The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-02 00:00:00

FASHIONS FOR DECEMBER.

(From Lc Follet.)

Amongst the materials in favour this winter, plush wil
decidedly hold a high place; not the old fashioned plush,
but one with a shorter pile. It is used for bonnets and also
for dresses, so that any one may have a whole toilette to
match. We do not, however, advise our readers to adopt
this fashion, for the only result arrived at is one of a mo-
notonous uniformity, producing anything but an elegant
effect. Plush dresses are intended for visiting toilettes ; for
this purpose also velvet, moire antique, and even satin are
worn. In pale shades they are most suitable for dinner or
soiree dress. They should be low-bodied, either with or
without a fichu or veste of lace. The colours preferred for,
day are green and blue plaid, violet, and all shades of brown.
It is no doubt true that plaid will soon become very awe_
mon, being made in such cheap materials that some of the
most fastidious ladies of fashion already discard it, but it is
none the less a fact that at present it is extremely in vogue.
Mexico blue and green are also worn, but not much. Small
checks are generally preferred for plaid. There are some
most elegant plaid plushes used for both dresses and mantles.
Other patterns which meet with success are, a trefoil
flower of velvet on a moire or poult de soie ground, or
imi-
tations of bows or flounces of lace on a light ground.

Poplin, plain, plaid, or stripped, is the at-home dress for
:he season. The Pompadour silks are quite the thing for
evening dress. Stripes, alternately silk and satin, some-
times wide, sometimes narrow, but always sprinkled over
with small flowers, forming either wreaths or bouquets, are
those most approved of. These are not only made in palo
shades; but, while we may find the blue or pink suitable.
for young ladies, we can also find some very handsome
grenat, green or violet, with white Bowers, only admissible
for`older ladies. Black pc:mit de soie antique, and the new
material, called Lyons cloth, which has the thickness of a
moire and the suppleness ofa foulard, are worn as morning..
dress.

Pasaementerie is still, we may say, reigning supreme
amongst trimmings. It is put upon all the seams, at the
bottom of skirts, on bodies, on sleeves, upon the Figaro
epaulette, the revers, and the pockets. Large ornaments,
or plaques, as our French friends more expressively term
them, are made of point d'Espagne, for the front of the
skirt and also for the postillion basque, but aiguillettes,
hanging buttons, and fringes with balls, are principally re-
served for vestes. Chenille fringe is used as a trimming
for the skirt, put on in a variety of styles. Chantill3 lace
is more in vogue than guipure. Yak lace is still very
fashionable ; entire dresses are being made of it, and it cer-
tainly looks exceedingly well over a coloured silk or satin
under-skirt. It is made also into opera cloaks, lined, and.
the upper part of it wadded, just to protect the shoulders
most four,,
and arms from the cold air.
It is said that fur will be fashionable as a trimming, not
merely for mantles, but also for dresses—that, indeed
s of fur are
ermine and swan's-down will bo worn on evening-dresses.'
It wilt have a rich appearance, though, perhaps, a little
heavy. Upon mantles, instead of the plain band of fur,
dressy toilettes
middle of the back,
wo usually have seen rouleaux, two, or at the
Molodrebasue
are considered more elegant, or sometimes bane
placedßodi
Bodies
of
visiting-dresses perpendicularly,from
a eleven
plain;
mantle; also down the shoulders, the
and in front.
made very mor
more
longiin
favour.this
.poßinuatsspquatherseo
serremhseYtoabree remapadpeeaira-
behind, cut up on the hips,
mg generally a l
differentl y worn
styles only
is novel and rather aiannrged reappear-
ing;
somein
tg wmo areorme
points
The ;
front, a small waistcoat of
gold, passementerie, or evenosferaq
lace, of stamped veivet, anclare
be-
coming to stout persons,
made of passementerie, of
suiting the dress, and
with great success ; they
uaituesr.ialTlihkee
bthaesqdureesiss
little postillion barques meet
taffetas, or moire, of a colour
trimmed with hanging buttons of
dress; the
made of black velvet
be made alsot with a white moire waistcoat. It Call
of blue
red, and white, and green plaid velvet, with a blue,
or plain white waistcoat.
The corslet
8 will be much worn for full-dress this winter.
They are
n exceedinglyt charming made in silk, velvet of light
but ,or eve
they are rather too
the skirt; some are made with braces
too juvenile in appearance to be worn
excepting by children. Sleeves of neglige robes are as small
as ever, •
just sufficiently large to pass the hand through ; but
for visiting,
they are a trifle larger, and cut open up to the
elbow.
The bonnets of the present season are worn moderately
high ; very close at the sides. The Mary Stuart is no longer
admissible. They are generally, indeed almost always, made
with a mixture of materials. Thus a very pretty bonnet for
neglige had the front and curtain of black velvet, with the
soft crown of quilted satin—blue or violet; at the side, a
tuft of black and coloured feathers, fastened by a band of
of velvet ; feathers inside, and satin striugs.
Another had the front and curtain of velvet, pine-apple
colour, which is just now so fashionable; the soft crown of
plaid plush, very short piled, the colours blue and white.
At the side, a bouquet of blue velvet flowers, with fern leavea
formed with pine-apple coloured feathers. No blonde across
the top; merely a bandeau of blue velvet,
and leaves
to match those on the outside. Plaid velvet strings.
A third bonnet, with the front and curtain of black velvet,
had a sett crown of white terry velvet. On the front was a.
scarf of blue and green plaid silk, the ends fastened over the
curtain, and edged with a plaid fringe. On the middle of the
front a bunch of marabout feathers, shaded black and white,
same very light feathers, and some anemones of green and
blue velvet, mixed with the blonde cap,
One of the newest head-dresses was formed with a single
white feather, twisted, placed at the side of the head,
ad
high up; a small diadem, or rather baud, of blue velvet
9 Very
across the forehead, endingbow of in a large t.,•
the ends failing ever the shoulders, Iwhite tulle,
In the
bandeau, a butterfly, made of mother -e middle of the
mother-of-pearl, shone bril-
liantly.

THE GRAVES OF THE BRIGANTES.—Under the
direction of Mr. T. W. (;raster, of Middlesborough,
a series of excavations ara being' made in the tumuli of the
Cleveland-hills, in Yorkshire ; Mr. George M. Tweddell, a
gentleman who is engag:Ld in a history at the county, being
present. One of the tumuli opened was 39ft. in diameter
and six height. A circle of five yards diameter has been
excavated down to the level of the moor, beue4fh which_..c.ll_.o
ground has not been disturbed. On the old surface Celtic
urns,
hav'The infer-
containing calcined bones (human)
with, surrounds Al by large blocks of freeatotritiee.s
to e, and
(lice is that the burials have burn made
and their con-
tentstintmd until the tumuli arc fuly. excavated,
the mound raised over them. The researOtee:ll7a
examined, are be co