The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-27
CENTENNIAL COSTUMES.
From Harper's Bazar.l


Costumers say that the present choice of
fancy dress1a is for Centennial costumes, as
Lady WasAiI,, ton tea. parties are the fashion
of the winter rather than general masquer-
AIDES. The reader will find excellent models
for such pictures in Huntington's picture of
the Republican Court" of which an engrav-
ing was given in Harper's Weekly during the
past summer. Costumers, however, do not
copy this picture literally, but use rather the
dress of Lady Washington's youth, sometimes
emitting altogether the handkerchief, and ex-
hibiting the powdered hair without cap. To
give the difference in detail: Instead of max
ing the dress to be laced in front, the cos.
tuners use a pointed waist, with half-high
square neck, and lace it behind.
Two materials appear in such dresses, viz
brocade or striped silk for the court train, and
plain silk or satin for the petticoat. The bro
cade or material of the train forms all the waist
except vest-llke plsstron in front, which is
of the plain silk. This plastron is five or six
inches broad at the top, descends sharp to q
point, and to be in keeping, should be wadded
lightly, and quilted in small diamonds to
match the petticoat. A bow of velvet is at the
end of the point, and lace garniture, beginning
under this bow. passes up each side of the
plastrom and trims the square neck. The
sleeves, of the brocaded silk, are straight,
pl6lOs arc uhuo W IcdCu w tAo 0AOVwS WA0AO
they are finished with full ruff 90 of lace.
Instead of q separate petticoat costumers
merely quilt wide front breadth of the plain
satin or silk, and simulate court train by
making back breadths of trained brocaded
skirt, and sewing them straight up the sides
of the quilted tablier. Notwithstanding few
flounces and laces are seen on the dresses of
revolutionary times, costumers to-day add
deep founce of silk OF lace around the train,
and pass it up the sides to the waist, gradual
ing it to narrow ruff1s at the top. Ladies
who do not wish to expose their necks and
shoulders use the snowy kerchief, square OF
sheer white lawn-organdy is best-doubled
like three-cornered shawl, folded to cover
the neck, and the ends tucked in the square
corsage. The muslin cap, with its full bag
crown and plated frill, is worn just back OF
the Pompadour roll of powdered hair.
Long white kid gloves are buttoned to the
elbow. Costumers display such dresses made
with rose-colored silk-quilted front, and train
of blue and white brocade, trimmed with
flounces of point applique lace. Another
has Q crimson petticoat with pearl-gray bro
caded train, trimmed with black lace founces.
A third has orange.colored quilted satin for
the front, with dress of antiquated chene
silk.
more youthful Lady Washington dress
has Vatican polonaise, with trained back,
very short apron front, square neck and elbow
sleeves. This is made up of white satin, to
be worn over any blue or rose silk or velvet
skirts the wearer msy choose. 1t is trimmed
with pearls The couture, without powder.
should be strings of pearls Topped in the back
hair; the front hair should be drawn plainly
back from the face.