The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-04-06

day IN the metropolis. Still the halls OF
fashion were well filed on their opening
day. We find the following description in
the Tribune OF the prevailing mode for
spring:
| THE DRESS.
There has been a complete change in
the form and trimming OF dresses, and one
d which will create some commotion among
ladies short and ladies tall, ladies stout
and ladies small This change has not
been brought about without a struggle
For year past the leading queens of
! beauty and OF iashion-those women who
| look lovely in any bonnet and every dress
have endeayored to introduce the gored
skirt, formerly worn by their stately grand
mothers. Their efforts were unavailing
for time, and many ladies hoped the
thing would fail. But the devotees of
gored skirts persisted, and the year 1861,
spring and summer, will witness their tri
umph. The gored dress will soon be the
rage, and from specimens seen Yesterday
one feels compelled to say that it must be
extremely becoming, especially to tall fig
ures. y strange fact III relation to these
gored dresses is this: They have not been
worn since the days of the Imericas ReUo-
hdicn. Our patriotic grandmothers of those
glorious days wore them, and now this
unique fashion has returned to aflorn the
daughters of another day of revolution
Truly, this is n noteworthy freak of fashion
But the gored dress Of our time is slight
ly different from those Of the past. The
dress of eighty Years ago had but two
breadths in the skirt, and the waist was
directly under the arlnpits. While the
one OF 1851 has from six to seven yards
width around the bottom of the skirt, and
-
too long nor too short, For morning neg
Lge the skirt and corsage are cut in one
piece, with a tight or half bishop sleeve
For dinner dress. the corsage is detached
in front thus relieving it OF lis morning
robe appearance. The sleeves and skirt +
are richly and elegantly trimmed. From /
three 10 eight small iiounces are worn on :
the bottom Of the dress-tHe sorage very
high and plain, and sometimes open at The /
throat, surplice fashion Ladies must re- (
member that all elegant dinner and eve I
ming dresses viii he made with the open .
flowing sleeve All necligc and prone ,
made dresses viii have the tight pulied or
ha open coat sleeve. The mousquetaire
collar aud cuffs will be very much worn
for morning costume, but small linen
bands will Le more fashionable.
The new dress goods for the coming
season IT" very CI.d-lS 'tlfi btdullIui III
pattern. In silks and bareges the ground
cOlors for promenade are various shades
Of gray, brown and green; but the grays
seem the favoIite co.ors. English baregcs
will bc made in gOred dresses, having one
large Houuce on the bottom Of tie skirt
Eg!I-h grenadIn.s-a much more elegant
ami expensive iabyic-WI!i be made In Sc
ven OF eight i,ouBceS.
lovely silk. entirely new Is one called
the Prince Of Wales plume. Tie design
IS white curled ostrich plume, with -
few leaves OF "furEet-me-uot' eutwincd,
very royal and -Lowy, and certainly very
tender oG a plain ground. These silks
may be had in all the iayorte colofs. The
color Of the FORGET me-uCt' leaves varies
with the color 0: the silk, aud Is always
the same as the silk, but the plume Is
white l. ali. This j. the silk Of the season,
and many pleasant recollections, no doubt.
Will revive IA the hearts Of the we1rci- of
thc GRACEFUL Youth /, WI recaT 10 tHeir r
minds Another new feature In silks Is
the narrow styipe-the piE-stllge, as 1t Is
viii be a decided favorite
This silk comes also in the various leading
colors. \ very handsome fabric for late
spring and summer Is the Mozambique
cloth. This Will be worn a great deal Tor
dresses 1t viii be made up, Of
course in the gored pattern and will make {
the utatc5t and prcItic>t little gorcd man
tie to match that ever delighted an ele-
CANT wonlau's eyes. The color Of the Mo
cloth i soft gray, with silk
en- alo.s. and the material Is OF that most /
desirable kind for ladies, which never
looks tumbled--a sort OF why softness.
This cloth Is nearly two yards wide, and
Is only 81 % per yard