The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-10
THE WORLD OF FASHION,
DRESS REFORM, ABROAD AND At
HOME.
New York Society Gossip-A Leap-Year
Party and How It was Conducted
Fashion Hints for Spring.
Jennie June, in her Fashion letter for Febru.

dress, attempted in this country. The latest
scheme was most strongly endorsed and Sec
onded by Miss Phoebe Cary, and 1t was her an
expected illness and lamented death which
prevented 1t from becoming an actual fact:
The circular had been drawn up, and q list
made out OF those ladies who were to be invi-
ted 10 her house to aid In the formation of q
dress association, to include every woman In
the whole country who would make the reten-
tlon OF the short walking dress the first arti-
Gle of her dress creed. But death stepped In
and prevented The accomplishment of the de.
The proposed rules for the London "Wo-'
mans Dress Guild" are the following, and
they are subscribed to by number OF ladies
of social position and distinction
l. Not 10 make purchases unless they can
be paid for at the time, or when the account
is sent In.
2, Never to buy anything simply ''because it
is cheap"
8. To dress in manner befltting the station
or occupation In life of the member.
4. To consider the personal tastes of heads
of families within the limits of these rules; but
not to make anything plea for personal ex-
travagance.
ornament, or because it is the fashion, such
as false jewelry, false hair. &c.
6. To avoid all exaggeratIons belonging to
the fashion of the day, which might attract
improper attention.
I. 70 avoid all unseemly style of dress, how
ever much 1t may be encouraged by the pop.
ular fashion of the moment.
and cleanliness, and not to waste needlessly
either time, lin frequent changes Of dress,)
money or dress Itself.
These rules are too sensible to become fash
ionable; blind adherence to fashion presup-
poses absence of common sense, aud dis
regard of modesty and propriety when they
interfere with the caprice OF the moment;
esting as showing which way the wind Is
blowing from different quarters of the earth
just now.
LEAP-YEAR PARTY.
We hear very little of fancy dress parties or
gift weddings, probably because people are not
In the mood for playing the harlequin or the
TOOL. But quite novelty took place recently
In the shape of private leap-year party,
which was great success. less on account OF
Its peculiar features than the spirit with which
1t was carried out.
Tile dressing was fancy, or otherwise, &C.
cording to humor, and several young ladies
availed themselves of this privilege to get up
costumes In the most exaggerated glrl-0f-the-
period style, including hat, coat, cane, jaunty
boots, and lace rufles decorating the open
throat and wrists.
eDoNy ParQen ana 'WaLteau' dresses
were also In high feather, the former consist
ing of brightly lowered chintz tunic, cut
square aud very low, with antique sleeves,
aud skirt very much punched up over quilt
ed silk pettcoat, the latter Of white muslin
or tarletan skirt (short) trimmed with mar
row Hounces,and pauniered skirt; with deeply
pointed bodice Of white silk, brocaded In
small rosebud pattern. muslin yachu, laid
In three broad folds. and edged with Two rows
of narrow black velvet, little muslln apron
trimmed with black velvet to match, high
heeled pink satin shoes, hair powdered quite
white, and straw hat get on one side and
trimmed with wreath Of SMALL pink roses
produced charming efsct, unite taking one
back to the seventeenth century, and to the
Arcadian groves and shephprdesses, whose
poetic lives were In such strong contrast to
our prosaic ones.
There were quite number Of very good
were not so successful particularly Fire, In
scarlet tarletan, and ornamented with ash
gray, black and red roses, In gold leavesi same
In the hair. Also, Spring, In light green, over
white, with wreath of primrose and vio.ets.
A mermaid's dress was very much admired,
and consisted of long skirt of light sea-green
taille, almost covered By tunic OF crystallized
tule OF the same shade, caught up on one side
only with trail of sea weed and coral, mixed
with crystals and water llies;a wreath OF The
same in the hair, which should be blonde and
flowing Shell or mother-of-pearl jewelry
should be worn with this dress, and not set
of elaborately cut and carved coral, as was the
culIar dress, and one which excited constant
attention, was that OF the s'Whlte Lady of Ave-
nell" It consisted simply of long, plain trail
Inr dress of soft white cashmere, without
trimming or anything shining except 8
broad sllvet belt at the waist, and silver cir
clet round the head, below which the 1alr
hangs loose, but covered with long white
veil, which can be used to conceal the face
when required.
OF course, the ladies acted as ushers and
waited upon the gentlemen, calling for them
In carriages and taking them home IN the
most approved style; also furnishing them
with bouquets. 1t was forfeit during the eve
ming TO Introduce gentleman to lady; 80
cial etiquette was reversed, and the ladies'
were always presented to the gent lemen, VINO
mt on airs and pretended to be engaged for
all the dances, and carried tiny lace handker.
chiefs on the lips OF their fingers, and ute
enormous quantities oil ices with great
afectatior of not eating anything at all. Al
together the leapyear party was most sue
cessful, and there Is talk among a select and
intimate coterie OF getting up another IN
which the gentlemen shall be attired as ladies
and the ladies' as gentlemen, the vagarles OF
| much as possible. This is to lake place at
Delmonlco's, and If the idea Is carried out,
some immensely grotesque effects will be pro-
duced.
NEW VISITING COSTUME.
Several decided innovations In Wishing cos
tunes have been exhibited recently, which
were Doth striking and distingu6. Instead OF
the time-honored black velvet cloak, modern
lied into the polouatse, and worn with rlch
black or colored tdtUe dress, or the complete
| velvet suit, always elegant and lady like,
some leaders of the ton have lately displayed
visiting toilets composed of demi-trained
| skirts of black Lyons velvet and long en-
broidered polonaise OF white, or light gray
cloth, with hanging sleeves. and bordering
below somewhat deep braided embroidery Of
rich fringe. The muff and small round bon
net are of black velvet, the former trimmed
with narrow bands of gray, or silver fox fur;
the latter ornamented with q small gray or
white ostrich plume, and perhaps tea rose.
The gloves are of light gray, or the rose
tint, and no jewelry is worn except broad
fiat gold cross, which the boa discloses when
1t is thrown aside. Very light gray WILL, IL Is
thought, be q favorite spring color.
Small round velvet bonnets, In black. myr'
| tie green or chocolate brown, are the faVorite
winter promenade and visiting styles. The
soft crown stands up from the head, and is
surrounded by quilting of velvet, or q
/ otr.iuht narrow brim. Very little trimming