The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-03-02
LADIES' DRESSES ARrIsTICALLY CoNs1D-

Erred.
We copy the following from the high
est fashionable authority-Morris & VIII
''s's Home Journal. 1t will interest our
lady readers:
10 dress in perfect good taste, lady
should ,horougly understand the philosophy
Of apparel. Dress is not simply an ar
iicle Of use-a garment which the female
sex indiscriminately can wear, and which
will appear equally wel-but it is a means
whereby the cspcciall nature Of the wearer
is clearly displayed. That which is becom-
ing and appropriate TO one is essentially ou.
Of place if worn by another; while some
costumes (iho Bloomer, for instancc) pos
sess no fitness for any, and simply serve TO
render the wearer ridiculous. Many things
are merely utili,arian in character, and have
no claim to the slightest beauty, but are
stiff and unseemly. Such garments may be
convenient for common use, but with us
grace and elegance of costume are the tru-
est signs of lady. a woman Of tall
figure dIgn'fird in her carriage, and inclin-
ing to soberness Of spirits, if she would pre-
serve these characteristics, would doubtless
select such stuffs for her dresses, of neutral
tints impression, and would have them
made up in simple chas,e style, and wear
them with hoops; ifthc impression she
desired to make were more lively she
would probably choose bright colors, and
add flounccs and other trimmings. The
opposite of this lady, brilliant, gay, little
beauty, would select materials much high
cr in tone. and probably with brighter and
more contrasted trimmings.-Jewclry is not
obnoxious on such persons, and brilliant
head dress adds TO the general appearance
OF vivac,y. Such a lady can wear hoops Of
moderate sIzs with great advantage. In.
deed the present fashion Of hoops-which
VIC are glad to see continues unchanged
notwithstanding all the gossips to the
contrary is becoming 10 more persons than
any style Of dress heretofore adopted. 1t
combines gracefullness and elegance with,
healthfulness and comfort. Since their in
introduction, spinal diseases, once so com.
mon have, in great measure, Disappeared;
nor has any other complaint arisen in its
place. The latest and most authentic ad
vices, since the first Of January, from the
Courts Of Europe, state that hoops not only
continue in much favor, but their popularity
is assured since the French Empress 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. Slight
alteration in the shape of the skirts is the
only change at all apparent. They have
become, We perceive, a triie more moderate
in dimensions, noticeable particularly in
the upper part of the skirt-the hoop, in
the lower portion having suffered little dim.
d'mutlon. The fashionable SKIRT, as now
manufactured by w. :. & G. II. Thomson
d Co., combines several novel features. not
heretofore introduced, which renders it, we
think, not only more becoming. but secures
for it permanent existence among the
thinking and considerate portion of the
community. We refer TO their new patent
Corrugated Springs which while they
increase the strength and stiffness of the
skirt, yet reduce the weight of it nearly
one-half, 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 skirts
declining, we learn that Messrs. Thomson
are extending theirs; and that they are now
manufacturing, their four to five thousand
skirts daily. Their Grown skirts so we'll
known TO the trade and the ladies' through.
out the country, have been slightly moJi-
tied in form, TO accord with the new shane
just ntroduced-These last are said to
surpass, in beauty and elegance, any offered
in the New York market. Among the old
iavorites Of this firms manufacture we re.
call to mind, the 'IndistructiLle, the sWo.
ven,' and the "Gossamer,' each Of which in
their peculiar excelencies stands unrivalled.
Their new skirts, the Double Trail and
the 'Parisian Belle have speciali;ies Of their
own, which mus. be seen 10 be apprecia-
ted. ~
There is no dress lady can wear, no
matter what may be its material its color.
or it fashion, that is not improved in its
general appearance by being spread cut by
hoops. Through their aid dignity and
grace are attained, and the sweeping line sof
the skirts preserved in all its purity.
To try to begin to think without auy par