The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-11
IFor the New Orleans Sunday crescenfl
a WOHD on TWO ON THE FASHIONS
Be not the first By whom the new v tried,
Nor yet the ,sst to lay the old aside"

eDgross our time to the excicson OF otner ouues'
nor should it cause Us 70 rur in debt or spend on
It money that properly should be otherwise ex-
pended but the latter ID BY no means necessary,
80 a good taste In dress does not consist IN the
cost Of II. Let your material be az good as you
can afford, ss Shakespeare says. "costly thy habit
as Thy purse can buy;D but do not exceed your
means 70 procure fine dress ibetter plain print
that is your own, than Q costly silk that yet be-
longs to your merchant.
We saw to day q very handsome style OF pefcale
robe, tie underskirt being In pink, buff, blue. etc.,
with broad stripes in plaid In high color, skirt
pIsr the overdress looped at the sides, In simple
contrasting color the sash, bretelles and sleeve
trimming being in plaid like the stripe In the
lower skirt; the corssge high and plain, the
sleeves loose coat There was also short square
sacque, OF loose wsist of black grenadine and
tissue, embroidered In silk floss in bright colors On
the sleeves I'D the front and across the shoulder.
These would be pretty with black skirts. but we do
not admire II worn with skirts Of light color.
In making o ast Of any material that Is not to
wash, very effective trimming is piest about
two inches wide set in. one side Of the pest turn
iDs up, tie other aide turning down. You can put
4. on 40 ssranla "a mack the heart shape
or as breteiDes running over the shoulder, and
either into point behind or forming square
yoke. But II the material is washable II will not
answer. IS no laundress could make it up we'll
either pufs or inserting of embroidery or lace Is
the best then. f n
In bridal tTousseau we saw an elegant SILK IN
two colors. II was made with an apron front in
pink. shaded with silver, the whole apron being
covered with founces of Chsntilly lace about a
finger deep. The rest of the dress was ashes Of
roses In tint, and the skirt rounded of from the
apron, ruehs of the same silk finishing the edge.
the corsage low, with short puff sleeves and an
elegant bertha OF Chsntilly lace. 1t was lovely
dress.
We think from present indications thatthe lower
skirt will be worn perfectly pain or simply aounc-
ed. The pleals and bias fold will not do up well,
and in summer dresses, except Ia grenadines and
tissues, will not be worn. The overdress can be
made of something that need pot be washed. II
you fancy black, the strong shawl grenadne
would make q serviceable and elegant one. II
you make your oyerdress of wash material, trimit
with RIFLES or pufs. The skirts are now at rea-
sonabIe length, Just escaping the ground gored in
front and slightly at the sides, very full Ia the
back. very short dress is seldom seen.
"Oh, what q guy !" was the exclamation that
fell upon our ear the other day, while passing
along the street. and. looking up, we felt very
much tempted 10 echo the exclamation. The
present style Of dress, when in reason, and good
taste displayed in color aud material, is striking
and elegant costume at least so many think-but
made as some we see are, IN the extreme OF the
extreme, they are ridiculous. Such was the one
we are how speaking Of. The party wearing 1t
was very pretty, and would have been prettier if
she he'd been dressed IN any taste. The costume
was black, the lower skirt (worn without a hoop
extremely short, displaying rather more OF
the ankle than was quite delicate, and made
so narrow that the wesrer could not take long
step, but went mincing along very much like
turkey runs. The upper skirt 80 bouffant. add
with the corsage so overladen with frils fringes,
rufIies, faces, piping and ribbons that you could
not see the material; boots very high. with the
narrow French heel running under the sole Of the
foot and little rourd black fethst something like
the hate the monkeys carried round on the hand or
gaps wear. perched on perfect tower of blonde
cbiguon finished the outre outfit. No wonder the
little newsboy shouted, Oh, what guyl"
The psnier parasol seems likely 10 become IA.
vorite it is made like its nsmesake the psnier
skirt Of puts OF ELK in same shade or some con-
trastng color, falling on the real parasol. We
also saw some beautiful black and also white lace
covers over tho silk psrasol-one. bridal pres
ent, was simply superb IN its beauty and ee-
gance being Of very handsome real lace over a
rich, thick white silk, the handle and knob being
of mother OF pearl. We saw in window on
Canal street psrasol Of peculiar tint of green
end friuged with o sea grass that looked like
feathers. ltwas at least singular in appearance.
We have not seen the new style Gun shades, com
Hf-fr fan I'D in rQa We
them on exhibition. For this climate, however,
we prefer the plain silk half umbrella; they are
more servceabIe, aud we think more sensible.
Ore Of the pretiiest hats we have seen THE
season was a small oval shaped, ane white straw,
lined with green satin and trimmed with narrow
green satin ribbon, and an aigrette OF white
feathers. Another pretty one was white chip
covered with pea blossoms, another was straw
coored chip, with full blown pink rose and
buds, and straw-lacs running round the crown and
falling at the side scarf or veil. In bonnets,
a disdem of STRAW, trimmed in rich purple with
corn peoples, and the ribbon edged with straw
| fringe, was very handsome, also one Of same
shape, trimmed in green satin, with the straw
fringe edging the ribbon and backs, and pink moss
rose. Little puff hats, made on a small round
frame of tulle, dotted in colors. are pretty for
evening toilettes for those who like hats in
ing dress. The puff bonnet, made 10 one large
puff, Of the tule-the backs and the scarf falling
back of the tulle also, and trimmed with small
feathery flowers, are stylish In appearance. To
return TO dress goods. we see soma exlulsitely
fine organizes, with flowers, leaves and sprays IN
high colors scattered over o white ground, that
are very beautiful but we doubt their service, as
they never look well after being done up. In this
respect the percsle and pique has the advantage,
and our especial favorites, the linen lawn and
linen cambria yet . greater advantage. In pur-
chasing summer dresses for this climate, should
always give the preference 10 the linen lawn They
are not striking. It Is true, because they are Of
modest quiet .ints, and small figure or stripes, but
they are cooler, and they are new, when they are
clean, while thread lasts. A lady to look charm.
ing and enticing must look fresh and neat, and
this necesstates putting your dresses often In the