The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-22
He FASHION s.
OPENING DAY IN THE METROPOLIS
Jack Frost Trying On Summer Fabrics-The
Latest Styles in Bonnets and Dress Materials-
Scenes Amid the Haunts Of Fashion-What
the Coming Woman viii Wear-Dolly
Warden and Her sceptre-Waiting
for the Halmy Breath Of Spring.

Warden and Her Sceptre-Waiung
for the Ralmy Breath Of Spring.
Yesterday the 2lst day OF the most clustering and
registering month of the entire year, marked the
eventiul period when Fashion, through her numer-
representatives, announces 10 her children what
they are to wear during the spring and summer
months until the red tinge the autumn leaves
warns them 10 prepare Tor the second and no less
important winter season. But Jack Frost with all
his pranks, never played a more mischievous one
than yesterday, when he accompanied the ladies on
their mission OF duty on the street and into the
shrines the chameleon deity He pinched the noses
and OF the fair shoppers and occasionally made
rush at some open door or iy-secured window at
the head OF regiment OF draughts, dlsarranging
the wonderful fabrics OF the mOdlse and giving the
signal for a chorus OF pretty little coughs and q
number Of dainty little shivers. 1t cold enough
20 all intents and purposes yesterday without the
additional feeling experienced In looking al light
summer fabrics and little diaphanous structures in
the chapeau line designed for the dog days. Yet
the laws OF the modIsJes like those OF the Modes
and Persians, and 10 hear, read and with their
customers is to oDey Therefore they sailed forth
armed against the foe in sable and ermlne, and in
tie consciousness Of the Importance OF the 0cca-
sion. Their hearts were light and purses heavy
and expectations high, notwithstanding the low
state OF the thermometer They fitted through the
salons OF the modistes, and chatted and criticised
In their own bewitching way and rumpled and up
set eilks and satns chintZes ana muslins, b0nnets
and suits, In the most admirable confusion.
And certainly they were not disappointed
as far as variety OF styles and materials
is concerned. and also in the prices which remain
pretty much the same as last year, If some OF
the most enticing objects were beyond their fnan.
q VI a m IN Mt
besides being an excellent antdote for the ennui
which is usually experienced during the penitential
season OF Len and the pleasure resolved itself into
aduty when they rejected that Easter is almost
here and they must cen be prepared for its advent
with new robes and charming cnapeaux.
REAL NOVELTIES IN GOODS
are scarce. Many OF our old friends have reap
peared under new nanes but tne material par
ce'teSsCe for spring costumes-at least long as
March, the arch coquette, continues her dallance
with Wnter-is cashmere, soft caressante, and a
light quality OF drap d'ete-the latter hitherto only
Imported In black. Both are now shown In the
]iveest OF gay tns and demurest OF browns for
NANTES TO be worn with variety OF suits, and In
various other beautiful shades, to be used en- cos
tame IN combination with silk. Embroidery is as
fashionable as ever these materials and, in TACT,
is quite arueur for trimming all materials 10 which
It can he adapted.
quaint. lovely coors OF quarter OF a century ago
have been revived AMI anplihed into variety OF
TINS which are almost innumerable. Grays and
browns predominate-the grays tinged with brown
and the browns tending towards gray. peculiar
graylsh brown Is known as tcosee, or bark color.
Russian gray autost as brown as ashes OF roses;
Paris gay is q deep ash color, sometimes known as
Paris Is ashes ram Ell Or wooa pigeon. Is
modest doveiIke color, and lovely blush gray
Is not inaplly christened prln emps
Instead OF tine Old lavorte caJe az TAFT we now
have cacao az lan and oacg2 sans lait, which pro-
mise 10 be leading coOrs Tor the season. Peculiar
shades d green 81 father efeenish shades OF brown
or gray. have already achieved prestige These
also are known by distinctive names but come in
various tiuts There is olive green ana olive brown.
sage green lizard green, alligator green, tea green,
and lovely shade called reseda. or mignOnette.
These are Tor suits, ana quite as lovely, though
tighter tints are for evening wear. Heretofore it
has only possible to obtain these more Deauli-
1ul tnts in any but the highest priced silks, but
this season they are reproduced IN goods which
are at;ainable by those with even moderately
filed purses. The American silks are shown in
colors as well as black and are durable and well
worth purchasing Black silks are as fashionable
ever, those OF blue black shade with suD0 ueu
lu6tre being The iayOrites.
Fouiards, both plain and twilled, Will be much
'Dolly Warden" costumes. Foulards have much
improved In quality since last year. New styles are
SHOWN In japanese silks, ana IN the various sum-
mer silks; The grisanle is Inc favorte for street
suits, but lovely costumes for the house are made Of
summer SILK, with white eqoupd and narrow
Closely allied % the FRENCH and ir!s4 p0slins wOioA
mixed SIX and wc oi fabric. which is much in de-
ovsr,s.N ~ used for polonaises and overdresses
Other fashionable and favorlte materials are
"nun'sn serge, or twilled mohair, an exceedingly
distingue material of a dark gray color, pure
SUIT; q great variety OF plain mohars and the ever.
popular pongees, joln rhe latter IN all The "cameo'
Units and lovely shades OF gray, dark steel and
= WASHING MATERIALS.
their name is Legion. Lovely cambiics, IN dolly
noe IN G eocrs as ws as whle Cotton saline
baiis,e, organoie mousseline grenadne and iinon
d'lnde the thin wnite goods intended ior over
THE IRREPREssTBLE PoLoNAisE.
After the display AZ Madame Demorests on tne
LIST 1nst IL would seem almost Impossible tnA theIe
could he anything new devised IN the polonaise at
least That ubiquitous garment wnlch Is seen every
where, 10 all materials anu On every occasion:
Nateau,n style which Is sure 10 be becoming 10
tall LADIES with weil-developed figures. Inis mas
the Louis XVI. vest, which Is so much admired IN
inc s'Teresau Another the "Bouevard,n has four
dist,uct puts IN the back and auniy little basque
pr,ate ior pioue is the .Althea anu for thin goods
the "Amina' bears The palm. All polonalses TINS
season VIII be supplemented py Jaunv NIUE capes
"Broadway" Is the simplest Inc promenade "
quite dressy, and this and the 'Julle can be quite
appropriately made In SILK or cashmere Ior use WIN
q variety OF dresses.
jaunty position basque, OF an entirely new de.
sign, is aptIy named the Donna" and ID q iormd
allie rival TO the "Westcott and "Mignon,n both
POSITIONS, but OF different styles.
The MyTene" ana are eotn w dGaPeG
newest style OF oyerskirts. Designs Tor