The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-12-28


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THE FAsHIoNs.-Though we are sure our lady
friends would not if they could, follow closely
in the wild track of New York extravaganza in
the way of dress, yet we are sure they would like
to know what is going on in that great city in the
new "gettings up" of fashion We copy from
late New York paper the following
The holiday season is at hand, and all over the
fashionable world the votaries of dress are hold
ing high carnival. At the Partisan Court the la
dies change their toilettes from four to five times
each day. 1t is said that such is the severity of
the Empress in these matters, that she is always
displeased when she remarks dress that has pre-
sumed to du ty on any previous occasion. Such
being the case, the Partisan dressmakers are kept
hard at work. And not to be behind hand, our
own modistes are up to their eyes in work White
alpaca, white lustre, and white silk dresses are
the rage for Christmas and New ears Day. Light
silks of every description, and notably light check
silks are great favorites for evening dresses du-
ring the present gay season. Of the latter we saw
a check silk of beautiful quality, the entire pat
tern of which cost only 500. The dress was made
with plain good skirt-as check silks appear to
better advantage untrimmed--a close-ftting round
waist, with b cit, and on the sleeves epaulettes
of blue ball fringe, of the same shade as one of
the checks in the dress. The corsage was closed
down the front, with buttons of velvet to match.
This make dress at once, elegant and rich and
when such dress can be had for 500, there is
nothing left to complain Of in the price of dry
goods. 4f
The colors popularity known pearly gray and
regina blue, are the favorites for bonnets, this
season they are used in velvet, in satin, and in
terry velvet, with plumes and ribbons to match.
At another store we saw the following lovely bon
net. A drawn Eugene bonnet made of blue
terry velvet, and trimmed with an edging of blue
feathers of the smallest size. The inside trim
mings were of silver leaves, frosted with gold
dust 1t is seldom that anything SO beautiful will
be found in the showroom of an American estab-
lishment. Pearly gray and regina blue are the
favorite colors for bonnets this Winter drawn
Empire bonnet, made of pearl grey terry velvet,
trimmed with border of pigeons feathers, Sc
lected to match the terry, is considered in very
good taste. Grey creppe lisse is used for trim
ming grey velvet bonnets, and silver grecques are
added round the edge of the front, well as upon
the narrow curtain and inside the cap; small
white wing is added to stand upright, at the left
side of the bonnet. This style of bonnet is made
for evening in white tulle the three pufings
which form the front being separated by gold
grecquej the curtain, the strings, and coronet
inside being ponceau velvet
Instead Of being confined to the Empire in bon
nets, there have suddenly sprung up such va
riety of bonnet shapes, that it is impossible for
ones taste to 60 unsatisfed. The Marie Stuart,
Empire, the Marie Antoinete, the Pamela, the
Italian, for the morning; and for evening. the
always favorite Fanchon are all in the full tide of
fashion, and afford choice of styles seldom Of
fered in any one season. Bonnets trimmed with
swans down are very popular for festive occa-
sions such as weddings, afternoon parties, etc.
The swans down is very light, and there is no
necessity to weave borders to ribbons in immita
ton of it, for the strings be trimmed with the
veritable article. Very fancifu but still pretty
colarets have made their appearance with the
cold weather. They are called Polish collars, and
are made in the form of victorine without ends
Either curled plush or velvet is the material used
for them, and they are edged with swans down.
For wearing over the shoulders, either at home
or over paletot out Of doors, these Polish col.
larets are very comfortable.
For balls and parties incidental to the holiday
season, the numbers of beautiful evening dresses
are almost innumerable. The following descrip-
tions of the handsomest we have will interest
our lady readers and give ideas that may be valu-
able in the carrying out of their own designs for
evening attire A dress of rich, heavy white silk,
trimmed with Cerise silk and swans down, put on
in this manner A band of Cerise silk, about five
inches wide, edged on each side with swans
down, was carried from the wastband down each
side of the front, the distance between widening
toward the hem and carried all round the skirt;
the corsage low and trimmed with narrow band
to match; the sleeves short and similarly orna-
mentsd. For very young ladies, muslin and
tarletane dresses, trimmed with ruchings and
bands of contrasting colors, are very much adj
mired.