Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-17
THE LADIES' COLUMN.

THE LADIES' COLUMN.
American Young Ladies Abroad
Their Extravagaus Habiss-Love Of
Finery, ete.,-Their Trains Longer
than Evcr-NeE York City Fashions.
The Paris correspondent of the New
York Express writes under date Of Nov.
80, as follows '--s -sss- at
The milliners here seem determined
upon the ruin of those who have female
appeared to pay for. Never were the
said garments made of such rich and
costly stufs-never were they SO compli-
Gated, so voluminous, so expensive. The
magnificent silks, sstins, and yelyets are
pleated, frilIed ingeniously, arranged, SO
that numberless yards of the material
NAV be needed for one dress; and even
then it is drawn up, that under
meath must there be still more
expensive skirts, embroidered, fringed.
to add to the total-the "demnition
total" as Mantilini would exclaim were
he called upon to pay it. Queer stories
are related here OF the fearful Indebtedness
consequently incurred by some ladies Of
the better monde, who think they must
be dressed a la derniere mode, and Of
the means adopted by some Of the ladies
in question to procure the settlement OF
the bills they owe. In many instances
the seandalous reports are doubtless ex-
aggerated, but it may be feared that, in
too many, are the details strictly correct.
In short, the extravaganza of the fashion,
able world is becoming terrible, and it is
a pity that American ladies so readily
follow the example set them by the
parties in question. II the wealthy, the
titled, the aristocrats of the Old World
find itruinous to keep up the strife for
show and display, how hazardous must
this all be for republican Americans
who in SO few cases have the same well
assured revenues, the same large
fortunes. 1t is true that throughout
the United States, there are many
very wealthy people, and that these
can well afford the display they
make; but on your side of the water,
there seem to be no ladies willing to "ac-
cept the situation" and dress plainly.
Even the servants in your kitchens, the
maids in your ante chambers, must wear
silks and YslVets, and initiate their mis-
tresses so closely in "style," that when
Biddy is out for the afternoon, she often
appears the most elegant. You may,
perhaps, wonder at this outbreak of mine
upon the subject of fashions, so must
explain. A fact Just occurred tells the
story better than | could in writing COLI
umns. An American family, a gentle
man, wife and three daughters, arrived
here some months since to make the Eu-
ropean tour. The ladies were unproyided
with toilettes, and as they were to pass
the winter partly at Nice and Rome, they
entered upon course of preparation in
the dressing line. Complete outfits were
desired, and bought; so that, at the press
ent time, the said family can shine most
brilliantly. But here comes the hitch;
the ample sum needed for European
tour of twelvsmonth is swallowed up
by the total now laid before the Papa
and as his means are limited, perforce
the party return to their homes They
will have seen none Of Europe but Havre
and Paris. As moral upon this, | may
add that the young ladies seem to think
the possession of the splendid toilettes
amply repays them for the loss Of the
contemplated tour-which is, perhaps,
carrying love Of dress too far. --.-.-a aL
The Paris correspondent OF the London
Queen writes Nov. q
The trains for evening wear are longer
than ever. The dresses ara IN general
trimmed en- tdblieY, with turic open in
front, and spreading out at the back, as a
manteau de cOuT, or court train. The
bodies, to dinner dresses, are not always
cut low; several are made high, and
open in front, either square or pointed.
The sleeves are made both coat-Shaped
and with ruffles.
The large Wristbands trimmed either
with fringe or lace, and called the Almees,
are very fashionably worn. When the
dress is trimmed with flowers, they are
either scattered over the entire skirt or
else the train is covered with trellis
work of them-thus Transforming a
ball dress into a veritable boquet Of
howers.
Every variety of tartan is very fash
ionable here at the present season. 1t is
adapted to costume, to Macfarlane
cloaks, and to waterproof suits, and now
fourth style has come in vogue-worn
pretty much as a Highlander wears his
plaid. A long scarf shawl is required.
This is folded lengthwise,. in eight,
taking care that the fringe fall on the out
side. To drape it over the figure, it is
first placed across the left shoulder, lets
ting one of the ends fall at the back, like
a sash. upon the skirt. Their it covers
the chest, passes under the right arm,
encircles the waist at the back in the
form Of a band, recroSSes the front, and is
lastly thrown over the right shoulder.
To conclude, the end of the shawl is
slipped through the part that forms the
waistband, at the back and the two ends
which should be of the same length, fall
on the skirt behind.
The New York Tribune says of the
fashions of that city:
The new chambery gauzes come in
white with line stripes of color, but are
not nearly SO pretty as the plain gauzes.
The figured moire is new this winter; q |
rich pattern was a pale peach blossom
ground on each width Of which was a
bouquet of field and garden flowers, the
tint of which was beautiful bril-
liant crimson; price, $3.50.
Suits for walking dresses are imported
n velveteen, either black or dark garnet,
made with long apron front, and side
pieces bound round the whole width in a
broad fold with large buttons on the CEN
er, the back drawn in single, low, large
,uff. The petticoat is of cashmere, in the
intricate Persian patterns, which show