The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-25

The law Of fashion with regard to the make
OF dress seems now established in q very de-
cided manner. II is quite inadmissible for
any dress to be made with plaits all around
the waist: the front and sides, at any rate,
must be plain. There are, however, two
styles in vogue, the Princesse and the four
redu For most figures we give the prefer
ence to the former, which has one large plat
at the back; while the second is entirely on
the bias, like long casaque, and is certainly
less graceful, there being nothing to mark
the waist; the JOurredu is, therefore, less be-
coming than the Princess. For both styles
the long train is necessary. The size of the
crinoline is very scnsbly diminished. but il
cannot altogether be dispensed with whilst
the dresses are so very long. Nothing can
sustain them so well as the cage, though
that may be Of very small dimensions. The
fashion, also, of looping dresses up over the
petticoats, out Of doors, which will certainly
continue through the summer, renders the
crinoline indispens BILE, in order to sustain
them gracefully
The simple spring dresses will not be much
til T,aft0a. I~--~----., r.;pI..sS,
will be all the ornament; hut for richer ma
terials the various kinds of passementerie
will be in requisitiOn. By pdSSementerie our
readers must not understand the gimp of
former days merely, but silk cords mixed
with gold, canoes, fringes crystal, let, and
mother of pearl pendants in endless yari-
ETY..
The rage for Cluny lace has produced
many pretty white batiste and muslin bodies
trimmed with it, and for small reunions they
are much spoken of; but il must be said
that black lace is preferable for evening
wear, excepting, perhaps, for quite young
ladies. They are made with basquines Of
wide lace, and, if desired, n sash or band
may be worn over them; but they are al
ways high, and sometimes made open u little
way down the front.
As to sleeves, when worn at all, thew are
quite small and straight, with an insertion
up the seam but these casaques are as fire..
quently made without as with sleeves. OF
course this depends upon the taste Of the
wearer.
The Pamela or Lamballe, as it has been
christened at the French Court, is the vogue
ut present, but it will have to submit to va
rious notifications before il can become uni
versal; for, becoming as it may be for a
young face, yet as all are not young and yet
all must wear bonnets, it will be necessary
Tor all our mOdistes TO use their talents in
nyenting coiiiures suited to those who may
wish to be elegantly but not ridiculously
dressed. There is no doubt that a modifca.
uon oil the Pamela may be made suitable Ia
almost any age, particularly by the introduc.
ton OF barbes OF lace fastened under the chin
which are being used with great success
The Pamela admits of very little trimming
The strap Of ribbon or barb of lace forming
the strings is always carried straight across
the bonnet, and the front edge is generally
indeed we may say almost always-edged
with a bead fringe or lace worked with beads
The Benoiton chain is also much used.
Inc ydnchon bonnet are made principally in
tnree rows oil wide b0ushDRneS, with row Of
beads between each, or small wreaths Of
flowers with a cachepeigne of the same II
is too soon, however, to speak Of ANYTHING
very decided in bonnets.-Le Toilet.