Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-11-19
Modern French Fashions-Artioism by a
Frenchman.


The following criticisms on Frenct
ladies is from the pen OF a French
man
"The greater portion of the women
OF our time, have entirely lost all sense
of true elegance they have for years
past, sought, in dress and hair dress.
ing, style which should best set of
bosh face and figure, and most Of
their efforts have not resulted well
the ever changing fashion being Sc
far their friend by soon altering their
disfigurements. The reason for this
is soon found. The supp osed leaders
OF fashion except their modes from
their milliners rather than design
them. A dressmaker by profession,
rather than by education or inspira>
tion, is not likely to possess that sense
OF beauty ard elegance, known as
good taste" which springs from "a
refined and educated mind. Habit
gives expertness and neatness of
work, but more is requisite senti-
ment, and certain distinctive char
acter which fits the dress TO the wear,
er-these attributes we must not
expect to find cultivated by those
who work from necessity. With such
imagination and tact have no part.
This argument its the tailor, millen
er and dressma ker alike well, as it is
their choice which rules the world,
and causes the discomfort which is so
often expressed by ladies as to the
unuecomingness of the garb they are
obliged to adopt least they should be
though tsingular. 1t is not long since
bonnets were worn SO high as to
reach beyond ridicule itself. This
sty le was given up for the sake of
little fancies perched on top of the
head, which discovered all the graces
of the profile and forehead. In this
was much reason, and was the
thought of a great leader of fashion,
who originated the first bonnet of
the kind but this was too pretty for
Persian milliner to see, and, in con-
junction with some Aspasia, not to
attempt to alter and spoil simultane-
ously, whereby we now see a vizor
Of plate shape worn on the forehead,
instead of the head, and declining to.
wards The eyes like the peak Of
helmet. Can anything be more in,
elegant? What can be said of
fashion which hides the forehead and |
eyes of woman, leaving her head |
dressed after the fashion Of Madame |
Dummollard ? No lady of education
or taste could ever SO abuse her APP
pearance her sense of the beautiful
and the elegant could never be so
perverted After the dress puffed
out with crinoline had been made to
sweep the streets, they took to short
frocks, then, rearranging these, drop
cd them after the manner of window
or door curtains. Whence came
this, if not from the theatre,
where the most part of dressmakcrs
seek their Inspirations, as little heed |
is taken of those actresses who are |
not greatly dressed ? Well, is it from |
the extravaganza of stage costume
a lady should take example? She
and the actresses reign in two separate
There is no need to con-
found them, or that the one or the
other should have her especial style.
Is it not to be wished that the Per>
sian lady, so long the arbiter, the
queen of fashion, not only for her
own but other countries, should re-
take her septre and old prestige, and
once more follow the councils of her
own pure taste in preference to that
of her dressmaker? 1t is doubtless
easier to be guided, but social indi-
viduality is lost, of itself the basis,
the beau ideal of correct costume, by
which may be avoided the soon FIRE
quent result of en- amalgamation of
bad taste absurdity.