The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-06-26 00:00:00

FASHIONS.

Tits recent chilly weather has had its effect in preventing
the general adoption of those light and transparent textures
usually worn at the present season. Nevertheless, many dresses
of barege and muslin have been completed, and will make their
appearance as soon as a few warm sunshiny days may give
safe assurance of the advent of summer, Some new bareges,
intended for young ladies, have been made with high corsages,
plain and closed in front with fancy buttons. They have trim-
ing disposed in the form of bretelles, of which the ends are
crossed in front and are fastened at the back of the waist in a
tie with long ends. The sleeves are formed of three or more
puffings, or of three rather deep frills placed one above another
so as to have the appearance of triple sleeves. Some of our
principal dressmakers are discarding the basque in barege
dresses, and adopting full corsages, finished at the waist by.a
ceniture of broad ribbon with long ends which flow over the
front of the skirt. Other dresses of barege have corsages
slightly open in front and in folds descending from the shoul-
ders to the point at the waist. The open edge of the corsage
is finished by a trimming of guipure consisting of a narrow
frill, or small ruche; and if the dress be of sombre hues, the
trimming should be composed of black and white guipure
intermingled.
. Dresses of white muslin are now frequently worn in neglig6
evening and dinner costume, especially by very young ladies.
The corsages of these dresses are low, and are variously orna—
mented. They may be made with folds which descend from
the shoulders to the waist, and which occasionally pass from
the shoulders round the back in the form of a berthe. A white
muslin dress may be made in a very pretty style by having the
corsage ornamented with bouillonnes, and the short sleeves
trimmed with frills and bows of ribbon- A ceniture of coloured
ribbon, fastened in front of the waist with a bow with long ends,
forms a graceful addition to the dress. Dresses of worked
muslin usually have the skirts flounced; but when the dress is
of plain muslin it is frequently made with a double skirt, both
skirts being finished at the edge by a hem with coloured ribbon
inserted. For very young ladies the skirts, are very often run
in tucks. With dresses, such as those just described, bows and
ends of coloured ribbon, or of ribbon and black velvet inter-
mingled, may be worn in the hair.
The latest novelties received from Paris include some ex-
quisite pocket-handkerchiefs elaborately ornamented with
needlework. One of these, called the Mouchoir Alma, has
rounded corners, and is edged with a narrow V lencieinies
lace set on plain. The needlework borders the h ~,,tkerchief
to the depth of about three inches, and the design consists of
warlike implements and trophies, as helmets, shi-I,ls, lances,
flags, &c. In each of the four corners is a char er, completely
caparisoned, and mounted by a warrior in arm air. The
remaining part of the border surroundimx th• fi!_rn i s and de-
vices, and forming, as it were, a backgtoun 10 •n,
covered with spots in needlework. On anothe .;k. , chief,
honoured by the name of the Mouchoir Viet°, ,%t• find a
miniature flotilla, pictured in needlework; - - -
escutcheons, on each of which is figured 0
Some of the newest handkerchiefs intended i.r6 cos.
tume, are trimmed with light, narrow frills, se. by Va
lenciennes or needlework insertion. Others are ,i•mnented
with patterns in colours, and for these, brown is the most
fashionable tint.

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