The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-12-01
The Winter Fashions,

TIE FURs WORN ny THE LADIES OF NEW YoRK.
We copy from the NewYor papers the fol-
lowing in relation to furs, which will, doubt
less, prove interesting to our lady readers
The display Of furs in the different establish
ments along Broadway, looks like preparations
for an Arctic winter, and might warm "the
shiyering tenants of the frozen zone. " Eu-
rope, Asia, and America furnish their contin-
gent, and nothing can be more rich and varied
than the selection for the coming season. Rus
STA sends her priceless sables, soft, dark, and
glossy, worth q kings ransom Peru her curl
ing chinchilla, beautiful but rather passee J;
Siberia her ermine, as purely white and UNI
sullied as the snowy wastes over which it wan
ders and America her mink and marten, the
latter a soft, beautiful fur, its surface color of
dark, rich, olive brown, contrasting finely with
its thick underground Of white; the former an
excellent imitation of the sable, lighter in color
and less valuable, but still like enough to de-
ceive an unpractised eye. 1 f.
The most fashionable fars for the coming
winter will be sable, Hudson Bay or Russia,)
mink and ermine, but marten, fitch, and squir-
rel, will find more purchasers.
We have seen, says the Herald, set Of Rus
sian sable-the set meaning the muff, cape and
cufs-which was valued at fourteen hundred
dollars. 1t was soft as down, and glossy as
satin, and the color was of that rich, dark hue
so much sought after and esteemed.
In pleasing contrast with the sable is the
:" precious ermine," the dazzling brightness of
its now white surface is rendered more striking
by the jetty tufts sprinkled over it.
A set OF ermine will cost from four to five
hundred dollars. 1t is preferred my many to
its more expensive rival, and is the opera fur.
Ermine and sable will find a dangerous COM
petitor in mink, which is an excellent counter
part for the latter.
This fur is a new article in the market, and
though it possesses no prestige, no adventitious
advantages, though it cannot boast of great
antiquity nor historic associations, vet it is
rapidly gaining in public estimation.
We have seen, says the Herald, q set of mink,
which, for brilliancy of gloss and depth of
was placed in juxtaposition.
The gray furs, chinchilla, squirrel, ETC., are
much used in morning, their subdued color har-
monizing well with the " customary suit of
solemn black prescribed for such occasions,
but sable is also used, and is more fashionable
than either.
Fur trimmings will be much worn this win
ter, and on every variety Of material. Velvet,
MORE antique, silk, cloth, and merino. In fact,
they will be worn wherever there is an excuse
for wearing them, for never has the desire for
furs reached such a height-never has it been
so universal and absorbing. 1t must be ad-
mitted, however, that the extreme beauty of
those now in the fashion almost ~justifes, for in
pliability and elegance of shape, they compare
favorably withthe lightest materials. Besides,
there is something fascinating in a garment
that combines in an equal degree comfort,
grace, and luxury, and the fur cape for the
present season does this.
Mink and marten ore becoming every year
more popular, other varieties are disappearing
from the market and leaving it in possession Of
the moderns. Bear skin, other, seal, lynx, and
fox, are no where to be seen. Even the lus-
trous silver fox of Oregon has been set aside in
accordance with the arbitrary DEGREES Of fash
ion, which only the sable and the ermine can
resist. +
At no former season were furs in such de-
mand and this is owing in a great measure to
the universal property Of our people, and the
activity observable in every department Of
business. These things are as good as gold to
the f%urriers, who, altogether, have bright pros
poets for the dreary winter.