The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-31 00:00:00

FASHIONS FOR APRIL.

The advance of spring is cresting acivity in the
magasius of our fashionable milliners and dressmakers.
All ars busily preparing for th 3 sunshiny days when
rich silks and gay colours will enliven our promenades,
and diffuse brilliancy through our concert roims and

titer places of fashionable resort.
Many dresses of Moire antique, intended for out door
wear, have been made up--some are black, others violet,
and many in shades of grey or brown. They are without
of any kind. but they are rich in the beauty of
their texture and tie atnptituae of Lou. ono.,
gracefully widening towards the lower part of the skirt,
and forming a tort of demi train behind. With a dress
of this description should be worn a mantelet of velvet
of the same eilour as the silk, and trimmed with a
double fall of broad black lace. The bonnet may be of
quilted silk, either white or of the hue now so
fashionable, called bouten d'or, trimmed with black lace
and velvet.
Other dresses, also intended for the promenade or
carriage, are made of rich glace silk ; violet, green, dark
blue, and brown being the most favourite colours. They
have usually three flounces, each edged with a broad bias
baud of black velvet. With this style of dress a mantelet
of black velvet, like that above described, may be suitably
worn. The bonnet nary be of green or violet colour terry
velvet, ornamented with a single rose and its foliage on
one side, or with a cl,us.er of the red berries of the service
tree, mingled with violets. . .
We may here describe a dress, or rather, as our Parisian
friends express it, complete toilette de promenade,
which has just been sent from Paris for an English lady
of rank. The robe is of violet colour taffeta, with three
flounces, crenelated at the edges. On each flounce are
placed five or six rows of black velvet, following the
direction of the crenelated edges, thus giving to the skirt
of the dress the appearance of being figured with a
zebra pattern in velvet. The mantelet which
accompanies this dress is of violet colour velvet,
edged with a very broad net fringe. This fringe in,
itself presents a novelty. It is made of chenille of two
colours—black and violet—and terminates in large
pointed scallops at the edge ; to each point there is
attached a very long, but very ight, tassel of black and
violet silk. This fringe is placed. over a flounce of
velvet ; this, it must be observed, is now the invariable
method of placing these broad fringes, which, if attached
to the edge of the cloak, would hang in very ungraceful
style. With the robe and mantelet just .described is to
be worn a most elegant bonnet of black velvet, adorned
with a bird of paradise.
As regards evening dress we need only observe that
they are in the very newest style ; and, i a point of
elegance, cannot be surpassed. We would direct the
attention of our lady readers to the ribbon head-dresses,
and may mention that this style of coiffure is rapidly
gaining favour. Ribbon head dresses are particularly
well adapted for the theatres, or for occasions on which
a sort of demi-full dress is sufficient. They may be made
in almost any colour; but pink, blue, cerise, or bouton
d'or will be found most effective.
Among the novelties in lingerie is a sleeve just intro
duced in Paris, where it has obtained great favour. It
may be made of muslin or tulle, and consists of one very
full puff, confined at the wrist by a bouillon, within
which there is a running of coloured ribbi.n. Above the
bouillon a broad cuff of lace or needlework falls back
over the sleeve. The cuff is formed of deep Vandykes,
and, if of needlework, they should be edged with narrow
Valenciennes. The vandykes are five or six in number,
and between each there is a bow of ribbon of the same
colour as that in the running.
Some of the new fans may be said to have attained the
perfection of artistic workmanship. The carving and
inlaid work of the mother-o'-pearl or ivory almost vies
with the productions of the 16th century. The paintings
which adorn these fans are very superior, judged as
works of art. Some represent groups of figures in the
style of Watteau ; others are copied from ('hinese, Per-
sian, or Indian subjects. Fans made, of black or white
crape, and richly bespangled with gold or silver orna-
ments, are now very fashionable, They resemble those
which, about a century ago, were generally used in
Spain—the native land of fans.
Ball costume consists of a tunic of pink silk over a dress
of white tulle, the tunic open at each side, and edged with
scallops cut out or pinked. The dress worn under the
tunic has eight flounces, edged with a flowered design,
embroidered in white floss silk. The corsage is in bouil-
lones, drawn horizontally, and over it is a berthe of pink
silk, round at the back and descending to a point in front
of the waist. The bouquet de corsage, which is worn on
one side,reonaists of two white roses. The short sleeves
are formed of two bouillones of tulle. The head dress
consists of torsades and small bows of pink ribbon, each
bow being formed of loops without ends. Another consists
of blue silk, with double skirt and side trimmings, the latter
formed of. bouillones of silk, edged with white lace. The
berthe, which is also of silk, is trimmed with narrow lace.
The ends are crossed in front, and fixed by two small bows
of blue ribbon. On each shoulder there is a bow of the same,
The head dress consists of narrow cordons of blue
flowers without foliage. Another dress is of
white tulle over white satin. The berthe is of white
tulle edged with blonde, and is fixed in front by a bow of
white satin ribbon. The front hair is disposed in rouleaux,
and with the back hair are intertwined pendent sprays of
flowers. A fourth consists of a double skirt of pink
glace. The lower skirt is trimmed with deep bouillone
of white tulle, fixed at intervals by ruches and bows of
pink ribbon. The upper skirt covered by a tunic of rich

Brussels lace. The corsage has a berthe of bouillone
tulle and Brussels lace. It is fastened in front by bows
of pink ribbons, and has corresponding bows on the
shoulders. The sle,3ies *are formed of one small puff,
and under it a deep fall of tulle and lace, which is
gathered up in front of the arm. 113 front hair is
plaited, and the ends of the plats are carried round and
fastenN at the back of the head by bows and ends of
pink ribbon.
-