The Express.
London, England, 1860-07-30 00:00:00

FASHIONS FOR AUGUST.

(From Le Pellet.)
The Unseasonable character of the weather has
almost entirely prevented the adoption of these light
and elegant toilettes prepared in anticipation of warm
days and sunny skies. Hence the fashion (which we
hoped was but for a day) of large sit paletdts, or
burnous with sleeves, is still almost universally fol-
lowed, and we can scarcely wonder, under the cumun.
stances, that appearance is less studied than comfort.
For the same reason silks, poplins, poil de cheers, and
fancy materials in wool and silk, have taken the place
of lighter tissues. A novelty in silk, which, however,
we do not much admire, is to make down each aide of the
breadth a light pattern, or several rows of stripes, differing
in width and contrasting in colour with the ground.
which is either gray or drab. These breadths,
sewed stripe to stripe, divide the skirt into
six or more equal parts, which has, of course, a
Alf appearance. No doubt, in imitation of this style, each
breadth of • silk dress is sometimes embroidered along the
salvage in large scallops, with silk of a different colour on
each breadth, trimmed down with a narrow frill, scalloped
at the edge. Amongst the different ways cf placing
the flounces, those which have prevailed are the number of
narrow ones, edged, reaching to the waist, or one deep
fforamezeew, , vary fell, reaching to the knee, and sw-
ank Newer lan oe ewes seven exceedingly
narrow eau ; or seven or sieves very narrow flounces,
edged, and reaching to the knee, over which is worn • =aqua
' the same as the dress, and trimmed with a flounce and head-
ing, or three flounces, with ruches of the same on the edge.
Nothing (11111 be more distingut than thisstyle of dress. The
wide houillonnes of the same material as the dress, generally
replace the plisse ala saddle arranged in the same manner,
but now considered pass& The Casaque dresses, or redin-
gotes, are trimmed with large buttons, or rosettes of black
lace placed in three rows down the front breadth. Some-
times the front breadth is trimmed at each edge with
robinge, bound with black or colour, in which case a single
row of rosettes or buttons is placed up the middle of the
breadth. The ZOURTe jacket is still in favour for home
dress. It is more frequently braided with silk than gold
and worn with a full chemisette. The quilting' so much
worn are made chiefly in csaaques • the drab quilting'
printed in light bouquets or roes-buds, and those in butt,
spotted with black or brown, are the most fashionable. in
fact, quilting' in any colour or design are always fresh and
pretty, and a favourite wear for the country or neglige.
The season, too, Is favourable for this material, as it resists
the cold atmosphere, whilst it has a cheerful and light
appearance ; but in • few days the temperature may become
more genial, and we shall see the lighter and morn elegant
tissues once more making their appearance. Plain Indian
foulards, or the French foulards, printed in Pompadour
bouqueta, or charming patterns, is an excellent material for
travelling or sea-side dress, being light and not easily
crumpled. Nankeen is also much worn for sea-side dress.
The square muslin shawls are generally trimmed round the
lower point with • wide flounce of embroidered muslin,
whilst the upper point, which is turned over to reach only
to the waist, is simply scalloped end embroidered in a
small wreath. A few plaits at the shoulders prevent their
rising to the throat and give them more elegance. In the
same style shawls of the same material as the dress are made,
either barige,. grenadine, or printed muslin. ; a wide frill on
the lower point. and the upper simply scalloped.
The bodies of thin dresses are geuerally made low, either
full, Ila vierge, or quite plain. With full bodies: a
chemisette of tulle or muslin is generally worn, trimmed
mend the thrust with narrow black velvet. This chemisette,
however, is equally pretty, with a plain body, particularly
when there is a small berths trimmed to match the flounces
Round or square pelerines, Charlotte Corday, Watteau, Marie
Antoinette, lic., are, however, more worn with plain bodies,
and are much more becoming than pelerinea the MUM as the
dress, although theme are much petrouised. However, we
still prefer the white Belie, the varieties of which, from the
rich guipure or tulle trimmed with lace to the simple muslin
or tarlatans, which are at the bottom of the scale, are all
light and becoming. Pointed bodies are scarcely now seen.
Sashes or bands are now universally worn. The sash with
light materials, the band with rich fastenings, is almost
exclusively wiru with silk or moire dresses. Large open
sleeves are still the favourites ; they are made very inde,
cut square, and often open all the length of the arm. When
an Epaulette is worn, it "timid be trimmed as well as the
bottom of the sleeve, to match the flounces or trimming on
the skirt. Under-sleeves are worn fuller than ever, and aro
made with one large puff, with insertion or ruches up the
seam ; or several puffs, one over the other, ending in a deep
fall of lace. Organili dresses, embreidered in colours, are
much worn by young ladies, and, accompanied by a mantle
or small shawl of the same, are very youthful and pretty.
We have also seen some elegant white &ewe. trimmed with
narrow flounces edged with coloured ribbon ; the mantle or
shawl trimmed to correspond. This style I very elegant
for fetes, or forms a pretty dress for bridesmaids.
Bonnets are still made with the fronts projecting forward
at the top, but not in a point. The curtains not so wide as
they were, and put on in large bellow plaits. For demi-
toilette straw black or white crinoline are worn, but for
more dressy bonnets, rice straw and crape. aro the moat
fashionable. This year there are some charming colours in
crape, amongst which China blue, gruseille dee Alper, peach
bhamom, rose Solferino, are the shades chiefly in vogue. The
rage for gold trimming is beginning to pass, end the most
distingues bonnets are ornamented with feathers or fli iwers.
Rice straws are nearly always made with nett crape crowns,
covered with lace, and a mixture of lace and flowers on the
Beet. Leghorns are less less fancifully trimmed, having
merely • plume of feathers or a bouquet of flowers at the
side. Inside the bonnet has always much trimming, and a
bandeau. The coloured niches and coronets of flowers
which were worn at the commencement of the season have
been given up and replaced by aides of blonde or tulle
illusion, with a bandeau of flowers or foliage. The strings
are worn very long and wide.
Hats just now demand a good deal of attention. The
Amason is, perhaps, the most beneficial dupe.
The headdresses for summer wear have less pretension
about them than those of the winter. Without gold, with- '
out precious stones, and generally in tufts or bouquets care-
lessly pieced, instead of the large wreaths formerly in
vogue. Caprice and apparent negligence seem to be the
type of the present coiffures. They place a little bouquet in
front, another amongst the hair, flowers and bows inter-
mingled at the back. This kind of headdress is very easily
made.