, 1874-03-22
Black Still a Fayorite---Gray anu EIue
the Fashionable C0lors.
The Passion for Blending Shades More
Prevalent than Ever---Shirring
as Source OF EIe-
:. .g2nce.
Hafmonics Of Hues Imperative
Spanish Wells for Sum-
n1er Nights. .:-

|. NEW Yonn, March 18, 1874.
We have not had 80 great dea1th Of liens
this SEASON, that March need to have turne
into one especially on our account. Be that 4
it maJ, the 1o1ghest and moat disagrceabl
weather Of tho whole winter has been during th
past fortnight; and so bad has it been that til
most devoted followers OF Fashion have beel
tempted to remain indoors, and bang over fires
instead OF pursuing folly in wind-driyen crowds
Still, the modstes are mono the less busy be.
cause their patrons happen for the time, to b
iudiIerent; we'll knowing that, for their Gus
toners monentary caralessnoss, they will be e1
[ pectad next month to make full compensation
| vERyAL PROMISES.
Although it iB early yet, and the spring -goodi
are not fully open, enough lie on the counters
to prove no great novelties are to- be produced
| and that the variety of stuns, comparatively
! speaking, is small. Last year you con!d moi
count tie fresh fabrics, Of all grades and prices.
that lined the shops; this year, you re-
ccive the impression that nothing is new,
! and that you are expected to purchase
last seasons importations ut slightly
reduced rates. II You look carefully,
however, you will discover novelty now and
thep bnt nothing striking. The variations arc
| VIM
remembered goods, rather than in the materials
themselves. We find ancient favorites, such as
serges, pongecs. popGns, stnacaa, and the like,
with peculiar rwills, diagonal rops raised stripes.
etc.; bcgniling uB, for the instant, into heliev-
ing them new, but, upon examination, hetra7ing
familiar traits.
The suitings are chiefly Of mixed. silk and
wool, threads,-a combination sinelliarly attract
i've to the eye, though wofuilr inclined to shrink
and cFcklc. Mixed goods nrs never safe to-
buy, il one cares about their wearing quality.
auaWer for hard service ! *bnt for one of that
sort there are hundred others which will not
pay for making remember the fate OF friend
last summer, who could not resist getting pale,
cafcat1lait silk and~wool stuff for strcctdrcss.
It was made after the weather WAS warm enough
for tho windows to be kept open; and, while
tha suit Was in tue work-room, the moisture of
tha atmosphere SO sl1rank it that when the lady
tried it on to wear, The skirt was several inchcs
too short, and the waist too tight to fasteu.
This is extreme case; but it is likely, in LEGS
degree, to happen to any mixed good5.
poIonaise-mate1ia1s are conspicuous from
their absence, which certainly Indicates more
surely than ANYTHING else That that desirable
eyents.-at loast independents article Of
apparel. We have been 60 constantly assured.
for the last two years, OF tbs posit(vs death Of
tho polonaise AMI, in tho next sentence, its
wearing uOE6 LAIH EStI, LtlAt pIUBQOAllCaLlUffS
about It have ceased to be regarded Now. how
ever, II there be nothing to make them OF, it is
egideus thera will ba polonaises. To taxa
their place, somsshin. will unquestionably be
invented; for We must not bo bercft OF them
and oyerskirts at one fell swoop. Thus far, few
SPRING SUITS
hare been shown. and those that have been,
oftener than not arc black. The moro import
ant openings" will not take place before the
close Of next week. uutil then, no temptation
z3r1,f ~
If any there be,--thoagh hints and half-state-
Hents are many.
Gray and blue are called the modish co1ors,
though it il difficult to that tint ia uloro
antics are artists enough IN dress to wear the
hue that is adapted to their complexion, let
tho fashion be what it will. Where thov are
too faithful to mode to strike it altogether, |
they skllfullY uingle the color which does sut |
them with TINT which doesn't, thus following |
vogue and preference.
One OF tho simplest (simplicity, alas is not |
3 characteristic OF the incoming stylos) As weII
aa tastefulest costumes already completed il Of !
two shades Of. blue-s:ay fou1ard.. (The mania !
dress, prevails to an uuwonted extent, only the |
contrasts arc not so generally violent as they |
have been.) Tho walking-skizt barely touches /
the ground behind Qhe posscssor OF this |
pretty suit III respects hesnsIf a;.p too much
walks), and is but three yards and a
quarter round the extreme bottom Tie lowest |
trimming ia twentg-inch, scant, bias nounce-
The top OF the donnce is faced on tho inside |
(the width OF cord, onlT, showing csr the ont
Bide), to q fingers depth, With the darker shade; |
the dress being Of tho lighter. Two and hnlf |
inches from the top ~ series Of shlrrs; which
10 say that the hounce is gathered on ak threals
placed half-inch apart: This sllirring-the [
PRESENTS usod in all materials, and, on every
description Of full trimming. The. aounos ia
laced mp from the lower e:lso, finger ride on
the outside, with the dark. Above this are I
IN both edges with two flno cords OF the dark.
Jn the tablier are three hnger-wide bands OF
lie light, corded on each edge with two large
loft cords Of the dark, and reaching over the top
II the tlounce some eight inches; the part tapping
'yer the tounca being lined, left to hang
oosely, and ending in d tassel-tipped point
n the back the skirt has q large panior-pnlf
Here let mo remark that the puff, introduced |
nto street I'd we'll as house dresses, is almost
lie only change in skirts) The iacket is short
Matt in the middle. In front, awo long square
nb-ends hang over short, SQUARE rest.
The whole baalue is finished with double soft
ord Of the dirk; the reat-aiso Of tha dark
'eins. outlined by . corded band Of the Light 4
ound, standing, aaEinS collar is 10 the neck,
md large mon1quetairo cuffs on tho coatsleeycs
mot to mention two cunning pockets on the
abs-fnsh the suit. In description 4the Co.'S
ume Is pla1n enough but th3 effect i8 very
rotty.
AN ELEGANT DRESS
or carriage aud dinner las just been innorted.
t is Of a soft, rosy-grav tint "a real cloud-Grav}
nd is made Of fail1e. The demi-traiu il bor-
cred from the seam Of tho front breadth on one |
ide to the seam OIL tue other, by an eichteor,-
,ch douuce. worked On the edge in English en-
roidery in four shades at siliz,-two lighter.
vo darker, than the dress. The head OF the
ounce ia also wrought, but not SO deep, and
be fiounce is sat on with six s1irrs. The taolier
, wrought all over in tile same English emhzoitI-
~; and, whore the wheels and e7eIets permit
to be seen, lining OF pale rose-coIor is viai-
le. Two large wings, or foosa brea1ths Of silk. |
re fastened to the belt. aud also in the frunt |
cams These arc worked on tho edees, aud
ave heavy sowing -alk fringe across tho bot
om- The w1nss are caught together in tue
nck by embroidered bands, having fringe On +
ae lover edge Between the bands the back
readth, fulled on to tho lining, shows like Sc
es Of pulls. The jacket. short all round IS
orerod with open embroidery over fose-col-
red lining. The sleeves are coat-shape; tie !
pper and under sides, made of embroidery like :,
10 basque, are caught tosot1,er with tiny bands
yer 1oae~colorea puff, after the manner Of Lie
ac'i OF the skirt. An elegaatly-workcd au-
loniaire hangs at the left side, On. Of wbich
eenI a mink silk If .I,r,1 f.oo I