment of reputation.  Youth seldom needs expensive embellishment.  Certain things such as footwear and gloves have to be bought, and are necessary.  The cost, however, can be modified by choosing dresses that one-color slippers look well with.

In cities such as New York, Washington or Boston, it has never been considered very good taste to make a formal display of the trousseau.  A bride may show an intimate friend or two a few of her things, but her trousseau is never spread out on exhibition.  There can, however, be no objection to her so doing, if it is the custom of the place in which she lives.

=WHAT THE BRIDESMAIDS WEAR=

The costumes of the bridesmaids, slippers, stockings, dresses, bouquets, gloves and hats, are selected by the bride, without considering or even consulting them as to their taste or preferences.  The bridesmaids are always dressed exactly alike as to texture of materials and model of making, but sometimes their dresses differ in color.  For instance, two of them may wear pale blue satin slips covered with blue chiffon and cream lace fichus, and cream-colored “picture” hats trimmed with orchids.  The next two wear orchid dresses, cream fichus, and cream hats trimmed with pale blue hydrangeas.  The maid of honor likewise wears the same model, but her dress is pink chiffon over pink satin and her cream hat is trimmed with both orchids and hydrangeas.  The bouquets would all be alike of orchids and hydrangeas.  Their gloves all alike of cream-colored suede, and their slippers, blue, orchid, and pink, with stockings to match.  Usually the bridesmaids are all alike in color as well as outline, and the maid of honor exactly the same but in reverse colors.  Supposing the bridesmaids to wear pink dresses with blue sashes and pink hats trimmed in blue, and their bouquets are of larkspur—­the maid of honor wears the same dress in blue, with pink sash, blue hat trimmed with pink, and carries pink roses.

At Lucy Gilding’s wedding, her bridesmaids were dressed in deep shades of burnt orange and yellow, wood-colored slippers and stockings, skirts that shaded from brown through orange to yellow; yellow leghorn hats trimmed with jonquils, and jonquil bouquets.  The maid of honor wore yellow running into cream, and her hat, the of the same shape of leghorn, was trimmed with cream feathers, and she carried a huge cream feather fan.