Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-04-04
THE SPRING FASHION-OPENING
DAY IN NEW YORK.
From the Times. March e3.l

From the Times, March %.
1t required an exceedingly vivid imag
inatiOn to regard yesterday as the opening
day for any thing belonging to spring A
snow-storm which would have done honor
to mid-winter, howled through the streets,
and was endurable only from the contrast
which it presented to the dust-simoOn Of
the day before. But fashion delights to
vindicate her supremacy over the elements,
and selects for the display of her novelties
precisely those seasons of the year which
are most likely to subject her vOtaries to
the severest test Last year Opening
Day" was signalized by a drenching deluge
which, however, scarcely damped the ar
dor of that large class of the lovelier por-
tiOn of the community, who are as eager to
catch the earliest glimpse of the coming
fashions as ever an Eastern Parsee was to
hail the beams of the rising sun.
The female mind is Just now most pro-
fOundly agitated upon the bonnet question.
Fashion produces this season very pretty
and most sensible looking covering for the
head, in lieu of the useless little things
which have been heretofore in vogue; and
says, This is my choice; you must wear
it" whereupon some ladies are delighted,
and some others are ready to weep. They
regard the new bonnet more in anger than
in sorrow; but time will soothe them into
compliance with the general fashion, and
all will be well.
As to the fashions of the modistes, there
is not so much noise in that quarter. In
the dressmaking rooms all is smiling and
peaceful serenity over the founced robes,
which are the feature in spring silks. The
plain skirt and the founced skirt will be
worn, but the founces have the largest
choice. The cOrsage for this season will be
rOund-pOints being exclusively confined to
evening dresses. A very pretty sleeve,
which is entirely new and very stylish, is
the "leaf sleeve;" it is very wide, and the
bottom is curved to represent the curving
in the oak leaf
The cape is the same, and both are orna-
mented with pulled silk trimming edged !
with narrow black lace. 1t is gathered in
large box pleats into the arm, and forms |
very pretty sleeve. The cOrsage which ac-
this sleeve was made high, with |
a broad collar of the silk turned back and
to match the sleeve. This is
novel pattern, but the favorite mode for
nome and promenade is the high-necked,
'ound corsage. There are a variety of
'retty new sleeves, the capuchins and the
lalf-cOat sleeve being among the prcttiest.
some nlodisteS tried to introduce the narrow
yored skirt and tig fitting sleeve this sea-
On, but the effort, happily for taste and
'eauty, failed. For promenade mantels,
he empress corsayne and the patti shawl
CEN to be the fayOrites The patti shawl
5 made of rich black silk, flowing pat
ern, having a double point behind; they are
ariously trimmed. Flounces will be so
luch worn this season that shawl of this
ind will be needed; it is not large and sets
ut prettily, giving full scope to the dress.
or promenade. the favorite colors this
easOn will be chaste tints-silver gray, 6
rab. mode and other quiet colors. The ,
hines ara particularly gray. For evening I
oilet, light-cOlOred chimes and crepes de t
aris will be the favorite material; corsage '
ut low and pointed. Illusion bands and
lpes will be much worn. {