The New York herald., 1868-04-12
THE PARIS FASHIONS.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE Of THE HERALD.

Bridal Trousscau - Twelve Dozen Of
Pocket Handkerchief and Twelve Dozen Of
Petticoats-Style in Petticoats-An Heirloom
from Great GrandmOther-TheD Dress Robe
of the Bride-The Hat and Trimmings-
Head Dress for Summer.
PARIS, March 27, 1858.
No sooner has the 21st of March heralded spring
over Paris than there is run on troussedur. Some
girls think the best part Of matrimony Is the t0us
seau In fact not only the having and the ordering,
but the displaying Of 1t. 1 have been favored this
week with the exhibition Of one, and left the resi-
dence in which it was laid out with ideas far too
elevated and stuck up" to be appreciated by young
brides Twas made aware Of this by awful lady in
red velvet, who was spying over tablefu Of pocket
handkerchiefs through eyegass and ventlatng her
bewiderment over the beauty Of every one Of them
with phrases expressive of wonder that women there
are in the world who do marry with less than twelve
dozen fancy n,Ouchotrs. I was spitefu enough to
observe that out Of the twelve dozen before there
was not thread to be styled comfortable In case OF
q cold-nOt handkerchief available for useful pur-
poses The old lady eyed me with disdain and said
that brides did not have colds in France-a capital
hint to unmarried parties.
There were also twelve dozen petticoats. In the
same way as we wear long and short dresses, full
and narrow SKIRTS there were half dozens of each,
with inserted widths All were gored down the front
width-a cut destined to prevail for some seasons.
Every variety of muslin, jaconet and white calico
was employed for the different purposes petticoat
underskrt be required for; the plainest were
worked with embossed thick embroidery, great
number were friled with five or six rows round the
bottom, and this style is In great favor on colored
silk underskirts aso
was just speculating what would be the probable
dimensions of the wardrobe that was to contain the
twelve dozen starched and got up ready for wear,
when was familiarly tapped on my left shoulder,
and voice asked me If had seen the great grand
mothers dozen. was not sure II had, so allowed
myself to be dragged back to the great handkerchief
table. "Here," said my informant "is curious
specimen OF French taste and ingenuity" The brides
great grandmother had inherited In her time some
old Mechlin lace and embroidery. IL laid by and
came down rs yellow heirloom 20 the bride. Heavy.
thread, of the antique material has been employed In
the fabrication OF this unique dozen. On examining
onets and initials were In truth applied the primi
tive lace foundation, which was nothing but an ar
tistcal patchwork OF squares, so put together that
the were invisble-all contrived to look like
pattern. Lilies Tyres, garlands, OF c0bweb lightness,
were thus sewn together each handkerchief preserv.
ing its particular pattern all This Is one OF the
best feats woman's needle can achieve.
The bridal robe Is forthcoming, but before quite
leave the handkerchief subject will on this occasion
suing season. The Duchess m0ach0ir Ia trimmed
round with ValenCiennes shells, tnat s lace gathered
80 to form the shell pattern all round. The Wat
team ntouchoir has colored garlands on lawn. The
Metternch n,Ouchotr Is OF fawn colored lawn with
white lawn all round on which fruit and flowers are
worked In natural unts. 0entlemen's roses come
down strong on photograph nymphs, thoroughbreds,
ballet dancers and dogs
But to return to the hOusseds; the bridal robe was
nounce round the bottom heaoed by q ruche, on
which runs Gordon Of orange flowers clingng up
every to the waist and crossing like epaulettes
over each sleeve. cannot say like to see BRIDES
robe In tr0ussedu; 1t looks spectrallike without the
wearer and rather reminds one, as thangs istlessly
OF some one who has gone than Of some geefu maid
coming.
turned away from the dropping sladowy folds
and to lovely ball DRESS II was ruby satin under
skirt, which very lustr0us white gauze,
trimmed with several r0ueaux OF white satin, and
on the sides were inserted ladders OF white satin
rouleau, on the spars OF which ruby and diamond
snaps The same gems were on the low shoulders
and waistband; for the hair there was POM OF
white satin under shower Of shooting diamonds and
rubies.
livery servant kept station near this robe; why
not policeman2 Another magnificent toilet will
mention from the same uOussedu. IL was made OF
white satin and half covered with iounce of vene-
tan point. over this came green velvet tunic, not
so long "a the white satin undertrain behind. This
was trimmed round with gold cord. II was open
In front and short not to hide the point ounce,
and Just above 1t fell both sides large rich bow OF
white satin crossed here and there with gold cord
The shades employed for costumes were blue, violet
and yellow, melting into CRIMSON brick and straw.
The bonnet and fanchon ornaments were mother
ofpearl, perte de coQue and even shells, so put to-
pether to form nuts, nlbers, and not unlike
berries mulberrics. These hang low from slender
stems among long glittering green leaves. AS the
] articles here described are all the workmanship OF