The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-11
THE Paris FASHIONS.


go, ..i.FF --,-~-@---sflia y adiH Uf.t
[correspondenec s tho New York journal Cenrnereel
Pans April 22 The avorite festiyity since Easter
has been the ball costume dancy bail) Enormous
sums are expended by both ladies and gentlemen OF
fashion on magnificent historical and pictorial costumes
The rts Of thIs description lately given by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Count Walewsk, surpassed all Others
la the bancy OF the arrangements and decorations and
in sunptuousness of the toilettes The ball opened
at midnight with quadrille of pierrots, pierretes,
clowns and cownnesses hariequins and pnnchineiloes
The dcckings Of the peots and perrettes are the espe
ca delight of all the gamins OF Paris in the public places
during the Carnival but this occasion the white
muslin and gay colored stu1s exchanged for mus
sivc satins rich brocades gold embroidery and dazzling
jewels.
The Emperor and Empress were present, his Majesty
wearing gray domino, aud the Empress pink one, at
the commencement Of the ball but before she retired she
changed her costume four times One OF the four domi
magnificent gold brocade A lady OF the court
made her entrance into the saloons arquse Of the
ancient regime In q sedan chair, prsceded by nSens
marquis running footInan. One of the most superb
costumes that of Peruvian princess the hair being
dressed in arcades and decked with birds feathers
Another fair dame had her face hidden by an Immense
bouquet of flowers tasteulIy arranged to make it
BILE the globe of lamp foreign princess wore cos
tune representing game of dominoes The Persian am
bsador and suit appeared in ancient Persian costumes
respendent with diamonds and other jewels of great val
ue Before the departure from Paris Of Ferrouc Khan
(the Persian ambassador) which took place few days
since he distributed among those who had been most
the French capital various and curious articles Of furniture
and vertu which he had brought with him from Persia
all curiously worked and richly ornamented The form
of the furniture resembles that made in Fance but the
ornamentaon is different, consisting generally Of small
arabesques green ground exqutely finished and in
laid with ivory ebony and tortoise she'll The locks OF
the boxes very curious the key producing kind Of
musical sound when turning,
We arc at last enjoying beautiful spring weasher after
succession of cold norheaserly blasts which have not
allowed display of spring toilettes. .g yU
Our lngeres and mantuanakers are occupied with in
venting and perfeting spring and summer nantles.
Madame Petit, No. PLace Veadomc has given the an-
tia tutpc and the Mana lMadaaoas these, as well as
the pelisses and burnous made In silk instead Of
cloth or velvet trimmed with ruches of ribbon or
velvet We many tight fitting jackets Of silk, the
Polk mantle trimmed with lace fringe with founces
the silk The largo establishments of Paris now ex
hibt immense variety Of their summer materials The
English grenadne is novelty, which ia both pretty and
useful being much serviceabe than the ordinary
barege the tissue is lighter and stronger We have also
the Pol de Cepre Taas de Chine I6eas de Delhi Mousse
line de Delhi Mousseine de Soe Mousssne Nphir, painted
muslns jaconsts pques material that resembles Mar
seiles waistcoang, and is much worn during tho warm
weather breakfast and walking toilette The weather,
as yet permitted the Partisan ladies to appear in
any lighter toilette than the spring silk the plain taile
tas small quadrilles almost imperceptible Cross
bar are the robes in until the month Of june For
dressing toilette green silk half MORE antique, with
satin stripes is very much in vogue Tins robe
has two skirts rather two deep founces The body is
about three inches wde and is ornamented with Bradc
bourgs of fancy gimp The sleeves composed Of deep
m finged like the body cut square and lined with white
silk this sleeve is surmounted by another fri also
nged and caught up in three places thus forming three
points on the sleeve Walking robes Of black aetas
very CONNIE u taa trimmed en- tablier with two broad
bands of violet and black plaid cut and edged
with narrow black Five bows of tactas to match
the bands up the skirt and edged With black lace,
placed down the front of the skirt The laccs
hbited by Rolard Rue de Choise and supplied by his
own manufactory beautiful specimens of the perec
ton which the fabric of lace has reached in France
ounces of black Chantilly lace others of white point
dAngleerre and point de Bruxees the designs repre-
senting garlans of fruits and arabesques
festoons Algerian designs of endless variety The small
black lace point trimmed with of deep black lace
il the novelty for this season. which the fabque of Vol
lard offers to his fashionable and extravagant customers
write extravagant for the great sums of money and fear
fu waste of time which hghbed dame of the present
day expcnds her toilette is incalculable The hours
many passed i'm choosing the materials and colors of
her different costumes the breakfast neglig6e the walk
ing teiette and the fullress costumes, all require the
thought and reflection of the time which is not spent in
the salons of the nantuamaker where she often passes
her morning waiting her turn to have each pait of the
skirt atiscaly arranged and each stitch Of the corsage
discussed prodgious sacrifice of the kind Is required
for the attring, the costume being now elaborate
and the final disrobing is labor and fatigue ~ fe,