The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-01-12
LETTER FROM NEW ORLEANS
FASHIONS FOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. /.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 4. 1870.


The Christmas season was unusll-
ally gay this year, and wildly recall
ed the days Ftbefore the war;" when
the South was herself and not the
compound of every where and every
body that she now is. Nothing
could be more enlivening than a
stroll along our business streets on
Christmas eve, for though the wealth
er was dark and gloomy, not so were
the hearts of the merry groups, who
chatted gaily and nodded pleasantly
to companions and friends, as with
looks of Importance and with big
bundles, they jostled each other on
the sidewalk, and they laughed and
made an unnatural apology, which
sounded much more like bantering
to a merry game, than true icontri-
ton for an unintentional fault
Store keepers were as gay as their
windows, and gayer too, as we'll they
might be, for while the pockets of
the former waxed fuller and fuller,
the glories of the other "grew small
er by degrees and beautifully less. :"
Many a suspicious parcel was hur-
ried home on that eventful night,
and many little heart went throb-
bling to bed with pleasing anticipa-
tons of presents from Santa Claus.
Let us hope that but few, very few
were disappointed.
DRESSES
are made pretty much as last month,
yet few hints may be useful. For
home dresses the corsage with basque
is greatly worn; a favorite is short
basque two, Or two and half fringes
deep and slashed, or cut into six or
eight elongated squares. Sleeves are
made coat shaped and many of them
trimmed at the elbow. If dressy
corsage is wanted, cut the neck with
reverse and turn the basque in front
and at the side and back seams to
form similar revues. The round
waist of last Winter may be made to
resemble basque, by wearing a
plated peplum of black silk or vel
vet instead of sash. This article is
made simply and tastefully of bias
piece, twelve or fourteen inches deep
behind, and sloping much narrower
in front and trimmed round the edge
to suit the taste. For dressy toilets
the bodies are generally made open
in front, either in square shape or
challe with revues. Visiting and
ceremonious dresses are made train
ed. r.7.,.s.. rs,e.
CLOAKS ETC.
For shoulder coverings the Arab
is at present the most worn.
Shawls are worn la Arab and in
fact nearly all wraps are made to
stimulate them. This garment is
doomed to a short reign among the
fashionables for they are too COM
mon and no lady wishes to wear a
garment the same as her cooks
even though it be comfortable
one. Pride forbids it, therefore the
the Arab passes to the middle and
lower classes, who having invested
for winter wrap, must wear it, as
they cannot afford to change. Vii |
ret cloaks, Indian or rich Pailsey
shawls are worn by the creme de la
creme, but the shawls are looped
and draped about the shoulders
till all appearance of a shawl is
destroyed as much as possible.
Shawls are little worn by gentle
men this year, beaver and cloth
Dvercoats being the most fashiona-
BILE, and Of these a large share have
been supplied by Capt. Walshe of
No ITO Canal street. I thought
three weeks ago, by the piles of
overcoats that he had in from FIVE
up to seventy-tive dollars a piece
that he had stocked himself for sew
oral seasons, but I found yester-
lay that they were nearly all gone,
and he informed me that another
arge lot would be in this week
lie has made it a leading article
and has thus sold very large
number.
HAIR.
For day time thick plaits super
sede every other kind of couture
but curls are preferred for evening.
The chignon is much less prepos-
ferrous than it was, but is still suf-
ficiently suggestive of false hair
and other artificial aids, and in
deed these are faW If any natural