Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-31
Costumes at Fancy Balls.


There has been ball at VI. Rothschild's.
another AT VI. Percires, and not to make our
list too long, VI. Fould has had ball COS
tune.
This was the gayest Of all, and thou
sand new and fantastic things were invented
for the occasion. Out of delicate compli-
! ment 10 the Princess Clotilde, the majority of
the costumes were Italian. A fortnight be-
/ fore the event the maison de NJ. Moreau,
/ the first costumier of Paris, was inundated
from morning to night by an elegant crowd
! seeking new DISCUSSES: Yet hundred ideas
never before thong ht of were elaborated with
wonderful success. A Portici peasant. in
/ skirt of red silk and gold lace. with ribbons
streaming from the waist an apron covered
with brilliant embroidery: bodice OF black
velvet trimmed with gold and coral, and cut
| so as to show the chemise, the sleeves OF which
reached half way down the arm, where they
were tied up i'll two places by plenty OF
streaming ribbons produced a charming ef-
feet. The head-dress was white and OF II
square form; long ribbons ioated from it at
| the back: and the whole most enchantingly
became the beautiful persons who wore it
| Two Greeks in skirts of ornamented gold,
with green velvet caftans. embroidered in
| gold and pearl head-dresses. were very re-
markable and there were four Bohemians,
all different. and 10 well dressed that no one
knew which To prefer One Of these had on
red silk skirt covered with hieroglyphics in
black velvet, encircled with gold. The vest
was covered with rows of sequins and coral
pendants: and the head-dress was also Of Sc
auin and coral This lady was declared the
n,oo, 6 ,ha rynsiay Apnthar n,yaral With
roses looked like walking bouquet; and one
costume sparkling with precious stones must
have cost a fortune. There were several de-
lcious looking Pierrettes in Louis XIII.
style, with white satin dresses and red or
blue top-knots. But all that we can say will
never 10 Justice to the inexhaustible inven-
ton Of our celebrated costumier.
Among the most remarkable costumes
which appeared ut the other balls, we must
not forget to notice several attempts made to
bring up the fashions that prevailed ut the
time of the First Empire. Many noble la
dies wear their dresses fitting close above the
petticoat but very much larger at the bot
tom; the corsage rounded, and shorter than
it is usually worn. The prettiest made in
this fashion appeared on Tuesday at the Tuil-
cries 1t was of salmOn-colored taftetas, and
on the skirts were rows of white blonde Sc
parated by strings of violets The rows of
blonde diminished upwards, so as to form
large indentations, touching each other at
the bottom and separating at the top, and
this was continued all round The skirt. The |
corSage also was made with rows Of blonde
divided by strings Of yiolets. The sleeves
were very short, and surmounted by large |
branches of voets, string of which finish
ed them of at the arm The couture which |
accompanied this dress was as pretty AZ it
was novel Imagine diadem of an antique
shape, pointed in the middle and consisting
entirely of satin violets. 4 round hood of
close packed yiolets contained the hair,
which was twisted very low at the back, and
escaping from this were two beautiful blonde
luppets.
At the ball of the Hotel de Vile were sew
cral Russian diadems resembling those worn
by young Russian girls on their wedding-day.
The form is antique, raised in the centre
without being pointed. The material is vel
vet, covered with three open cngne-turned
plates of gold with a number of little balls
hanging on miniature chains OF gold. To
complete this couture the hair must be curl
ed l'antique and lifted up with comb.
TO which are attached balls of gold. suspend
ed on chains, and these should be scattered in
profuson among the curls. This original
hcad.drcss is particularly suited to reuglar
features, and it may be made infinitely
richer by adding precious stones.-Faris
L'tfrr