Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-29
THE FASHIONS.

THE FASHIONS.
| correspondence N. Y. Journal of Commerce
PARIS, April 8.
grey sky and cold wind are very unpropi
| tlous Tor the display of spring fashions. The
promenade of LOngchamp was not so crowded
on Holy Thursday and Good Friday with gay
| equipages, cavaliers on horseback, and pedes.
| tIIans. as was expected. The promenade is now
confined to the Champs Elysees and the envi
ronS of the lake in the Bois de BOugogne the
| noble alley which bears the name and which
| leads to the ruins of the Convent of LOngcbamp
remains solitary and deserted The community
of the Sisters of the Order of st. Claire who in
habit the Convent of LOngchamp, was founded
| by Isabella of France, in l26l-the sister of ST
| Louis. From that period until the reign of
| Louis Nv, the fete of LOngchamp was solemn
| procession Of the King and Court to the Con
vent, there to join with the sisters in the reli-
| gious chant of the TeUe6JCs During the epochs
| OF Louis Nv and XVI, the fete lost all its re-
ligious character, and was the occasion solely
OF display of the fashions and the follies of the
Court and aristocracy. We have many details
OF the magnlicence of the costumes in which
| noble danes appeared, reclining in their pom
| derous coaches with gilt pointings and glass.
During the revolution, the promenade was
abolished, for the very reason that all those who
could figure III 1t were eXilcd or guillOtined
Since then, although the first few years after
the revival OF the fashion were unparalleled in
the annals of Longchamp for gaiety and mag
ni6cence, this meaningless fete has gradually
declined. and We have now only the exhibition
of a number of carriages, occupied by pretty
ladies, wrapped i'll velvets and furs to protect
them from the severity Of the winter sky and
a nOrthcssterly wind.
The reign Of the burnous is fast approaching
to its close 1t is now replaced by a casaue, a
| garment which fits the figure, trimmed with
lace or fringe, or by small embroidered
| shawl, likewise decorated with lace. There
| are also many wadded pelisSes worn: thew are
made of a very rich silk, and surrounded by a
plating fG rieiIle, and edged with n broad,
| fine guip An India cashmere is the favor
| ite wrapping for early spring.
Our most fashionable dresS-maker Madame
Fauvet No. Rue de Menars, produces the
skirts of carriage visiting robes, what is here
styled the f0ilcte lie rule, richly ornamented
Last year. the trimmings were almost inyar a.
bly, placed en- quilles, or bands of velvet. or
passementerie arranged perpendicularly now,
they are more frequently placed round the
skirt. Decorations of the same color as the
dress are in the best taste Sometimes plain
skirts are worn, but they are then made very
full and in exceedingly rich materials One
very deep fiounce, prOfuSely trimmed with
| ruches or bands of velvet, Is also in favor
Sometimes this forms the lower skirt, over
| which there is a shorter one.
| The bodies of these dresses, Madame Fauyet
| usually fashions with basques An attempt
| has been made to restore very narrow basuues
| but they are not elegant, and therefore the
| longer baSques are still worn. Many pointed
bodies without lappets are worn, particularly
| for dress occasions sometimes there are six
| points; others have fOur-one before, another
| behind, and one under each arm A very
handsome ne iigee dress is composed of dark
| silver grey sIOt with white it has six hounces.
with simp'e hem two inches in width. The
cOrsage is baSgUeS and the sleeves la nous
| net0treS; there are two reyers on the body !;
on the front seams are large fat buttons cover
ell with the same silk as the robe and on the
left side of the basque wide grey bow. Over
| this robe may be worn Maintenon mantelet
of black taffetas, high, and open in front, trim
med with several rows Of lace surmountcd by
a ribbon plated n Lg rieiHe. Checked and
Scotch plaid taffetas will be much in vogue this
| spring, and will generally be made with dou
bic skirts. There are new styles of silks, with
small brochee flowers. Also brown, violet,
and dark green taffetas in new designs Green
| is decidedly favOritc color Just now For
| evening toilette, beautiful costumes are COM
| posed of white tullc, with three founces. sur
mounted by ruches of blue taffctas, pinked
these are covered by flounces of lace and auilles
| formed OF white roses and fuchias. The cor
| sage is trimmed to match the skirt
We have many striking novelties for bon.
| nets; the EandiwOrk of our skilful milliner
| Madame AlphOnsine, IL Rue du Helder. Ist
n white spotted tulle bonnet, with a bias OF
| velvet round the front; four ends Of lace fall
over the curtain. A trimming of lace is ar
ranged in point in front. A lilac feather
ornaments the left side, and tie ends Of tn,
lace trimming are tied under the chin An
other is of blue velvet and tulle A band O
| velvet crosses the crown, and three velvet rosc
| are placed above the curtain tho strings ar,
white, edged with blue velvet. third is O
alternate folds of green velvet and white Grape
trimmed with white feathers. One of thes
feathers is placed across the curtain, which j
edged with velvet. A fourth of green taffetas
trimmed with bands Of the same and line,
with violet taffetas. These bands are arrange,
in coques on each side; punches of vOlets form
the inside trimmings. The strings are gree1
and violet ribbons. Nearly all bonnets are 0
two cOlOrs, and almost all partly thin or open
the edges arc composed of velvet; the front @
tulle, covered sometimes with black lace
Across the middle is n full piece of velvet an
the crown is of tulle, covered with black lace
the curtain is white, edged with fulness c
velvet. The most beautiful ornament for
woman is undoubtedly fine head of hair n
cap, however tastefully fashioned, no flower,
however artistically made, can replace tha
covering. For the embellishment and presel
| vation Of the hair, recommend with conf
dcnce the Philocome of Faguer, No. SO Rue d
, Richelieu.
! Il.