Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-03-01
From our SPECIAL Correspondent ]

lfrpR oar Sp,1aI Correspondent
an NEW YORK, February y, fS.i.
The ldes OF March are not likely 10 lose any
OF their northern peculiarities by "a Iking about
sfrng fashions; 50, although the snow has not VET
LETT us, and ladies still 60 murfied in furs and
nondescrirt garments. We will ind ont villa, .he
coming season has in store for rs. aud rerel in
the anticipation Of sunshine and new straw
bonnets.
ASPIRING OPENING.
A spirit Of enterprise in accordance with the
demands and necessities OF the time induced
one of our great hou ses TO give grand eyp,-
sitisn OF fashions in February, which revealed
many Of the secrets of tie coming Spying.
The display of silks was very large and varied
and included many novelties. The rich re-
versible stripes, which we're remarked a. having
made their appearance On New York some
months ago, are the latest Lyons novelty, and
are not yet TO be obtained in London. They DO
not, however, meet with much success here
New York ladies have a prejuii in favor
OF single colors, (which shows their natural
good taste,) and have really created the enor-
nous demand for the rich plain poua de soiss
and srOs grams, which survive all changes in
Small checked and hair striped silks are an
exception to the general Indifference 70 stripes
and figures. They belong 70 q different class OF
imperceptible, and which soften into a delicate
neutral tint, which il charmingly adapted for
suits for spring and early summer wear. These
styles have usually been rather difficult TO
obtain, but owing to the enforced sales OF French
houses, they are this season the most prominent
feature OF the imPortations. Msntilies have
been , sold at prices vary ing from one dollar 70
one dollar and nifty cents Per ysrd,-the ruched
style OF trimming requiring twenty to twenty
five yards for a suit.
The Japanese silks come next in theiine of the
direct spring importations, and are q great
Improvement In the goods sold under that name
last year They are composed Of silk and thread,
like the poplinettes" OF few years ago, and
ture. There are three tyles and pricesIYoko-
hama grey, al seventy-fve cents per yard SOLID
colors, (which are quite new in lively shades
Of green, brown. bright blue and mauye for
one dollar and tine hair stripes, in very delicate
cOlors, for one dollar and twenty-five cents.
HE ~ enetlan Costumes for spring wear are
Lniotteo m robe patterns; They consist Of
border for trimming, terminating IN q white
fluffy e0ge, which, when cur, forms a fringe
two inches deep. These would answer for either
house or street wear.
The new wool satin cloths are rather heavy
for the approaching season, but they are in
beautiful shades OF gray, brown and blue. and
form handsome and most useful base for a
cashmere costume; that Is to say, a skirt over
which the costume is draped. They are not dear
according to the prices We have TO paw, at
eighty seven cents and dollar per ward. Tue
washing satins (cotton) will largely take the
place OF pigUeS a. the summer advances.
All the prints and cambrics exhibited are in
A
can. The French are forty-hve cents Ter ward
and are much bought for wrappers and for cut
uDg INTO strips to trim childreEs' linen dresses
and aprons. Best English prints and camhrtes
are twenty five cents per yard, and American
fifteen.
very excellent guaranteed make can be OBJ
tanned from three TO tive dollars per ward
Cheap black silk is never an economical pur.
chase, and less so than ever now that the MAX
= mQpl AMI IL
more work of art. A very good plan for aides
OF limited means. a always do IL mysel1 Is to
guy me quality OF silk required for a ceremon-
i0us dress, make IL long for the first season. or
even Tor two seasons, and then have IL cut INFO
walking dress, and replace the first with a new
one. Two black silk dresses, long one, ard a
degree. VI
WV COSTUMES
The new suit. and costumes for spring All
suggest more or less the pretty and Convenient
tunics, and cdsdque dresses which we're intro.
duced for the first time last summer and il once
obtained fashionable vogue
The black cashmere costumes trimmed nth
black lvet and guipure lace, or lace And nss-
semsntSre, have reappeared, with yery lfttle
,mSd,ncafion from last seasons style, and are a.
lady like aud distinguished as ever. The only
limit TO the extent 70 which they will probsbiy
be worn II IN the difficulty OF obtaining cash.
mere. color having entirely disappeared, and
the supply OF black being restricted
New porlin suits are made with one skirt and
me shs eSsaqus coat sort OF polonase, cut with
eiue lappels, and q postilli0n basque over a
suaieht skirt, caught up high at the sides
The most popular method OF trimmin1 il 20
an range noupce in clustered pleats upon the
iowsr skirt, place straps or ornaments OF velvet
~ the spaces and simply finish the upper skirt
Black cashmere costumes are worn oysr black
sllk walking skirts, and also 0verskirts of grew
t,hn pophns, or japanese silk, trimmed with |
The most fashionably worn costumes are Of |
inherent material, though not always of diff !
ferent color from the skirts over which they are |
worn One Oh the simplest Yet most distln- /
guished consists OF Q str sight upper skirt of silk
trimmed with a broad band of velvet; walkins /
skirt OF velvet without trimming, except the
double piping Of silk which forms the edge
The jacket waist with postillion basque laid in
large hollow pieits IL made for out door And /
dinner dress. accompanied by small pagods
outside to match the body on the inner edge
with soft-feathered satin ruching.
"A new and very dressy style of overskirt lie
rounded up on the sides and LAID in very large 1
Pleats where il joins the apron front. The effeef
Y TO make the centre Of che back hang straight.
with little apparent fullness, While the sides
are very toafaRt. The postilion Jacket is the
proper bodice With this overskirt, a. II il plsin
On the sides and has the full postillion basque
~ the cack. The coat basquine, on the con-
rsry, with its SIDE iappels and pointed back,
may be worn with the straight overskirt simply
hoped high on the sides, or With . dress trimmed
with hounces, and worn without an overskirt.
A
Because Paris has been closed for Q few |
months. people are beginnilg TO talk Of old
sfyles e. IL We were suffering from Q lack Of |
norely. The truth is, the French STYLES Of one \
oeason were always repeated the nsxt, and q
get We have hardly had time to enjoy the pretty
ind convenient designs which last gu miner gave
~, and which ladies living far IN the interior
have only BY accident seen. Any very great
change for the present would be real misfor-
tune, for nothing can be more graceful, more |
be coming, and, at the same time, more simple
and useful than the styles We hare. Those Gho !
Want entire change ought % bSsent back 10 the |
multiplicity Of Cumbersome pStticoafs ths \
straight, ugly folds OF the dress, too short for
grace. too long Tor comfort; 70 the fat boots'
the huge bonnete, the long, Hopping veile. smd
vide CARDINAL capes, with arm-holes in vhich \
The elbews we're encased heipiessly, or twenty
10 twenty-five years ago. a very brief expe- !
Renee OF this kind would make them return 1
with thankfulnese 70 the modern costume.
sPRrNG BoHNITs.
IL II 100 early as yet to speak definitely of |
spring bonneb. II may be safely assumed |
however, that the straw gypsey in . modi6ed |
form viii be the prominent style, and black |
velvet, grasses and flowers the best worn trim
rnlngs. II II not 1t Al likely that the new |
shapes will be greatly enlarged in eixs the pro |
fusion Of hair still worn fofbidding ii, and the
small bonpeu being recognized every where
infinitely more becoming, but thew will
ooubtleG1 inclnde the former "points," crown.