The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-22
THE SPRING FASHIONS.


Opening Day OF the season.
Yesterday was se apart BY the modistes Of New York
for the opening cf the sprng fashions and IT about
tho worst day for the purpose that could have been
ccted from the Hhele calendar The 2st OF March the
eliminating point Of the spying equinox and the thsrses
three to against favorable weather The leaders
Of fashion ought 70 posted up on this matter and might
study the laws Of mesoorogy with profit and advantage
One week earlier or later would answer just we'll and
with TO the interests Of those concerned
would, we have no doubt, do much better iu pecu
mary point Of view. With fair weather, the opening
would have been more successful than the depressed
condition Of business would lead TO expect
although there has been q large falling off in the
demand this year compared with former periods The
crisis which Affects all nes made exception in the se
Of the dealers in fshions who have lost great number
Of their Southern customers We have heard Of some
neances os their bills havipg been protss.ed but the
debts regarded as perfectly good and the creditors
are confident that they wiz be collected when times
come better. Whether their customers will return is
another anair; but Now YORK is to the New World
what Paris 70 the DID, It is hardly probable that the
southerncrs win gIore It's claims this particular
by establishing centre Of fashion among themselves
No matter what politicians may do matter how many
confcderactes Ahe Union may be spill. into, the
Empire City will always hold its place, and tho
m.lliners and moistes of the South viii look 70
ours for the latest styles Of bonrets and the newest
novelties in dress. In some respects New York ~
ahead Of the great French capital; and although u
rules the world Of sskion sti it's laws subjected to
many notifications and improvements before their adop
tion on this Of the Atlantic. We have seen and do
scribcd, on the occasion Of former openings, spe-
cimeps Of the artistic skill and genius Of our mo-
dstes that surpassed any imported from Paris The
effects Of the cries therefore, via be only temporary
Ar..hza A.an thor
turn Of confdepce bonnets and flowers and rucdes and
ribbons and everything that goes to make the grand
sum total called fashion, win flourish with more
than their former luxuriance and nagniAcence.
The only visteTs inspecting the articles on exhibition
yesterday at tho various establishments on Broadway
and other thorouqhfares those from the country,
who came to Now York for the express purpose of pur
chasing and for whom the weather had no ter
rcrs. The necessities Of business compelled their
attendance, and presume they bought as
much as they would had the equnoxial
storm been postponed for a week; and had Broadway
g.tered in al the refugence Of brilliant opening day,
with fine weather overhead and that other essential for
outdoor exercisc-cean srcets-the different exhibition
would be crowded if the Union we're flourish
ing In all its integrity and Southern confederacy had
existed But IL the wealth. er disappointed the OK,
pectatons Of fashions votares at least Of the New
nrst fair day mako their visits, ami to nspec. the
Gneries that viii be spread in such tempting profusion
before them. For them opening day ha only been post
poned and when II commences fairly IL will he prolonged
far bcy ond the durns limits prescribed in the calendar
II would seem that Fifth avenue is not 30 favorable
locality for the business Of the mners had been
led expect Last year called atten to the fact
that u had boen invaded by q mod iste; but the
e do not appear 70 have appreciated the oovsmen for
thuE far have not heard OF any opening in that quar-
ter and fair TO conclude that the Fren n invasion"
as was called at the time, has been successful
1t IL doubtful indeed, whether any tn ug to be
gained by business ncghboshood wita that quar-
ter of the city, This brief reference neceA say
plain tho Gauge Of Fffsh avenue having BED anItsi
in the ,wipG list of openings
BRoADwly.--Willam Brown, Mrs. Wm sinrs ons, Mrs
c. Leyins, Mrs. j. H. Gosgon L. BinDs, g. w. 3assfor
Mesdsnss Pcot Wilkinson, Madame Islacs, Madame
Der oIess, w. Jackson (mourripg) Madame L. IA 70, xrs
s. r. Ioys.t, James Tucker, L Mcintosh.
CAsAL slaI.--slrs. Nulchinack, Madame Den 1eriss,
Mrs Jobrf on Mrs. Callers Glinn smith, b. Day Bro
dies, Mad Rallipgs.
BrKEcKrs srHiET--Nrs. Day ydson.
snm AVENUE Mrs. Aver d Miss shugg, Mrs Rngs old.
DIVISION sT1urr--w. eperhym, Mrs NJ Feeiy, l trs
Openhym.
CAIEsrIsE SnmET.--Mrs. Bells.
CrISrcs PlAcE-Mlsses =. G. and +. H. Thomas.
BowERY.--Mrs J. W. Dempsey
DoxSIoK sTREET.--Mrs NJ. C. Blanck
erpHa SrREsr-Mrs. Rumri
BrooKyS.-A. L. Mold and c. Beatty, Fulton street.
BoSSErs.
Tie bonuots this season are more beautiful than ever
in and arrangement in the sy and disposition Of
the trimming and ia those minute details which, though
trihGg IN Themselves 60 so far towards making up a
perfect whole. We remember - have assisted
at an oren ing which this essential element of
was apparent. II seemed as II the cxgency OF te
times, the political and monetary crisis In which we are
involved ard the necessity for asserting the euocrority
Of New York in matters Of taste, and vindcatng ts
claim to be considered the Paris OF the New World, had
melted cur moistes 70 "do their speedy utmost TO
display their OF taste and and ty
prove that 70 matter how things CO. the Empire City
viii atm he the ccntrc Of fashion and the capital Of the
world Of taste We think that motive less lofty could
have produced these exquisite little fabcs 40 rm yet
light simple, yet disingue, that we saw yester
day They must have been devised % busy brains aud
comr ounced by skilfui fingers, ia the glory Of New
Yok and the subjugatcn Of all Southern danes aud
demoiselcs that wandered within eycsnot May they
The peculiar nature Of the weather, too, added the
novelty Of interest 20 the occasion; for who ever saw
without and within those delicate creations those spring
ard summer fances, gay with glsienipg leaves and
Of poetry 10 mere matter Of business, impaired cha
Iacter of ideay 10 the whole affair, and transformed
"cpennr day. into sn art exhibition. And certainly II
requlee any amount artistic taste 10 blend and har
monize and contrast these ing colors, 70 Gull and
these nowe 10 dispose these cecy clouds OF lace
and 10 devise these mutfarious styles OF trimming,
New Ms II brought from other spheres,
Yet welcome as II loved for years.
The bats for sprsg aud summer about the
tze thofe OF last seasona little smaller perhaps but
pecephly so but tho shape s essentially different,
different style OF inside trmm Dg, petter
itself and more becoming TO the wcarer than We have
been accustomed 70 for a long time. The hat fares
little In the front, just enough 10 leave room for trim
nina which pretty gracefully arranged In the c0ronsl
m, and coses In At the sides, the ruche being
dispensed wh altogether, and s place supplied b. ban
ooaux and quilting The droops slightly, and the
capes with oyercapes OF ricn lace the soft
crown has disappeared As know these generaites
vey but sy idea Of the fashionable sy les for the CO
ing season. accordance with usual custom thess
OCCASIONS will endeayor to describe es OF the more
beautiful and striking hats ON exhibition yesterday.
One, "The spow fake" particularly admired, and
deservodly So for nothing could excel lie co1rless beau
~ and exquisite delcacy No hat ever more appro
priately Ismcd, for II perfect snowflake, white
and pure and soft those whrlng pas. the win
falling gently TO the ground. The material was