Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-17
Correspondents Of the n. Y. journal Of Commerce.
Paris FASHIONS.


can not better describe our condition, whether
political or atmospheric, than by the word gloomy.
Paris, during the last few weeks, since the Cham
bers have begun to make use of their new found
liberty Of speech, is again the prey to political
emotions. The discussions and animadyersions
on the foreign policy of the government, in the
halls of the Senate and Legislative body find an
echo in every class, and the timorous tremble at
what may be the consequence of the dangerous
boon which the Imperial Master has conceded to
the Lords and Commons. The next novel and
strange event to the loosening of the tongues, is
the advent in the world of fashion Of the extra
ordinary coiffures in which our bellies appear at
balls. Imagine the front hair gathered above the
forehead into fried puff several inches high,
and there surmounted by bow of ribon or a
helmet of flowers; the black hair is dressed very
low on the head, Ia Greeque, and covered with
a sort of cachepegne in keeping with the orna-
ment in front; this burlesque superstructure of
hair reminds us of the pouf sentiments, in which
our grandmothers displayed the portraits and
statuettes of their friends, and which were ofsuch
a height that ladder was generally necessary to
to enable the coigeur to put the finishing stroke
to his handiwork. Ere long we may have to re-
cord the crownng of the pouffs Of the present era
with the Photographic cards now in vogue, and
which are alone wanting to complete the re-
semblance between the head dresses Of les Tonnes
Il
The spring bonnets are following the same up
ward tendency; there sides at least only
sufficient to fasten the bonnet under the CHM all
is piled above the forehead. Madome Alphonsins
with the good taste for which she is remarkable
modifes these vagaries of fashion, and although
her combinations of lace, velvet, flowers and
feathers bear the stamp of novelty, they are still
| graceful and becoming. There may be seen in
her show rooms white Grape bonnets covered with
fenchons of black and white lace, half concealjne
wreathes of spring flowers which encircle the
| crown of the hat; all the trimming inside entirely
of silk, the pretest are those of lilac and violet
huted; the curtain is drawn and bordered by
double trimming of lilac and violet On the toI
of the front is tuft of violet flowers surrounded
by green grapes, and inside fringe Of grapes fai
over bandeau of black velvet; at the sides are
drawn blonde bordered with black velvet the long
and wide strings are made of silk, not ribbon ,anc
are pinked at the edges.
i The caps four favorite lingere, Madame Petit
have generally loose crown with n large rucht
bordering it, and are decorated in the dadeu
style with velvet ribbons and small tufts o.
flowers Just above the forehead. The baby robe:
de chambre from this establishment are much ad
mred; they are of white cashamere, trimmet
with ruches of Solferino color of two tints. Tn,
back is plated tight to the figure; there are tw,
ruches around the neck down the front of tn,
robe and around the skirt near the edge. Th
great manufacturer and exporter of lace Violard
has lately exposed great variety Of laces, botl
, black and white, of new designs. Black ant
white small lace mantelets for evening wear; ric
, Chantilly shawls and points for spring and sum
fner toilette, magnificent hounces for robes
, basques and mantles, &c. The luxury in all de
scriptions of toilette increases daily PARTICULAR
in the mouehoir. The magasin of Chapron dis
plays the greatest variety in this article Of dress
, Handkerchiefs for the morning, for negiige 70
] full dress, for mourning, are each Of difieren
style and price. In no branch Is the instabilt
of fashion SO apparent as in that Of perfumery
A few years since the lotion la mode was tn
rinaigre de toilette; now the Eau dAlbion is tn
5 essence which is universally employed In Europe
The Eau fAibion extracted from Alpine plant.
n by the perfumers, Gelles, possesses invigoratin
D qualities, and is as useful as il is agreeable