Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-26

We copy the following from the highest fashionable
althonty-MoRRIs WILLIS Home Journal. 1t will in
terest our lady readers:
LADIES DRESS ARTISTICALLY CONSIDERED.
To dress in perfect good taste a lady should thorough
y understand the philosophy of apparel Dress is not
simply an article OF use, garment which the female sex
ndiscrminatey can wear and in which each will appear
equally WE'LL but il is whereby the especial
ture Of the is clearly displayed. That which is
becoming and appropriate to is essentially out Of
place if worn by another; while some costumes-the
B!oomer Tor nsance-possess no fitness for any, and
simply serve to render. the ridiculous Many
things are merely utitaran in character and have no
claim to the slightest beauty but stiff and unsecmy.
Such garments may be convenient for common USE but
with us grace and elegance of costume the ruest
signs of a lady. woman Of a tall figure, dgnifed in
her carriage aud iucnng TO soberness of spirits if she
would preserve these characteristics wOuld doubtless,
select such suiis for her dresses of neutral nts,
would increase this impression, and would have them
made up in a simple, chaste style and wear them with
hoops: if The impression shedesred to make more
lively she would probably choose bright colors and add
Ounces and other trimmings. The opposite OF this Ia
dy brilliant gay. little beauty would select materials
much higher in tone, and, probably, with brighter and
more contrasted trimmings JeweTy is not obnoxious
on such persons and brilliant heaidress adds TO the
general appearance of yvacfty. Such lady can wear
hoops OF moderate size with great advautage.-
Indeed the present fashion of hoops-whch we
glad continues unchanged, notwithstanding all
the gossps say to the contrary-is becoming to more
persons than any style of dress heretofore adopted 1t
combines graceulness and elegance with heathiuness
and comfort Since their introduction spinal diseases,
common, have in great measure disappeared;
nor has any other complaint arisen in its place. The Ia
test and authentic ayices received since the first
of January from the Courts of Europe that hoops
not only continue in much favor but their popularity is
essentially increased especially since the French Empress
has for weighy reasons, expressed desire that they
in in ~
suit TASTE comfort health and good sense would not dis
pense with them any account slight alteration in
the shape Of the skirts is the only change Mt all apparent
They have became, perceive, triie more moderate
in dimensions noticeable particularly in the upper part
of the skirt-the hoops in the lower portion having sut
fered little dminuOn. The fashionable skirt, as now
manufactured by W.. 5. & g. II. Thomson Co., com.
bnes several novel features not heretofore introduced
which renders it. think, not only more becoming but
secures for il permanent existence among the thinking
and consderatc portion OF the community We refer to
their new patent Corrugated Springs" which while they
increase the strength aud stiffness of the skrtyet reduce
the weight OF it nearly onehali most important feature,
we Judge to their general worth. This is undoubtedly
the greatest improvement made in the skirts since their
adoption in this country.
So far from the business of hOop-skrts declining we
learn that the McssTs Thomson extending theirs
and thai they manufacturing at their four fac
tories from four to five thousand skirts daily Their
Grown Skirts so we'll known the trade and the Ia
dies throughout the country have been slightly modified
in FORM accord with the shape just introduced
These last are Ad to surpass in beauty and elegance,
any yet offered in the New York market. Among the
old avores of this firms manufacture recall to mind
the "Indestrucble' the "Woven and the "Gossamer,
each Of which in their peculiar eyceences stand unriya
led. Their skirts the Double Trail and the Pari
sian Belle have speciaies of their own which must be
seen to be appreciated.
There is dress a lady no matter what may
be its material its color or is fashion, that not improy
ed in its general appearance by being spread out by
hoops Through their aid dignity and grace attain
ed and the sweeping line of the skirt preserved in all its
purity