The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-11
The Spring Fashions.

The Spring Fashions.
March 1st was "opening day in
the metropolitan cities of the North.
"Opening day" denotes the opening
of the latest production OF Dame Fa-
.shion. The Northern papers give
glowing accounts of the spring fa-
shions, and for the benefit Of our
lady readers we present the following
glance at the new styles Of
BoNNErs.
OF the various articles of feminine
attire, the bonnet is certainly the
'.head centre of attraction among
the fair sex. 1t is also an article that
is manipulated by the tickle dame
more than any other Sometimes it is
all crown-perhaps all curtain. An
other season, it has DO crown at all
and scarcely any front This season,
the bonnets are of very light and
coquettish description. The "Em-
pire," at present worn, is to be sue
ceeded by the '.Pamela, and long
category of others, entitled the 'sGip-
sey," aurora, &c. The ..Pamela"
is q very pretty bonnet; one noticed
was composed of white Grape, trim
med with violet ribbons, and jet and
straw ornaments. The crown was
loose, the curtain formed with q mar
row border of lace, and the front de-
pressed In Maria Stuart. Another
was composed of white lace, trimmed
with orange colored ribbons and white
satin jessamine flowers, covered with
wax. A hat called ths margaret" is
to supersede the ''Oxford' hat now
worn; it is similar in shape, but
larger, made of straw or Leghorn,
and trimmed with velvet and canoes.
DRESSES.
At Madame Demorest's Emporium
of Fashion, on Broadway, some very
elegant designs for spring were on
exhibition, as was also the case in
many other of the principal stores.
The changes are, perhaps, not of a
very radical nature. Dresses for the
season are nearly all gored, and the
skirts cut very short, 50 as to display
the border of the petticoat; or else
the dress should be hoped up with
the patent dress elevators. Among
the prettiest of the new styles is the
Madeline gored dress. This dress
is cut without plaits at the waist, and
the skirt and body is all in one piece.
It is made in buff goats hair cloth,
so pale in tint that it is little more
than cream color, trimmed with blue
velvet of the bright Mexican tint.
The peculiar feature of this dress
consists of the side pieces at the back,
which are continued down upon the
skirt-forming coat tails rather than
sashes, fifteen inches in width at the
bottom, with stimulated pockets. The
tails or shafts are repeated in front,
but are much shorter, and not so
wide at the bottom. The velvet is
simply put on as a narrow border to
all the edges, and round the bottom
of the skirt. The pockets and front
of the dress are ornamented with blue
velvet buttons to match. A very
pretty sleeve, called the 'Coulte," is
exhibited, composed of goats hair,
or other spring material. It is shaped
to the wrist, but made full upon the
back, giving the effect of an inserted
puff.
SKIRTS.
Balmoral skirts will be little worn,
except in dirty weather; in fine
weather cambria skirts, trimmed with
futing, will take their place. Some
very pretty skirts are made of goats
hair, striped with black and white.
Short sacks, composed of velvet and
trimmed with hair OF egg fringe, will
be worn, either for the street or
opera.
CLoAKs.
Round cloaks will be worn this
in preference to any other,
together with talmas and double
capes, scalloped out at the edge and
bound with material to match the
dress
TRIMMINGS.
Two methods are adopted for trim
ming gored skirts-one commencing
from the top and the other from the
bottom. Trimming commencing
from the bottom begins at the side
and ascends higher as it nears the
front of the dress; but trimmings or
commencing at the top of
the skirt, should run deep at the back
and shorter as it nears the front.
Bands and ornamental galloons
will be much used this spring for
short cloaks and paletots,
to suit the taste of the
wearer.
ORNAMENTS
A new idea in the way of orna-
ments is now coming in vogue, in
the shape of medallion or canoes,
which are intended to supercede the
gold, silver and steel ornaments nou,