Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-29
THE FASHIONS,

PARIS, January, 1858.
For the last week Paris has been in n whirl
of gayety and dissipation. The weather has
been so mild that every one walks or drives
abroad The Boulevards and other large streets
are lined with the small wooden stalls contain
ing every variety of toy and household articles
from one sou upwards. The large establish
ments of the capital, of millinery, fancy goods
silk and velvet materials and of papeterie, and
of all articles of vertu are as brilliant as have
ever seen them at this season, and are crowded
with eager purchasers. / do not remember to
have known the New Year fete to pass over
with greater eclate. The bon bon shops, with
the hundred varieties of baskets and boxes
decorated with fine paintings and beautiful ar
tIicial flowers are alone worth the visit of
stranger to Paris. The exhibition Of the ma
terials for the Court dresses and trains, of silks
and relvets worked and embroidered with gold
and silver, is surprisingly gorgeous
At the reception at the Tuileries on the ID of
January, the ladies were obliged to appear in
the Manteau de COur or Train, and the gentle
men in Oascial or military costume. The Court
entertainments and ministerial fetes will COM
mencs this week. and all Paris is looking for
ward to a gay and brilliant carnival. The
masked balls have inaugurated the season with
the accustomed thrOng of dancers and specta-
tors. The establishment, which all strangers
IN Paris, should visit, is that of the celebrated
cOStumier of the Theatres, and for the masked
night, the costume required by the actor or ac-
tress, whatever may be the character in which
he or she is to appear. Historical and national
costumes of all ages and all countries are dis
played to tempt the frequenter Of the public or
private fancy balls. The decorations and ar
rangements of this establishment are unique
and display not only good taste but great re-
search and historical and ANTIQUARIAN kuowl-
edge.
Our mantua-makers are especially occupied
with perfectng full dress costume The hand
some salons of Madame Fauvet Rue du Men
ars, are filled with ladies ordering elegant toi-
Iettes, at once rich and simple, always distin-
guies. Young ladies 6nd there, their modest
trousseaux, and brides their beautiful cor
bellies. The evening toilettes consist generally
for those who dance, of light colOred silks or
satIns, covered with two three skirts or floun-
ces OF tulle, Grape, lace or blonde, Robes Of
tulle have often as many as six skirts or hOun-
ces; sometimes these skirts are merely hemmed,
and over the hens are placed small satin rolls :;
OF else, a wide satin ribbon is passed through
the hem. FlOunces are also sometimes bOrdcrd
with plain tulle ruches edged with a narrow
blonde When cut in vandykes, the fOunces
are bOrdered with ruches of doubled and very
full No, and No. ribbons. Some skirts are
pulled all over double skirts are also bordered
with narrow gold or silver braid, surmounted
by fancy foliage of different coors For young
ladies there are becoming robes of Chambery
gauZa. Some are quite plain, others have a sat
IN stripe or small check pattern these are made
either with fOunces or n double skirt
Ball dresses are nOw worn without any sleeves
on the shoulders there Is only a small putting
to which flowers or bows of ribbon with long
ends are fastened Berthes with long ends are
IN vogue, and also kind of narrow lapel
coming down in a point beisre and rounding
over the shoulders behind it is generally cover
cd with blonde or ribbon ruches; OF with a cor
don Of small flowers put in the form Of a
heart IN front There are four new tints for the
colors OF robes which have appeared this month,
styled the China aster, the Alpine pausy, gar
den gillitlowers, and the Alpine currant. The
Alpine pansy dress Is n peculiar shade of violet
with network Of black chenille at least IL
inches deep at the bottom of the skirt above
the chenille Is placed small ruche of ribbon
The high and plain body is terminated with
slashed lappets, and it is trimmed with berthe
oi chenille and jet bordered by fringe i'll the
SINE style.
The New Year display Of the jewel ersis tru
ly magnificent. The array at Sara zin's, Ig
Boulevard 81. Denis. Of new and uniq ue styles
Of ormolu and bronze, enamcled clocks and
watches brilliant parures for ball toilette an
immense assortment Of the most beautiful
brooches, ring, and particularly the bracelets
OF the costly description Of the antique Hunga-
rian work, Is well worth the attention of all
visitors.
Cultures OF either natural or artificial flowers
are the description of head dress the most in
vog1e. The hortensia Of two tints without foli-
age, with two branches falling on the neck, is
especially elegant and becoming. Full blown
roses with foliage and long grass is called the
turoan coifure, from the large tuft of roses Civ
ing 1t the appearance of n turban. Coronets Of
foliigc are composed Of velvet of two tints,
garnet anil claret. Mixed with the foliage are
silver reeds. Wreaths of volubils Of various
colors are mixed with grass and dropping bran
ches
Our perfumers have made brilliant display
The show rooms Of Faguer, So Ru de Richelieu,
are filled with useful and os.ly articles for
etrennes. Inlaid boxes for gloves, containing
gloves of the softest kid; boxes Ornamented
with paintings, holding the most precious
perfumes, and highly scented soaps, sach-
cts for gloves, for the pocket handkerchief, to be
placed among linen, ancient and modern fans
facOns for the hand, &c. The establishment of
LahOck, l62 Galerie de Valois, Palais ROYAL, is
a vast bazaar Of superb porcelain, CRYSTALS.
bronZes, and lamps Of the richest and newest
styles. The dinner and dessert services. pre-
pared by order Of the Emperor as New Years
gifts, are exquisit specimens Of painting on
china, and are remarkable for the novelty of
the forms sud designs, for the infinite variety
OF the subject of the paintings. Some views
IN Switzerland and France, others are copies Of
celebrated pictures all perfect in the execu-
tim