New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-19
THE SPRING FASHIONS.

"Ihe Fashion is always beautiful" said fair
eleeane. whose butterfly life passed in graceful
prostrations to the capricious goddess. Yes,
Madame" was the reply, "when one is young and
possesses the beaute du diaJk." The proviso wa
evidently intended rather implied compliment
to the gay dogmatist than genuine effort to reute her
assertion; and indeed, when consider the enorni'
ties heretofore admired and eagerly adopted by per-
sons of so-caed good taste, only because heralded
by the magical prestige of fashion, TO do with sue
cess would seem almost impossible. The fact is very
plain that, raise hue snd-cry will against any
prevailing costume at its introduction fairly es-
tab,hed the eve not onl, becomes reconcied to its
prossest absurdites, but in the end sdmires them
crtcising il at all only with prescience Of the udg
ment sure to be hereafter In proof of this
one has but TO recall the legofmutton sleeves of our
| reyered foremothers--each snowy arm enveloped
| in down or feather contrivance TO support their
youminous fullness the enormous barrelshaped bon
nets sporting whole forests Of wirebe-stfened ribbon
bows and perpendicular plumes, resoutely repelling
all suspicion of grace becomingness; the waists
now at the armpits in long pointed stomachers,
| as fightfu as the other extreme painful
| and unnatural; skirts, from peasant shorness
| to the cumbersome train, and from scanty
cores, tightly drawn the hips, to triangular,
"pocket," and fartbingale hoops. Then the tower
head dresses IL paint and patches; the sky-blue,
green or yellow silk hose; the shoes, 30 highheeed as
oft. to deform the wearer; and yet these were one
and all in turn, admired and perth aciously adhered to
by the 90 lightly daughters Of generation, aud
ridicsled by those Of the next-themselves in hot
pursuit of absurdes equally g1otesque. Like other
will .thewisps Of the day-enchanting the public
vision with the dazzling uttcr of their busy wings,
leading all minds and fancies to follow unquestion-
ipgy in their track, that not till they suddenly
ego OUT do men rub their troubled eyes and soberly
me azure the distance they have and the folly
they pursued-one can never hope to pronounce YER
diet upon the Fashion" till she is dead.
AT first we all decred hoops and their whole family
Supporters, posurs, farthnsaes,
Above the oins to wear,
That be abe neer slender, yet
She crosslike seems four-squere"
We protested against woman making bell Of her
tout ensemble implOred her not to hang out her then
flowing robes on the "outward wall of modified
clothes horse; not to make of her graceful proper
tons thing Of whalebone and whip-cOrds aud Sun
natural DISBURSEMENTS" Now-well we are a little
more reconcled to them. Araminta wears a hoop,
AID Araminta always has been and still is favorte
model and oracle with the world. They certainly do
impart stylish rotundity to some figures, serving very
well to display ample founces and-On the whole, I'M
less it be a windy day. we find them much less abom-
Unable; we must wait till next Spring, when they are
laid low, for an ardent revival of the rdcule and
animadversion which they truly deserve.
few weeks ago Broadway awoke one morning and
found herself shabby; velves all at rusty
and "not fit to wear" the very odor Of furs in the
balmy sunshine stifed her. Winter trappings of all
sorts were dark and heavy and ntolerable Forthwith
did she array herself and brightly in honor of and
in sympathy with the newborn Spring; and to day, in
all her glory, she exhibits pageant as brilliant as
masque ceaseess utter of the gayest colors. Very
little of the budding frees and carolng Of birds and
peepDg up of tender grass, heralds the Spring TO the
pitiable denizens of crowded, busy Gotham and had
not been for this spontaneous burst Of joyous raj
ment and gay shop windows, we might very easily
| have forgotten to consult almanacs, and still be
| unaware that the "etherial midness' already
ripe upon us. Whatever that chance may have been,
the millners and shop keepers are, as usual, on the
Qui rire and on the goth of last month made their
unai imous declaration of the Spring Fashions for 1856.
To begin the out Of door head-gear this season is
even more fantastic cap and less bonnet than
1t consists of an utterly indescribable confusion of
blonde and rache. and ribbons and flowers piled on
and heaped up and naurting out till its ginal shape
If it had one is completely hidden. The only strik-
ing alteration is in the extreme depth Of the curtain
which dIoops low the shoulders, prousely deco
rated with flowers, ribbon, tulle and whatnot-
as the bonnet. Leghorns which, like Cashmere aud
Canon-cIape shaws, and few other costly vanities,
are always elegant and always fashionable are in pc
| culiar favor ostrich feathers white, or the exact
shade Of the straw, have been considered their most
suitable decorations many, however for Spring prefer
very rich French flowers.
| Upon the marvellous beauty of these latter orna-
III, ns we cannot expepd too much admiration. Though
their manufacture has been the favorite occupation Of
the almond we'd godenlied" bellies Of China since
remotest antiquity, and aboriginal South.Amercans
oIg ago produced the most elaborate limitations with
the athers Of their tropical birds, Europeans even
the Greeks and Romans, with al their luxurious appl
nnccs and curious arts-were totally Ignorant oft Italy
has the credit Of makingthc first specimens but it was
left TO France TO bring 10 perfection At Paris and
Lyons there many large esiabi hments ior nu
fetal flower making, which employ hundred. OF wo-
men, To whose dainty touch aud nice discrimination Of
colors this delicate handcraft is admirably adapted
indeed the most vevcty Fingers and The most poetic
fancy quite indispensable 10 the creation Of the
chNmiLg bouquets aud gGtlands scnt us this Spring
4 French ratirst, intending 10 be very severe on
feminine fralues, writes thus "Alas' In aode ha,
" not even respected the dau htcrs OF tho ain and
for thee sweet dyni,c. IN sub-ilu,oI gross dol-
"Women deck their hair, their hat, aud thcir
" Of linen, Of ,kip, ~ papcr-apwcrs wthou,
off, without p'tiuoc 'ns"nribo 10 The breath
Of Sphng rar,cros arc deserts, Gowcr.g ds