National Republican., 1877-02-18
A LA MODE DE PARIS,
nor LADIES SHoULD DREsS r0 M
IN FASHION,

IN FASHION
Tho Styles for tho Coming Spring to be oh.
served by Those who Have Not feit the
Hard Times-Bonnets, Dresses, Flowers
and friils-Lighi Reading with u Ven
geancc.
PARIS, Feb. Al believe that we must at
tribute to the rarity Of balls the excessive eie.
gnnce displayed OF all evening reunions, such as
dinners, receptions and the theatre. Never be.
fore on similar occasions have the toilettes been
more marvellous, original and brilliant. hut
above all and everywhere flowers are used: on
the corsage, In front, or the side, In the shape
OF half wreath or an elongated TUT: at the belt
on the shoulders, in the hair-everywhere artih.
cial flowers are seen. The simplest hchu, tho
most una assuming cravat, has at least a rose. bud
encircled with mlgnonette to finish the knot in
(which II is tied. This universal use Of flowers
lends great brilliancy and gayety to gathering.
Besides this, each guest at dinner is decorated
with flowers. . In the basket filled with fruit and
natural flowers, which ornaments the centre Of
the table, are placed q number Of small
bouquets equallng that OF the guests,
and on rising from the table every
body takes one, the gentlemen placing s.elrs in
ne u,tSn.hoIe and the ladies fastening theirs
played no longer at balls (which appear, in truth
to have gone out Of iashion), but at dinners
French custom, and the tables are loaded with
silver plate. For this reason, also, the most pic
dinnefs-toilettes In which tho art Of The colSrst
takes the hrst rank, and there are some combna.
iGn hGns o. eoors which to the proiane would seem
What would we say, er nstancs to gray H'p trImmsd
l should have exclaimed with horror but In vIng
seen II, cannot deny that the effect was CHARM
,ng IL Is ~ the galloons lrnges and tasscls that
colorists Is displayed, and It Is on their use that
the ability Of the dress,maker depends hut
these effects, SO fantastic, indyidudi and varied
escape all description; one might as well under.
take to explain the anatomy Of a butterfly.
Is saying great deal and are Invariably lined at
the bottom with deep founcc of pleated muslin
edged with lace, which comes below the edge Of
the skirt, and is designed to form at least slight
protection to the latter In order to cbaractcrize
the present fashion, should say that the dress is
dinner toilettes the corsage Is always open. and
generally square: the sleeves are extremely
TO match that which trims the corsagc, On Tho
lett side OF the corsagc Is fastened an elonXa ted
TUT composed of flowers similar to those worn in
the hair adding to the latter small plume or an
Every assertion that Is made concerning tho
details Of the present fashion Is sure to be over.
thrown by contrary Affirmation Ii were to
say tnat hlSh coinures are worn, leaving the meek
exposed, or that the latter was covered with cas-
have strictly adhered to the truth. Young girls
generally wear their hair in the former fashion
ma rried ladies. however. seem TO prefer lettins
the hair fall to the middle Of the back When
when the occasion Is too unostentatiOus to offer
the least excuse for these ornaments, which ior.
merly were only seen at balls-they are replaced
non, et1i ne AZ aaTow or dagger or any other orna
A very convenient fashion Especially for young
gHls), the low round waist OF black velvet Is he,
coming more general. This season many young
girls wear dresses Of black failic, with high.
ngUllUf n m tot1 1att
OF black velvet cut round like those seen in most
peasant costumes, Is worn in Its stead. This cor.
sage mas no sleeves of the material but Is finished
with pulled sleeves of white muslin reaching 10
the elbow. Black velvet eOrsages OF this kind are
Besides, has been discovered that black is more
youthful than dark color.
oqs dotted materials and goods Il extremely eHSr p
able silk, which VIII be employed for suits. For
which 1t is difficult to abolish. Its now several
years since It's disappearance has been predicted
and II Is still worn as much as ever. II has also
Deen said repeatedly during the last year that
suits, although still worn. would surely 20 out OF
fashion next season. assert the contrary, with.
remain in fashion for the spring, and even for the
summer, and when they finally disappear las
eysry.hinYg must in the en1l, I viii Be IN the
tions TO long dresses and toettes. Spring
and summer, being seasons Of travel, will never
pllshed fact during the preceding winter. they
VIII submit but nothing more. Suits, therefore,
having endured throughout this winter, have
them. But 1t can not be denied that the prln.
placed on The Es dress taas
on AZ others are very plain; and that by dint of
n 10 thSy T reach the point
accustomed to confusion Of materials, when the
way viii be open to a fashion which shall take
the place of suits. But do not believe that this
change will take place before 1850, the epoch OF
the dehntive Constitution Of France. There will
be no complete change in fashions as long as
there is no decided change in the political s9ua-
uOn.
Bonnets are still in great variety. Straw bon
nets are In preparation for the summer which ire
almost OF the same shape as those of this winter
with pointed crowns, tapering in the back-Cala.
brian Brgands, rolled and raised on one side
Nandycks, etc. Everything is at a stand.stIll,
Bonnets can not change as long as the style OF
hair.dressIng remains stationary, and tho hair.
dressers On their part protest that they submit
10 the demands Of bonncts.
The great luxury in toilettcs for the spring
beautiful as they are costly; they are very deep,
and are used also for trimming the bottom OF
cuirass basQues. In consequence of their great
DEPTH iringes thus arrayed resemble small short
oveTskirts.
FrIlls OF extremely fine and soft figured muslin
viii be worn as colarettos Two bands OF this
inquired muslin are Joined on the upper edge by
soft ruehc OF colored ribbon These frlis closely
follow the outlines OF the neck Of the dress wheth
or the waist is high necked. cut low and Square,
or hcart.shaped. This fashion recalls the MediCis
ana Marie stuart irills. Ladies who are no Ion.
ger young adopt not only the collarettes but the
cuils OF the time of Anne Oi Austria; the sleeves
extend little below the elbow and Mt the arm
closely, and nre finished with a very deep row OF
white lace set on plain and turning upward, while
second row Of lace, not quite so deep as the
first, is gathered and set the under edge of the
sleeves 10 fall over the arm. With these sleeves
are worn very long gloves and bracelets, which
are more dressy than long sleeves. This is the
toilette par 6IctNcRce for ladies who are no longer
young, one OF whom recently at grand reunion,
on being reproached for wearing a high corsage
replied, Il only dccolIeie my arms, for they are
beautiful at any age."-Emmeitne Raymond IL
HdI ptrS BG-dT.