Light brown hair requires blue, which sets off to advantage the golden tint.

Pure golden or yellow hair needs blue, and its beauty is also increased by the addition of pearls or white flowers.

Auburn hair, if verging on the red, needs scarlet to tone it down.  If of a golden red, blue, green, purple or black will bring out the richness of its tints.

Flaxen hair requires blue.

MATERIAL FOR DRESS.

The material for dress must be selected with reference to the purpose which it is to serve.  No one buys a yellow satin dress for the promenade, yet a yellow satin seen by gaslight is beautiful, as an evening-dress.  Neither would one buy a heavy serge of neutral tint for an opera-dress.

SIZE IN RELATION TO DRESS AND COLORS.

A small person may dress in light colors which would be simply ridiculous on a person of larger proportions.  So a lady of majestic appearance should never wear white, but will be seen to the best advantage in black or dark tints.  A lady of diminutive stature is dressed in bad taste when she appears in a garment with large figures, plaids or stripes.  Neither should a lady of large proportions be seen in similar garments, because, united with her size, they give her a “loud” appearance.  Indeed, pronounced figures and broad stripes and plaids are never in perfect taste.

Heavy, rich materials suit a tall figure, while light, full draperies should only be worn by those of slender proportions and not too short.  The very short and stout must be content with meagre drapery and quiet colors.

Tall and slim persons should avoid stripes; short, chunky ones, flounces, or any horizontal trimming of the dress which, by breaking the outline from the waist to the feet, produces an effect of shortening.

HOW COLORS HARMONIZE.

Colors may form a harmony either by contrast or by analogy.  When two remote shades of one color are associated, such as very light blue and a very dark blue, they harmonize by contrast, though the harmony may be neither striking nor perfect.  When two colors which are similar to each other are grouped, such as orange and scarlet, crimson and orange, they harmonize by analogy.  A harmony of contrast is characterized by brilliancy and decision, and a harmony of analogy by a quiet and pleasing association of colors.

When a color is chosen which is favorable to the complexion, it is well to associate with it the tints which will harmonize by analogy, as to use contrasting colors would diminish its favorable effect.  When a color is used in dress, not suitable to the complexion, it should be associated with contrasting colors, as they have the power to neutralize its objectionable influence.

 [Illustration]