The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-01
New York Fashions.
lFrom Courier's Street, Salon and Shop.
NEW SHADES AND TINTS.


NEW SHADES AND TINTs.
There is nothing more noticeable in the re-
cent importations of dry goods than the rare
and delicate shades which distinguish most of
the fabrics. 1t must be confessed that these
tints are exceedingly attractive to the eye-so
attractive that ladies when purchasing are too
apt to be beguiled by the beauty of the color,
without giving thought as to whether or no
it will be becoming to their peculiar complex
ion and style. A fact that should be consid-
9ered in the selections of the new colors is that
many of the tints which appear very charm
ing in the bright daylight in which they are
purchased lose half their beauty when sub
mitted to gaslght, which of course renders
them unfit for evening. This is true of the
peon or peacock shades, which are either
green with blush cast or blue with a greenish
cast, and it may be stated as a rule that all
dark shades of green or blue or purple and Ii
lac lose their beauty under artificial light,
while scarlet and orange, light greens, light
brown and the various other light tints, such
as tea rose and blue and ecru, grow more
brilliant. OF course the same may be said of
tints suitable for evening when submitted to
the light of day. I4r
DIFFERENT FASHIONS AND STYLES.
As there never was a time when the fash
ions were more more varied than they are at
present, people have very little excuse for
dressing in manner unbecoming to their
particular style of form and feature; yet we
every day see very stout ladies adding to their
stoutness by exceedingly bouffant paniers
and looped up skirts; while slender ladies
failing to take advantage of the style which is
particularly suited to them, frequently con-
tent thems elyes with slight loopings or almost
straight hanging skirts.
rn WHILE sLAsHED JACKETS,
and the favorite tight fitting or half-tight fit
ting polon aises, are becoming to short fig
ures, the ircular mantles, capes and talmas
should be avoided. Very deep and elaborate
trimming, consisting of founces and puffs,
upon an underskirt makes short, stout per-
son appear still stouter.
HIGH PRICES OF DRESS MATERIALS.
It's not pleasant to be told that dress fab
RIGS have risen in price in Europe, but such is
unfortunately the fact. The price which
must be paid for a handsome costume here
is already so high that we believe any increase
on this side must have the effect of reducing
the wardrobes of many Of our city fashion,
ables.
of the finest quality are $3.50 to So a yard,
which, with making and trimming, makes the
cost of the costume about $175 or $3.50, and
two or three such dresses are generally con-
sidered necessary in what our ''society pa
pers" would call a ''society lady's" toilette.
For other handsome fabrics suitable for the
street or house very high prices are asked.
Among these materials is the
CAMEL's HAIR SERGE,
which RACES from 80 to 50 25 yard. We
have also camePs hair cloth for polonaises,
which displays the small amure figures and
delicate solid colors, and which costs a large
sum. Of course these materials drape hand
somely and purchasers are told that the cloth
WILL LAST LIFETIME.
but in the various changes which fashion
renders necessary, we doubt whether this
great durability will pay for the present cost
of the material. Other handsome fabrics for
spring and summer-which include pongee
serges, pongee foulards, serge foulards, gren-
adines of good quality and the foulard silks
with Dolly Warden fgures-range from S1.50
to 81 All these materials make costly cos
tunes, yet we cannot fully sympathize with
certain fashion writers, who express great sat
isfaction at what they call a reaction in favor
of less expensive fabrics for street and house
dresses. Good fabrics are occasionally bought
for moderate sum, but as a rule we doubt
the economy of buying poor materials which
may cost little less money, but which re-
quire as much or more trimming, and which
cost as much for making as the best material