The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-26
new YORK AND PARIS FASHIONS.

April thus far has certainly not been over propi-
tious for either shopping or promenading. One half
hour of sunshine sandwiched In between two
hours rain most assuredy not the kind of weather
to entice the ladies out OF doors, and not unfre-
quently those who allured by the bright skies to
venture forth into the streets generally return to
their homes with their toilets saturated and their
dresses bedraggled with mud. Notwithstanding
these petty annoyances the bellies Of our metropolis
neither permit themselves to become respondent nor
melancholy, but on the contrary regard this inter-
ference with their pleasures by Old Puvius Jupiter
as so much time gained, as it enables them to
alter modify or improve upon styles that they
have ascertaned were not considered as being
exactly cntc-and CHIC you know, is everything.
They bear up bravely against the sombre disappont-
ments Of the month, for they are confident that
there Is better time coming; and when 1t does
come they anticipate, and perhaps We all anticipate,
seeing something in the way Of styles and coors far
more magnificent and unique than with which we
have heretofore been favored. 1t has been asserted
and 1t must be confessed not without SUFFICIENT
grounds upon which to base the charge, that Ameri
can women lacked taste; but this was in days long
since gone by. Since that accusation was brought
against US we have wonderfully improved, and to-
day we probably stand unrivaed in matters of taste
as in many other things. Sorry figures we would
cut indeed, were we to adopt without alteration the
foreign denominations that are sent to US from
Europe and yet far more worse would we appear
did we not so alter as to improve. We may initiate,
II you please, but we do 1t In such q manner as to
make the imitation preferable to the boosted original
and in that we decidedly display taste as well as
Judgment.
There has been great variety of new and fashion
able colors this year. among the most noticeable Of
which may be mentioned the Metternich green and
the fame The first mentioned is an exquisite shade
for this season OF the year and Is universally wOrn
but the latter appears to have quietly Withdrawn to
some obscure corner where nobody can see 1t, and
Black is sti general favorlte and maV yet become
our national costume color, 1t once in Spain.
The ladies' Of Spain We're accustomed TO combine
pink with black; the French preferred the combna-
ton OF red and black; the English latterly wore
black unrelieved by any other admixture OF color,
binng black with blue. The two last contrast nicely
with each other. and even In coarse materials the
effect is good and the harmony not DESTROYED Even
In so slight thing as thiS-the combination OF two
simple cOl0rs that has puzzled the nodtstes-the
superiority Of American taste over that Of all Europe
AS bonnets are about the most interesting affairs
to be gossipped about we submit the following de-
licious morses in this line to the criticism Of the
straw, embroidered with small black beads and
entirely lined with pink silk, Is trimmed with gar
relet bonnet OF white Brussels straw is bound with
red gros grain ribbon. cross bow OF the same Is
placeu at DaCk DOrQcr OF straw COlOreQ DlOnQe
forms sort Of small curtain over the chignOn.
In front there is coronet Of delicate
spun straw flowers and the lappets OF red
silk are edged with straw cOl0red blonde.
And pun bonnet Of mauve cOl0red Grape and
blonde Is Ornamented at the back with fringe OF
mauve feathers. The front border Is trimmed with
white narcissus blossoms. Bright red, called sultan
red, green, mauve and straw color the favorite
tnts OF the season. great many straw bOnnets are
trimmed with red, while dressy bonnets are mostly
made Of delicate mauve, light green or straw col
mother Of pearl flowers are one OF the nOIpeautes OF
the season for trimming bonnets. There are but few
gold ornaments upon spring bonnets they are orna-
mented with garlands of flowers or feather frnges.
In the way OF evening headdresses and toilets,
we offer the following as the latest:-For the fOrma-
ton OF the first the hair hangs in small curls the
fOrehead at the top and back of the head Is rolled
back. The ornaments are two bands OF steel and Jet,
and q steel aigrette In front.
The second Is termed la ChifOise the hair Is tied
high at the back Of the head, and forms sort Of
briOche nest with gold leaves In the centre; gold
band, with gold balls depending from 1t, encircles
this brioche.
outdoor TOLef.-Satin dress Of the new flame
c0or the edge OF the back breadts of the skirt are
cut out In scollops and bordered with a cross-cut
Satin bonnet to match the dress with feather fringe
both ut the back and front.
Indoor 70ftet.-A gray silk dress trimmed with
green silk. The skirt Is bOrdered with q deep box
plated fiounce headed with green band studded at
intervals with fan-shaped green rOsettes; the high
bodice Is Ornamented to correspond. scarf-sash OF
green ribbon tied at the left side; 'judge" collar
made of muslin and Vaencennes lace The hair Is
arranged with q comb for cOronet.