New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-18
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becaise MS painted skin a9nents the eyesr
Fashion! little word Of seven letters mare
potent than gold, more despotic than man. little
word whose influence is felt by all classes high and
low; whose worshippers are legion; whose sway
surpasses that of the Gar of all the ussias-whi-
steal, changeable, eccentric and yet, blind1y fol-
lowed, whithersoever # leads, by people Of sense
and intellect, as well as by those whose purse ont
measures their brains.
FASHION doth wear out more apparel than the
man . and 1t Is somewhat amusing to one, who
like myself, has outived care for the opinions Of
Others in trivial matters, to stand aside and see how
blindly, madly, fooHshly, people Will adopt the
prevailing fashion, without one Thought dis to IT'D
appropriateness, becomingness OF utility verify.
l believe, were fashion to say, that willow basket
or Turkey carpet was to be adopted ashead eev-
ers or shawls, we would see crowds adopting the
dress necessity. Some years since tan color
was the fashion for ladies', and every feminine you
met ciadi tan. The ruddy, the saddle colored,
the sparkling brunette and snowy blonde stepped
forth in all the hues Of brown from light tan to
deep snuff, from hazelto chestnut Then, Fashion,
caprclous dame, found gray becoming, and we
had gray from bonnet to shoe-te, color how
ever, less trying upon all compilations than either
the tan or the present color-Solferino.
Nine out Of every ten ladies you meet are deco
rated with this color-bonnets, neck ties bows and
girdIes. Faces that might be made pretty il sur
rounded by green, blue, rose or straw color, are
made hideous by one of the most trying colors in
the whole shade of rainbow hues, whereWith
miners, tempt US silly coquettish women to spend
our money and make ninnies of ourselves.
When will women learn sense enough to study
the fact that all faces are not shaped nor shaded
alike, and that where green will make one face
look fresh and young, it will add years to the
pearance of another. The same with every color
and shade of color known. Flounces or double
skirts become the fashion, and the TALL the dnmpy,
the lean, the fat all are aoGnced. Brads in the
hair, Dame Fashion says, become her, and you see
the short dish face; the long, higheheeked face;
the low, retreatng forehead; the high, narrow
forehead--all dressed with braids. And why
Because it is the fashion, Gone might az well
be dead as out of the fashion, say the poor silly
ones, and at all risk join in the play of follow
your leader"
heard of lady once duped by malicious
wag who knew her weak point of being ever in
advance of fashion il possible, who made her
appearance one of the most fashionable streets
clad in the old English peasant Dress short, dis
playing the ankle and foot considerable with high
| red-heeed low-quarter shoes, and clicked stock
ngs You may imagine the attention she at
tracted, and her modification when she discovered
| the snare set for her.
| Reflect ladies'; nature is sometimes preferable
| to art, and an old and somewhat vulgar maxim in
culcates, Fne feathers do not make fine BIRDS, as
almost any one would prefer the moek-bird in his
sober dress, to the gaudy paroquette or brilliant
| rice-bird No wise man yet ever married womaR
for her fine dress and neatftting, clean calico
Dress with every other article of dress to cores
pond, is far preferable to a soed silk and taudy
accomplishments.
But enough of preaching, hear you say, from
your old friend,