, 1877-03-11

The best Partisan authorities announce that
there will he no decided changes in the fashions
OF spring dresses, and the first importatons con-
firm this Insertion. We find these tnportations
to consist, first, Of suits with Princesse polo
naises, basques with orerskirts and lower skirts,
and, finally, Princesse dresses. OF the polo
naises We have just given model of the plain
designs, which are also most stylish, but there
are, besides, more elaborate patterns, with scarf
drapcry In front, and many fat pleats III the
middle OF tho back. Among features common
to most Ct the handsome polonatscs arc the long
seams of the back, the plainness over the tour
nure, and sufficient length to give very slen-
der effect. The Byron collar Is seen on q
great many. Frirges and wide galloons are
the trimmings universally used, and the galloon
Is very generally. arranged in sloping lines, or
else In loug down the back from shoul-
ders to waist. Small short fchus or mantles
OF tho material OF the poloinafse complete many
OF these suits, and are becoming to very slender
figures. As ne have remarked already, the aim
seems to be to give the whole suit the appear
ance OF Princcsse dress. To this effect the
long polonaise gives only the merest glimpses
OF the trimming Of the lower skirt, hence this
skirt must be very narrow aud clinging, that it
may not ohtrudc itself, and is usually trimmed
alike all around. A drawing string across the
back breadths to hold them back Is the rule al
most without exception on the French dresses.
Knffc-pleating still prevails on the newest
dresses. Around the bottom Of the skirt are
two rows Of knife-pleating. each two inches
deep when finished; above this is t1at band Of
galIoop, or OF bias brocade, or Of plain silk, and
By way of heading are tWo upright pleatings
that stand out With more fullness than is seen
tn the fat lower pleats. There arc also boz
pleatcd founccs finished By the knife pleatlng
at ton and bottom; there are clusters of mar
row Tapped gathered aounces, ana there are
few dresses without any trimming but border
Of galIoon or bias bands.
HABIT BAsQuEs.
The back is square and fiat, the sides are
and the front is pointed. The back has usually
two side bodies, which may be short Or long,
beginning on the shoulders. The middle seams
slope outward after tapcriug in at the waist,
aud the ornament Of the back, whether 1t be
buttons, bows, or fiat pleats,. begins two or
three inches below the waist line The front
usually has square p1astron Of plain silk, that
may be removed, and tullc OF crepe lisse used
Instead. The edges are finished with two or
three pipcd cords: belt may be added ,-, in
or else it is buttoncd by three or four buttons.
The oyer-shirt with such basques is attached to
the lower skirt at the belt, and may oe either
an apron or else open in front with fcsets on
the Slde53 III Tue latter cast Llio ASse' 0sb1.1
the upper skirt to the lower to prevent 1t tying
open In front, as it would do II made scpa1ately:
A spring suit made after this fashion Is Of |
myrtle green cashmere, SILK, ana green
gailoon with white leaves: The lower sktrt
Is Of silk, with two kuife-plcatings, ,gatloon, and
two erect plcatines. The cashmere orer-sk1rt, !
sewcd in with the belt Of the lower skirt, IS
turned back T.. revers in front, Inns horizontal
meats on the sides, and falls In soft draperT be-
hind; It is bortiercd with the galloon and kntte-
plcating Of silk. The habit basque Is OF CASH
mere, with silk sleeves and square silk oassfon.
Though not quite to the waistlat the end OF the
three long back sean1s; two piping cords edSe
the basque and mass up these seams. 1ne piaces
between the searns are filled In with three
pleated frills Of silk that are so SOFT and scant
that theY do not interfere with the fatness OF
the BASQUE. The front is q pointed basque ex-
tending only about finger below t9e waist nne.
Thc collar IS Byron shape. The cuffs are plainly
bordered with galloon- For the street sleeve
less sacoue of cashmere is added The sacque
is in the straight French shape h1 meainn LODI
and slightly loose. The front is double-pfeast-
ed, and butroned its entire length
NEW BLACK SILK DRESSES
Among the new models for black stlk dresses
That are always largely imported Tor the inter
mediate seasons, Worth sends handsome DC
signs, partly OF b1ocade ana partiy, yy,} Gd gros
rain laid across foundation in folds and
wrinkles, and edged with fringe, which falls oyer
a knife-nleatjng. Across the top OF these
breatitts is short apron in brocade, irlnged
With brocade reveEs extending down tne stIc
cores their whole length. Inc tnlGe e. .;aas 9aeh
breadths are made abruptly longer On the sides
10 ciTc square train. and are boTderen across
the hottoult and up the sides to the belt "lth a
znifc-plcatfnc Of plain silk lined With nleated
Vsleuciennes lace, and held in position BY floods
If looped eudsot gros grain rlboon ine s9hale