The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-04-07
LETTER FROM NEW ORLEANS.
OUR FASHION LETTER.

OUR FASHION LETTER.
| NEW ORLEANS, April /, 1869.
FRIEND DEMOCRAT
| THE FASHIONS.
The continued wet weather that "
have been enjoying lately, has rattle
retarded the usual display of Sprin
fashions, as clustering March showers
muddy street crossings and dirty ban
quets are poor persuadels to don tn
eight and airy guise of modest Spring,
yet our fair danes are neither discour
aged nor dishea1tened, and the worl
OF getting ready for the fine weather i
going on with q vim that is surprisin,
to the uninitiated. Our Modistes ar
"full" of work and light dresses, Sprin,
hats, cloaks, mantles, capes and bon
nets are being manufactured from tn,
material in surprising quantities. Sa
neho Panco has achieved Immortality
by blessing the man who invented
sleep, but how does that notable indi.
viduals glory pale and become Jesse,
light beside that of the genius who
took the iaitiatory step in introducing
the present statutory change in "wo-
mans wear" freeing them from the
embarrassment and worry of long,
heavy full skirts, and giving them
shoes with good stout leather soles, in
stead Of the flimsey paper affairs Of
former days, SO ruinous to health and
good compilations. I,5 :
DRESSES. is
The very newest Spring designs have
two skirts, tho under one a moderate
walking length, the upper one rather
deep but shortened in appearance by
looping up at the back and upon the
sides, forming a graceful fullness, which
arranges itself very well over a small
hustle, but falls short of the panier.-7
sacs or paletots are very little worn,
pelerine capes looped Up high on the
shoulders or capes with pointed hoods,
being much preferred. Walking suits
are now made in such q variety of
styles and with so much taste, that
there is 10 doubt of their being quite
fashionable for some time to come, as
indeed they ought to be, for they can
be made of material suitable for any
latitude or climate, and are equally
adaptable to empress cloth or swiss
muslin. Honse dresses are, of course,
made much longer than those for street
wear, are trained and quite full at the
back, but gored in front and at the
tides as formerly. They are to be
much worn with small basques con-
ined at the waist by belt, to which is
attached large bow or rosette as an
ornamental finish. The basques are
ether turned back from the front with
'erers or closed at the throat a la mill
are the revers are particularly be-
coming to young persons and will no
Ionbt be favorites with many, but
hose who prefer a more severe sim
'licity and close their dresses over the
'osom, need not fear to lose caste with
ladam Fashion, as both are in equal
avor just now with that tickle divinity.
very simple, stylish and pretty way
makeup the many light materials so
uitable and necessary for our climate,
to trim the skirt with one or several
arrow founces, French waist with
ut lining, sleeves lightly puffed to the
'rlsts, or if preferred, made to come
My just below the elbow and finished i,
18th large bow and sash ends of the
lateral, or the body may be trimmed ,
luare with rufles, or toimitate braces,
pelcune. or cape. In evening ,
rssses grenadines, organizes, null and .
"iss take the lead, tarlton is also much 9
orn. The details Of the making up i
70 almost a matter Of taste. A most t
eautiful dress for a grand reception I
ilich takes place this week was shown
9 few days ago. It was of white t
viss, the under skirt finished with q i
'uble row of putting above a fluted Z
fife, the overskirt triple panier G
I'd a round apron the edge bordcred :
ith huted frill, a low body with q
'rthe of pnfing and fluted edge, short
flied sleeves, a trailing vine of rare
'wers fell from the belt on each side !,
ID the corsage was highly ornamented g
it'll bouquets, the sash was three loops, e
10 of them quite long, the third one d
ling over these forms q bouquet, a :
1t of the same color as the sash, which v
rs Metternich green, completed this il