The New York herald., 1868-02-23
FASHIONS FOR MARCH.

glorious sunshine stealing through the riffs in the
lealen clouds brighten up the few lingering days
of old Leap Years elongated February. and were
it 1t for the rivers of Stygian backness that ebb
| and flow with mud through all our streets. prone
| ntdng and shopping would be pleasure really
| enjoyable. At present, however, out door exer-
else is an utter impossbility, and is about as un-
| pleasant to imagine as TO partic pate in Those
| who have the temerity to venture forth
| into the streets generally return to their
| homes bedraggled with slush and covered with
| mud their walk spoiled and toilets soiled
while the only pleasure experienced is the doubt
full of giving the dress to Betty to brush, 30 as
| to keep her from Thomas other mischief. The
| moderate weather of the past few days and the
near approach of spring conjure up to tho vivid
| imaginations of our deJdntes enrapturing visions
of lighter toilets and change in the modes; yet
| they should not permit themselves to be deluded
by these deceptive appearances that, like a. syren,
| aures but to destroy. There may be bright. warm
| days in March, but it will be only semi occasion
ally for by far the greater number of days in that
| caprcious month, experience teaches us, will be
made up of bowling, whistling winds; pitess storms
of sleet and rain, and clouds of binding dust that
fills ones eyes and mouth, and ruins even the COM
| monest of dresses.
Fashion apparently has been trying for centu-
| ries to invent something that would please and at
the same time satisfy her votaries something orig
| inal useful and beautiful, which might with just
the slightest possible exaggeration be termed
| "perfection;" but her endeavors to reach this
acme of mundane bliss has been q most miserable
and amentable failure, and the result is that the
latest styles still perplex, aggravate, delight or
! bother thu cerebras Of the feminine world. To
aid and encourage this delightful and pleasurable
| botheration, we now propose to exhibit to our fair
readers the latest in The way of cuts. colors and
materials, our only desire being that they may
find as much real pleasure in reading the fol-
lowing as they are certain to experience if
they follow our directions. The millennium
Of fashionable perfection may never be vouch-
safed to us, yet it is some consolidation to know
that with the exception Of few trifing vagaries
| her chief aim and march has been strangely tend
/ ing toward Improvement. To be just must ad-
nit that almost every new phase of the arbitrary
and tickle goddess of late years has been a fasci-
mating, admirable tendency from good to better,
an Intoxicating delight of joys yet in store for her
worshippers, Of which even the present pretty.
| becoming, modest and comfortable styles are but
the harbngers.
as is also black. crimson and dark blue. Bismarck
shades are rapidly going down in the tide Of public
!, favor; they were too exclusive to last long, and
! there are now fewer shades Of the kind
| tolerated. Dark blue is preferred for
| cloth costumes; violet and dark brown for cot
ton velvet; specked brown and black tweed
are also permitted and are deemed very tasty and
fashionable. Dark blue velvet and dark crimson
0re al in Hema for outd wpa Rllpk
continues to be fashions favorite hue; and such
an ascendancy has this color acquired in Paris
over all other shades that it would seem az though
the ladies of that frivolous capital had doomed
themselves to eternal mourning. Ordinary visits,
wedding visits and all those occasions for which
bright coors and gay costumes used to be- Sc
lected have given place to black, which has this
season prevailed. In matters of color fashion il al
l most inc exorable in matters pertaining to cuts
| or trimmings, and the result is that costumes
! entirely Of the same material are still worn.
| Black satin, black faye, black violet morG and
black scrye de sole the favorte materials just
!! now; but any Of the colors mentioned above can
! be substituted instead. We subjoin descriptions
| of black dresses:--
! Jupon of black violet moire, upper robe Of
black faye, gathered up at each side rich trim
ming of jet ornaments on the pockets, corsage and
sleeves that on the pockets and corsage consists Of
4 u
the sleeves il somewhat more snowy and elaborate
| in design the ceinture s oe the same Material as
the robe. exec dinghy broad and fastened at the
back OF the waist by jet rings. Bonnet of black
| velvet, with trimming of white or violet
marabouts. The cor age OF the dress is high, and
OVER it is worn black lace polonase. small
chinchilla muh Is slung to the arm by a loop Of
rose cuiored ribbon, fastened in bow at one side.
This i AZ present the fashionable style Of carry.
~. the milf.
Rabe Of black faye, over jupon Of black velvet.
I with The robe finished at the edge by five narrow
rouleaux OF black velvet. A black lace bournousc
l!ncd with violet six.
Next we lave trained robe OF superb black
serge de sole. Between each breadth there is
band of brilliant jet trimming, and on the pockets
JET fringe. The ceinture OF the polonaisc consists
ol u broad black ribbon, embroidered with jet.
polouaise Of black chan lily lace, lined with black
satin.
throughout the winter. Fashion has at length
dictated special rule for that style of dress gen.
orally designated "a the Costume court" of
which the short robe IL the marked charac teristc.
The short jup0n, or petcoat. must not be too
short, and should be Of red violet or black and
inisbod at the lower edge by plisse. The robe
worn over Il Is cat IN peculiar way; in front it
is without plats ut the waist, and hangs in only
little iulness at the back, where it is shaped
70 fal in a moderate point, and is gathered
up by four buttons, one being placed at
each side and twb at the back. Van
dyScs look very pretty finished with black
lace edging. Black velvet and other evening
dresses Gre cut very low. Some sacrifice, how
ever, 20 propricty is obtained by the use Of the
chcmisette, or rather second and high bodice of
satin, very pale in tone and made quite plain.
The latest style for evening dresses tor young
ladies consists OF three skirts of pink Grape set
in very sma, pats, the border OF each skirt cut in
small scallops answering to the width of the plaits
Tao body Is formed Of three plated bands, the
upper one in small scallops round the top. A
scarf Of pink satin can be worn around the waist,
and fastened together half way down the skir by
pink daisy, smaller to be worn at the waist
~ the other side. White foulard is also fashion.
able.
Boll dresses could not he cut any lower in front,
| 40 they ATE now cut more behind. In the wav OF
ball dresses, robe of white tulle over white silk
j. most desirable. The skirt should he made in
the style of robe ronde--that is to say, without .
irain, and jus, long enough TO touch the ground !;
tae edge finished with Ilounce of tule, cmbroid-
efcd with silver. The front should be plain, and