The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1874-04-01
ABOUT DRESS.
What 50 Wear md How 90 Wear it-The
New styles.


Turbans of straw and felt will be
among the spring fashions, and al
shapes for the head will be more com
pact. Very light gray and br0wnisl
| drab felt hints, light as cork and fine as
velvet, will he the first change from
midwinter bOnnets and seal skin, though
| velvet and straw viii be worn into sum
mer. Trimmings Of soft cololed, lus,
| lrOus ribbons alone, or of fragile orna-
ments of yellow straw, mixed with
| black velvet. are seen on the models
which have not left the hands of design,
ers abroad.
The Paris faehion-maktrs deCreed
the downfall of the %polonaiec. but re.
susci ate it as the basque, palctot, etc
so the economical can cut overtheirlast
venr's garb md be in the fashion ca
silly. The chief characteristic of the
new ovcr-dress ia. that its lower edge is
always irregular. Sometimes the back
runs down in two coat-taila, Ikea dress
coat while, on the hips and sides, it is
short. Again, the front is cut with long
tab ends, while The back is little more
than q iockey-basque lying lightly on
the tournure, where it meets the hOun-
COS that cover the back of the skirt.
With these Jackets, the skirts are
trimmed q good deal, generally in diff
ferent ways on the front and back, Moth
ing can be uglier than some of these
combinations, or more inartistic than
tie fashion itself.
Napoleon blue is one of the fashiona
BILE %colOrs, in Easter costumes, also ma
hogany-brown, which is shown in a
dozen different shades. A modifca-
tion Of the reding0te will be the most
fashionable street garment. Embroid-
ercl sashes of black watered silk, en-
hroidered with black floss and fine Jet
beads. or of black, embroidere | in col
orq, are destined to be fashionable.
Collars are more in favor, this spring,
than muflers or frills the newest style
is called the "Medias," aud it is made
of linen or lace. being high in The back
or square, for eveningor dinner dresses.
Black and white bugles are worn on ev-
erything, and white bugle TUNES are es-
peciaIly lovely when worn over black
velvet skirts another elegant novelty
for Csrselets or tunics over these velvet
skirts is silver flagree. Evening dresses
nre no longer made with very deep
trains, and the over-skirt ~ it used to
be is entirely done away with all the
trimming Intended TO be seen is concen-
trated on the front breadth, and the
court train commences nj the side seams.
The fashionable balls at Paris, this
winter, give promise of several inter
esting innovations. The first is the de-
Cided tendency for long, tight-olinging
dresses. which are called .fourreaux, be-
cause they e~nvelop the figure as closely
AS the sheath of n shut umbrella. The
second is the Middle Ages" bodice, a
compromise with the fourreaux, and The
pufis and drapinPs Of last season. This
bodice ia intended for ladies' who have
not that matchless figure essential to a
forreau, but wish TO adopt the prevail
ing mode. 1t confines the figure below
the hips, and the skirts are caught up
Mt the back underneath. A dress worn
Mt the Elysee ball in this style was both
graceful and newell. The skirts were of
tulle, three in number, the first short,
but all Of different lengths, and round
each was a row of lily of the valley,
edged with dropping grass. They were
ell three caught upat the back under
the bodice: the back skirts we're also of
different lengths, but we're not trim
med. The bodice was Of white corded
silk, perfectly tight-ftting, and reached
over the hips like c~orsets, with the neck,
sleeves and hips edged with lilies OF
the valley and falling grass, and from
under the bodice fell a silk sash, also
edged with lilies and grass. The third
fashion is @ negative one, being simply
m entire absence of neck ornaments.
and it is said chains and necklaces are
TO be ~irrevocably doomed. But this
caprice avcnges itself by loading the
arms with bracelets. From glove TO
elbow not nm inch of flesh is seen, and
bracelets are even worn over the gloves.
The fourth fashion is the manner of
dressing the hair in two braids, and
therefore earrings are going out while
hair braids are coming in. Gloves, too,
at these balls renchedsnearly to The Ell
bow, with but one bptfgn at the wrist.
The velvet dresses worn at these balls
were all foufY'cuur. Walking dresses,
Of course, follow the ball costumes,
and though as vet this sheath style is
seen only in the house, the waists Of
dresses and polonaises are male fear
long, especially Mt the back, so
that q mere shade divides them from
the fourreapr. The "middle ages
bodice is also being worn over the .frou-
frou winter skirts for the street.