The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-30 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 30,

FASHIONS FOR MAY.

(From Le Polk.)

Although up to the present time we have seen
but few spring dresses worn, our readers will doubtless
already have found that there are many beautiful mate-
rials prepared. Some of the foulards are really charming,
especially those with a brilliant white ground, worked in
coloured silk, or trimmed with wide ribbons of a dead
silk, called armure, in beautiful shades—Persian lilac,
maize, pink, pale green, Empress blue, do. Stripes will
continue to be fashionable, we believe, as the dresses are
still gored.
The short costume continues in favour, for walking.
dream. Some modify it somewhat, by making the upper
skirt long, and looping it up, either by tirettea or by tying
it loosely an each side, or at the back. Usually the skirts
are of the same material, the trimmings being of two
different colours or shades.

The fashion of wearing merely a ceinture and bowie
so as to imitate a masque, for paying visits, has revived—
the body of the dress serving for the (masque. Indeed,
the ceinture takes quite an important place in " La Mode"
just now; it is so elaborately trimmed, and variously
shaped. It forms a very elegant finish to the dress. Those
intruded for out-door wear should be rather longer, scal-
loped, or plain ; the latter, perhaps, rather preferable, but
always, of course, trimmed. This style will scarcely be-
come lunch adopted until the summer weather has fairly
set in. Even now it is worn by some ladies for making
ceremonial calls ; but, as we think, there are few Mice
who will feel inclined to follow this fashion just yet in
our changeable climate, we must call their attention to
the beautiful Indian cashmeres which are so much ad.
mired and worn by many ladies of fashion, and which are
more beautiful than ever this year. The paletZt "Breton"
is a very pretty little coat for the present season, and
likely to be worn at the sea-side or for travelling. It is
made of white or ponomu cloth, and worked with coloured
embroidery (cashmere style) either in wool or silk. Some
are finished with buttons and chains across the front and
on the sleeves.

Woollen lace is becoming much used as a trimming,
especially suitable fur petticoats, although employed in
various other ways. One reason for its success is doubtless
that, as well as being firm and durable, its made in
different colours, sometimes of two shades mingled.
Novelties in lingerie are very abundant. The high white
body cut square, or slightly open in front, Is much in
vogue ; and is generally worn with the small Swiss body or
ceinture. Black tulle bodies, bouillonnes, with bands of
1 insertion sparkling with jet are extremely pretty. Young
ladies can have them !Mille of jaconet or linos for morning
wear.

We cannot but suppose that it is probable, as the
summer advances, jet will be less worn than it has been
lately ; though certainly it still is a very favourite trim-
ming. The ceinture of jet is much liked, both with black
and coloured dresses. There is also a trimming made of
satin cord, mingled with jet or quite plain. Very wide
jet fringes are used tot ceinture.bseques.
We must not omit to mention the very wide ribbons
for sashes tied behind. For black dresses there are black
ribbons, the ends embroidered in field flowers ; others in
gold. The Iris ribbon is made for white or ppale coloured
dresses. These wide sashes will be • y needed to
weir with the basque worn to imitate • essaque.
Now that Easter is passed velvet will no longer be em-
ployed as the material for bonnets—or toquets, as they
may more justly be termed—but must give place to straw,
crape, tulle, and blonde ; but, as satin will be worn as
trimming for dresses and paletfits during the summer,
that, at least, will be retained. Berries and bronzed
leaves are much worn on straw. A charming novelty is
the jonquil, made of rice paper. Then there are nar-
cissus, green olives, primroses, all of which may be also
used for the spring bonnets.
A very charming " Fenella " was made of pink crape
botfillone, with rouleaux of black satin worked with jet,
trimmed with the jonquils already spoken of, and brides
of black lace fastened under the chin with a jet ornament.
Another, of pink crape, had a mantilla of black lace
crossing under the chin ; and a third elegant toquet of
grey satin and tulle was trimmed with a wreath of phea-
sant's feathers. _ . _

A bonnet of white tulle, forming a diadem in front, was
trimmed round with cochettes of satin beads. Above the
beads a wreath of small green leaves of different shade',
put on quite flat. This wreath falls in a long spray at the
back, over which am placed bathes of white tulle, worked with
beads. At the left side was a tuft of small feathers, in the
middle of which was placed a butterfly. Another model
was of pink crape, bound with satin, and covered with
lillies of the valley with crystal drops. The strings were
of very narrow pink ribbon, but a voiletce of blonde formed
barbs at the sides and a eatalane at the back. The opal
trimmings, which are softer and therefore more becoming
than crystal, are much used with the bonnet. made of rice
straw mixed with tulle, crape, or taffetas. Thus a small
round of crape bouillone edged with rice draw had an opal
fringe, above which was a small wreath of daisies ; strings
of jardiniere ribbon.
A fancy straw bonnet, as oval shape, trimmed round
with a double row of very small bouclettes of green
velvet. On one aide a bouquet of small grapes with tinted
leaves.