The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-04
FASHIONS FUR JANUARY.
New YORK, December %.
GAS LIGHT EXHIBITORS.

A new idea is 80 rare thing that it deserves
specia, mention wherever and whenever 1t ID
found. This particular idea is not, however,
quite new, except in the mode in which It mas
been carried out, but still IN ire absence oi
ANYTHING better it will do. It consists OF gas
LIGHT exhibitions in the daytime by prominent
milliners and modists. Since bonnets became
small the profits upon them reduced, and the
LARGEST number of them made by ladies' them
selves, it has been common to associate dress
m making with millinery IN all the large estaD-
lishments, especially as with the introduction
oF pore dresses came the almost absolute ne
cessity of employing an artistic at least to cut
and At them, and as O consequence, the pronts
of dress-making increased as those upon mllll-
merry went down. The association OF these TWO
departments proves most fortunate conlunc-
ton in these difficult times, and renders gas,
light exhibitions very effective, Inc usuai
method is to exclude every particle OF light
from the large and elegant show-rooms, arrange
complete costumes at one end, and dress bon
nets bridal wells, wreaths, head-dresses and
tho like, at the other, with figures In opera,
evening, street or indoor tollettes everywhere.
The rooms are then Drllnantly nghteo VIII gas,
and cards of invitation having been previously
sent round, are thronged all day by ladies who
are frequently tempted into IN extravagant
purchase by seeing the full effect OF complete
evening costume. Among
THE NOVELTIES DISPLAYED
at one OF these exhibitions was q raanteau de Ia
cour attached to rich evening dress OF white
unwatered MORE. The naantedM is long
square train, one end Of which is laid in plalts
across the back Of low-necked dress. The
trail is from one to two yards long from the
bottom of the skirt, and requires considerable
skill and adroitness to manage. A trimming
of rich lar' ally added to the edge, which
enhances vne cost some hundreds OF dollars,
but in this case the edge was simply scolloped
and bound with white satin. The lining also
was white satin. A costume of rich green tdL0e
Ia thick silk, with fine cord) was much ad-
mired. It was trimmed with hounce OF white
Doint ANTIQUE lace, headed with rouleau Of
green satin, wide sash of lace, and lace
shawl was draped upon the shoulders. The
price of this entire costume as it stood was one
thousand dollars. The new French sleeve was
attached to this dress it reaches to the elbow,
where it is slightly gathered on the inside OF
the arm, and lace or fringe attached, winch
falls over /; it is called tho Watteau sleeve, and
is always accompanied by square body, low or
cut out la Pompadour. Long white gloves
are worn with this sleeve, which only leaves an
inch or two upon the arm visible. A new
method of ornamenting dress is to drape
scarf across the front of the corsage, and allow
the two ends to fall from the right shoulder,
forming an opel Roman sleeve, made IN white
merino, bordered with gold, the pointed ends
finished with gold tassels; the effect is decid-
edly classic, particularly in conjunction with
the gold Greek bands, which are now the most
fashionable for the hair.
NEW HARDWARE AND LEATHER ORNAMENTS.
But the taste for ornaments is not by any
means confined to the classic and antique. The
most absurd fancies prevail, and design is
valued, not for its beauty, but for its eccentri-
city. The broad sashes looped low and often
used to tie up the overskirt on the left side or
Iaa foG m rgp6
through enormous gilt or velvet covered rings,
and size being an object, huge furniture rings
are resorted to, and rings made of wood and
afterwards covered with velvet. 10 the small
er rings of fire gill; keys, or n single gilt key
is attached, in imitation Of an ancient house
keeping method Of hanging bunch Of keys at
the side OF the dress. There is something
profane, however, in adopting as caprice Of
fashion the insignia Of IN old-fashioned virtue.
Chains and chatelaines ore also worn, the form
er consisting of not less than five. from the
ends of which areisuspended scent-bottle and
bunch Of enlarged charms The wide sash
ends. which descend low on the skirt, are now
made of either piece satin silk or velvet, and
are embroidered upon the ends with the mono
gram in colors, or coat OF arms OF the wearer.
THE oHATELANEs
are much older institution. 1t is several
seasons since they we're introduced, and this
winter they have been again revived. They
consist of a sort of bunch Of silk, satin or vel
vet. embroidered, and suspended by two en-
broidered bands from the waist; they hold the
scent bottle and tiny lace handkerchief. A new
style for morning wear is made of Yiennese
leather. and consists OF belt and chatelaine,
ornamented with very small gilt or steel nails.
KEYS, small vessels fully rugged, jockey caps
mounted with sporting emblems, and the like,
| are the latest Partisan invention for earrings,
and the designs are embroidered on the cor
ners Of the pocket handkerchiefs. Very new
handkerchiefs have centres OF unbleached
cambric and wide hens OF lilac, red, violet or
blue; of course they are only used for morning
or indoor wear. Handkerchiefs for the streets
are embroidered with crest, monogram or de-
vice, and lace are used for the evening, with
only the smallest of cambria. Such handker-
chiefs as these and the last are not Intended
for use A fine lady employs it like her fan
and boquet, as means OF fascination and not
vulgar necessity.
| BRIDAL OUTFITS.
AIusion has been made moro than once to
the difficulty Of procuring ladies' ready-made
clothing even in the large cities. Establish
ments for ladies' outfits are advertised and
talked of, but there are none where complete
outfits of different grades OF even of one grade
can be obtained at once, and the price imme-
diately ascertaned. In London and Paris
complete bridal outfits Of at least three differ
ent grades can be obtained at a moments no.
tice, and the cost seen at q glance by printed
I;oto Thera ia q long davis work tn find an ea.