The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-03
OHIr-CHAT ON FASHION.

| on WHICH 10 pIuuo ibooii aUoN6 U.s. oih
pie republicans though we be. The
richest yelvets, the costliest furs, the
purest diamondo, and the most expen.
sive laces find ready purchasers here,
and the extravaganza of the Old World,
stimulated as it is to unnatural activity
by Court pageants and royal sxpendi-
ture, by the rivalry of titled aristocrats
and wealthy parrenus, by frantic en-
deavors to keep up or break down arti-
fetal distinctions of class and caste, is
thrown into the shade by the unpro-
voked extravaganza of the New.
Plaids are still popular, with their
warm, pleasant colors contrasting
agreeably with leafess trees and cloudy
skies. Entire suits, with burnous to
match, are generally becoming. They
are usually made with flounced under
skirt, and the over.skirt scalloped. We
have seen some still more elegant, made
with graduated founces, put on with
heading and bound on both edges. The
burnous is trimmed with heavy fringe,
thrown over the left shoulder and fast
ened there with jet clasp. They are
comfortable enough to account for their
universal adoption; bat we do wish they
were not worn SO indiscriminately over
every color-it vulgarizes them. Black
is the only color that plaid Arab can
be worn with and retain its respecta.
bility.
The square-cut Pompadour waist,
which has been so much in favor, is Civ
| ing way to the V, or heart.shaped bod
ice. With this is worn neckerchief OF
fine tulle, or a chemisette, or gilets OF
the same material and color of the
dress, or different, according to the
taste of the wearer.
Some ladies, indeed, combine the two
styles, by wearing hearts shaped chemi-
settle under Pompadour bodice, COM
promise which argues delicate regard
for a waning fashion as rare as it is
creditable.
Sleeves are worn wider and shorter,
hanging loose over the elbows, and end
ing in flounce or fold. :
White silk stockings for full evening
dress are sometimes ornamented with
narrow stripe of red, blue or violet; and
colored stockings, embroidered in white
or black silk, are now worn in full dress
with costumes of black velvet or satin.
Opera cloaks for the season are made
of elder down, of white plush, and of
new cloth which is as soft as fur and as
smooth as satin. One of this new mate
rial, made as an Arab and trimmed with
oh 10 Fri
other of the same popular style was OF
bright scarlet plush striped with black
and gold, and fairly challenged the
attention of the spectator. 1t is be-
coming customary to detach the cape
and hood from the cloak and join them
together, and very good and sensible
custom it is. Carriage cloaks are made
of white flannel cloth, with Roman
stripes or plaid, or black cloth bordered
with India cashmere and edged with
embroidery.
The walking dresses exhibited in our
fashionable dry goods stores are snperb.
Heavy silk with deep bands of velvet,
satin and velvet trimmings of chinchil-
la, and cloth edged with Alaska sable,
are all in demand-the highest prices
find the readiest sales. The newest and
most fashionable style for street suitsis
the round skirt and reding0te. The
skirt is made of velvet, the redingote of
silk, with pointed hood or collar. They
arei trimmed with guipure lace or fur.
The old-fashioned ehinchilla is on the
high tide of popular favor once more,
and is one of the prettiest of furs. 1t
makes an admirable trimming, and will
be extensively used for that purpose.
Indeed, the expensive trimmings used
on house and street dress is something
noteworthy, and runs up the price of
the garment to double its first cost.
Feather trimmings at five dollars a yard
form no ihconsderable item where the
cloak or dress is profusely trimmed.
While warm dresses of cloth and vel
vet with fur wrappers and Arab bur
nous, protect the persons of our delicate
bellies from the rigors of an inclement
winter, what is to become of their un-
fortunate heads, exposed to every rude
wind that blowsi The tall, manly
Tyrolean hat affords no more shelter
than the round one; but like the heads
they cover, they are pretty if they are
useless. These theatrical. looking hats
are of felt, trimmed with an aigrette of
peacock's or pheasant's feathers, or an
ostrich plume, and are very elegant
and stylish. Untrimmed, they
can be purchased for four
dollars, while the most expensive
of the imported specimens cost forty or
fifty dollars. Velvet plush, felt and
beaver hats will be worn. Black velvet
makes always the most desirable hats;
| they can be worn with dresses of any
color, and are always lady-like. They
are trimmed with flowers and ostrich
feathers or cocks plumes, and long
scarf veil is fastened to the back. Felt
hats will be trimmed with velvets of
self color, but if feathers are used, they
may be of contrasting colors. Steel
buckles are used to contine the feathers.
White felt and plush will be much worn
by children.
| The greatest novelties in the fur de-
partment, we learn from Harper ~ Bro,
are the seal skin and chinchilla, favor
ties with our grandmothers, and now
old enough to he new. The delicate
beauty of the one and the rich velvety
gloss of the other will doubtless make
them popular; and though nothing but
time can drive the mink from its pres
eut position in the van, yet they will
impart pleasant variety to our prom
enades, and contrast agreeably with
both mink and ermine. The large fur
capes and cloaks are seldom seen; and
in their place We have small Marie An
toinette collars and short round boas.
Seai-skin jackets are in the market, and
with mutf to match will look stylish
and rare. The colored silk Innings aud
tassels that were reserved for ermine
are this year used in trimming
mink and sable. The taste is
questionable, and we would not advise
any of our fair readers to adopt it.
THE LATEST STYLES FOR GENTLEMEN.
For those who are about to select
overcoats the following are the newest
and most elegant styles: An over freck
coat of an olive, brown, or mixed soft
Elysian beaver, velvet collar to match,
and Matelasse silk breast facings,
brought forward to the edge of the
lapel, which is cut bold and to roll to
the second button hole. A quilted silk
| lining throuehOut silk waist huttons