The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-02-22


LADIES DRESS ARTISTICALLY con
SIDERED.
To dress IN perfect good taste lady shoul
thoroughly understand the philosophy of ap
pareL Dress is not simply an article Of use
a garment which the female sex indiscrimi
nately can wear, and in which each will ap
pear equally well, but it is means whereby
the especial nature of the wearer IS clearly
displayed. That which is becoming and ap
propriate to one is essentially out Of place i
worn by another; while some costumes-the
Bloomer for instance-possess no fitness fol
any, and simply serves to render the wearers
ridiculous. Many things are merely utillta-
rian in character and have no claim to the
slightest beauty, but are stiff and unseemly.
Such garments may be convenient Tor COM
mon use, but with Is grace and elegance OF
costume are the truest signs of lady. A
woman of tall figure, dignifed in her car
rage and inclining to soberness of spirits, If
she would preserve these characteristics,
would doubtless, select such stuas for her
dresses, of neutral tints, as would increase
this impression, and would have them made
up IN simple, chaste style, and wear them
without hoops: if the impression she desired
10 make were more lively, she would probably
choose bright colors, and add founces and
other trimmings The opposite Of this lady,
q brilliant, gay, little beauty, would select
materials much higher in tone, and, probably,
with brighter and more contrasted trimmings.
Jewelry is not obnoxious on such persons,
and brilliant head dress adds to the general
appearance of yivacity. Such lady can
wear hoops of a moderate size with great adj
vantage. Indeed the present fashion of hoops
which we are glad to see CONTINUES unehang-
ed, notwithstanding all the gossips say to the
eontrary-s becoming to more persons than
any style of dress heretofore adopted. 1t
combines gracefalness and elegance with
healthfulness and comfort. Since their intro
duction spinal diseases, once so common, have
IN great measure disappeared; nor has any
other complaint arisen in its place. The
latest and most authentic advices, received
since the first Of January, from the Courts of
Europe state that hoops not only continue in
much favor, but their popularity ) essentially
increased, especially since the French En-
press has, for weighty reasons, expressed
desire that they should remain in vogue. All
American ladies who consult taste, comfort,
health and good sense would not dispense
with them on any account A sight altera-
ton IN the shape of the skirts is the only
change at all apparent. They have become,
we perceive, a trile more moderate in dimen- |
SONS, noticeable particularly in the upper part |
of the skirt-the hoops in the lower portion |
having suffered little diminution. The FASH |
lonable skirt, as now manufactured by W. S. |
i Z. ii. Thomson & Co., combines several |
novel features, not heretofore introduced, |
which renders it, we think, not only more be-
coming, but secures for it permanent exist
ence among the thinking and considerate po.-
fI0n nF thu W. BOT 1a,
patent Corrugated Springs, which, while they
increase the strenth and stiffness of the skirt,
yet reduce the weight of it nearly one-hal6
most important feature, we Judge, to their
general worth. This is undoubtedly the great
est improvement made in the skirts since their
adoption in this country.
So far from the business Of hoop-skirts de-
clining, we learn that the Messrs. Thomsons
are extending theirs and that they are now
at their four factories, from
four to five thousand skirts daily. Their
Grown Skirts" so well known to the trade
anG the ladies throughout the country, have
been slightly modified in form, to accord with
the new shape just introduced. These last
are said to surpass, in beauty and elegance
any yet offered in the New York market.
Among the old favorites of this firms manu-
acture We recall % mind, the "Indestructible,
The "Woyen." and the @Gossaaaer. each of /.
which in their peculiar excelleacies stand I'M
rivalled. Their new skirts, the Double
Trail, !" and the "Parisian Belle" have special
ties of their own, which must be seen to be
appreciated.
There is nodress lady can wear, no matter
what may be its material, its color or its fash
on, that is not improved in its general appear .
lnce by being spread out by hoops. Through
heir aid dignity and grace are attained, and
he sweeping line Of the skirt preserved in
III its purity. feb II