, 1877-02-04
FEMININE FANCIES.
MASQUERADE COSTUMES.


! The season for fausy- dress parties has arrivcd
knd correspondents ask for hiuts shout COS
xu1nes. The Centennial year, with its tea par
tiles, las made the Martins Washington dress SO
familiar that it has lost much OF its charm, yet
1nauy youne girls st:ll delight to array them
selves in the at.ob-cap, mittcns, and chntz dress
es pi century ago, while moro dcmure E1aidens
still choose the quaint Puritan dress. To have
Something unhackncycd Is, however, the pEanci-
pal object iu fancy dresses, no matter though
the costume is less beco.ning than that Of the
Viyaudicre, Flower Girl, and Watteau dresses
that are seen at every masquerade.
TIE JArASHsE DRESS.
The Parisau fancy that has reached us is Tor
the JAPANESE costume, and this is really
accepted this winter, when there Is q mania for
Japanese ornaments, porcelain, ETC. Fashiona-
bic customers have already provided Themselves
with some Of the elaborately y-eulbroidered suits
displayed by the Japanese at the Centennial
Exhibition, while other costumes noted, though
retaining their characteristic features, have eyf
IDENTITY been naripulated.by French uaodfstes
4 very handsome Japanese dress Tor lady
has skirt VI pale green China Grape, cni-
broiderrd in bright colors to represent
flowers, bees, and birds; this skirt IS very
d tGe ankle, and is draped shortest behind.
same covers thu body Oyer this is a corselct OF
violet velvet, with Tcvcrs Of pink. embroidered
eatin on each side OF the open front, which Is
held together by violet bands across the bust.
The front has long baslucs, and the back. Is
quite short The sleeves Of Grape are very. long,
falling aIsnost to tho knees, aud after being
opened fox the arm to pass through, arc caught
together twice to show vide pink reyers- The
belt is Of golden cords The back hair Is aE-
ranged in cushions and in high putIs On top Of
the head, and seven gold pins with large knobs
for heads nrc stuck in the pu1Is. a japanese
fan and mirror are carried In the hand. Slip
pcrs, pointed at the toes, bear pink rosettcs.
As 1t is difficult matter to obtain such Gus
TUNES As these, ladies consult the colorcd pho
tograp!ls and prints Of Japanese women that
arc nurs to be found In most pyint-shops, and
make their own dresses OF inexpensive mater1-
lent designs Tor costumes, aud very
good models ART shown on thu
sQuzse bits ct crepcd stufts covered with Jara-
nese figures that are sold in the natiye stores for
10 OF Is cents each. The most customary dress
for . Japanese lady is q long robe reaching from
one. Any brishs hfocadcd stuff, such as cream
colored wool, will answer for this; and II the
colors are laid on in bright shades, so much the
better. This Is made straight, scarcely wider
than night-'1ess, is cut surplice at the neck,
lapped on one side, and has broad collar that
forms also reyers to the waist The sleeves are
The vide flowing Oriental shape short on top,
pointed long at the back, and showing an under
sleeve beneath. 4 sash Of rery wide soft ribbon
Is tied loosely around the whist, and the bow and
ends hang on the side Contrasts Of color are
souebt, il such dress. Thus, With 4 yellow
brocade, the broad collar is rose-coior,
the undc1-sleeyes dark cardinal. anu the
sash. bright blue Another suit has the
dress Of dark uaRy-blue wool, With cream