Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-09
Gorgeous Attire Twelve Dresses
for the Empress of France.

Gorgeous Attire - Twelve Dresses
for the Empress Of France.
The city of Lyons presented to the EN-
press Eugenie, on her recent visit to that
city, wardrobe, of which letter gives
the following description
When the Empress passed through the
room in which her twelve dresses were
exhibited, she was magicslly arrested by
their beauty and the tasteful manner in
! which they were displayed. Each ma
terial had been placed, folded, hung,
creased and waved in the most advan-
tageous position and light by artists in
the difficult science of ornamenting shop
windows, and this is almost one of the
fine arts, cultivated nowadays TO allure
and insure temptation. She approached
the stands and congratulated the decora-
tor, while expressing also her thanks to
to the assembled silk manufacturers.
The following is the order in which the
dresses are clsssed by the city of Lyons,
the first mentioned being the richest:
The first dress, white point with bou-
quets of flowers in which no less than
sixty hues are blended, and all so har-
moniously that not one is conspicuous.
The fswers are 30 light that they seem
to wave at every passing breath, aud IL
is averred that this feathery lightness
and richness has never yet been attained.
The second, cerise satin, strewn with
white and cerise roses, the latter psler
than the ground of the material. This
is called camaleu, and the style of tone
upon tone will prevail in rich materials
next winter.
The third, white gros grain, without
brilliancy called mat" (ivorylike). on
which are brocade satin roses. The flow
ers are in high relief and appear to stand
out ready for some jeweled fingers to
Gull. The Empress gave her preference
to this one.
The fourth q new material, both sup
pile and strong and like the cloth of gold
much employed in the middle ages. 1t
is called supreme cloth" 1t is gray,
having satin gray stripes on gray
ground. When lying down it is simply
sheet Of varied twilight, but when held
up there is changeful seimmer all over
approaching silver gray.
The fifth. plain satin. dark sapphire
shade. This splendid material, too,
when held up has thousand hues, vary
ing from one gamut in the sapphire
order to the other. 1t is entirely new.
The sixth, an aqua marine poult called
Eau de Lenan muslin. This word mus.
lin applied to poult derives its origin
from the transparent reflection of the
white on the pale green.
The seventh, peach colored velvet, q
color not yet attempted for this costly
material. When moved in the hand it
has all the down of the peach on it and
within the thick folds. II.
The eighth, chsmbery gauze with
blue satin stripes. The white stripe be.
tween each alternate lilac stripe is
brocsded with a Pompsdour bouquet; the
lilac stripe is brocsded with white satin
flower and green foliage
The ninth, Louis XIV pink material
camaleu-i. pink on pink.
The tenth, a Campana robe that is of |
the shade of the Pompeiian vases, which |
are ornsmented with black Assyrian
figures; it is neither brickdust nor red. |
The vision is over, and it conveys q |
lesson or so. Firstly, watteaux and
crumpled up aippancy are all out of sea-
are to come out folded up; |
secondly, broosdes are to reign supreme, |
and tAis will introduce majestic styles
my predictions of last autumn, in fact;
thirdly, il these rich materials are not |
adopted the Lyons workmen will starve,
and, therefore, oostliness must rule the
day.