The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-19
FASHION TALK.
New Thoughts and Acquisitions OF
the MOdistes.
The Latest Designs in handkerchief,
Belts and Gloves Long and Short
Trains Rich and Elegant Dress
Trimmings General Notes.


We have growing belief that 1t ls every
| woman's solemn duty, rs we'll as priceless
privilege, to he Intelligent In matters of fash
| ion and all that pertains to the art OF dress.
| The duty she owes to others; the privilege is
| her own to enjoy. The performance Of this
| duty does not necessarily involve 81 great
consumption Of time; 1t only requires an
alert eye little patient attention, some
panstaking, and a willingness to learn. The
papers and fashion books abound Ia carefully
gathered Information. which 1t imparts In
| lucid and entertaining phrase. II one Is q
| little bewildered by the imposing TECHNICAL
| ties and pumpous terms OF art by which the
/ Initiated seek to convey their Ideas, inter-
prefers may DO found in the show
windows and counters of every store and
| animated illustrations on every banquette.
Modistes are slowly and providently bring
Ing out their new thoughts and acquisitions.
| They wisely refrain from startling the fash
! ionable world too suddenly, or seeking TO
hurry 1t into the adoption of costumes not
yet pleasantly familiar to the eye. American
women love novelty. and demand change in
dress as imperiously as their trans Atlantic
sisters. but their appreciation Is to be won
only by slow approaches and delicate over
/ lures, and they prefer q gradual process OF
/ DEVELOPMENT to Violent and sudden depart
ures from established styles. They have
been a little dazzled by the iloed of brilliant
color that has poured In from looms and
print works, but the ardent Southern nature
will soon find itself at home with these tropi-
| cal tints
/ The passion for gay coloring seems to per-
wade every department of the toilette, en-
braeing hosiery handkerchlefs belts, but
| tons, gloves. fans and dress trimmings. We
have seen some stockings that looked rs II
1 they had been in {. daisy bed and walked off
| with all the blossoms. Syme's window looks
like gay parterre, and Holiness like an
Eastern bazaar.
Nothing could be more exquisite than some
OF the embroidered fans now seen except those
that are more delicately lovely In the rare
hand painting we occasionally see Some OF
these fans aIe In dark grounds embroidered
In 'tdivers colors;" others in pale tints, blue
pink and cream, embroidered In. admiral, gar
| net and tawny gold.
| handkerchief come In new designs and
colors to correspond with other triles belong
ing to the costume. The broadlhem- stitched
|
monds, and every figure that has an angle,
and really one becomes dizzy in the attempt
to thread Its intricacies. The spaces between
the hemstitched figures are filled in with
! polka dots, embroidered in colors that pro-
duce cashmere effects. The hem-stitching is
frequently dispensed with altogether, the ser
rated edge being defined by O line Of embroid-
cry, within which are vines and flowers In
| shaded cOlorS. 5..5g..m...z
Belts may be seen in all materials, coiors
ands widths. White and black leather belts
with bags in horseshoe shape, are the latest
fayorites. The bag corresponds in color with
the belt worn, the black having around 1t q
rim of white the width of q horseshoe, In
which the nails are perfectly simulated, and
the white Is finished in the same manner with
q black shoe. This device OF a horseshoe
seems to be a favorite one just now. We see
II repeated In ornaments for tho person as
we'll as the home. The best Christians
among 1s like to play with superstitions
am firmly convinced that the horseshoe PEN
rack before me speeds my laggard pencil on
its devious way. We buy horseshoes, some
of us, for the same reason that we baptize our
babies; II a blessing comes with 1t we want
For tfoE.o who put ne faith In horseshoes
we will add that very elegant brocaded belts
without that appendage may be found in the
stores and to sympathetic eyes they look as
ii they were just longing to encircle some
round. plump waist.
II gloves the newest thing is the lace-top
Harris kid. We Wish there was not such 2
suggestion OF confectionery about them. II
Nine Demorest had not told us better, we
should have taken those white tops for paper
lace, cut expressly to decorate Christmas
cake. Those which are finished with lace
tops In dark, harmoniZing colors are very
elegant and will surely become favorites.
Many of them are also ornamented with en-
broiiered backs that are extremely pretty,
and complete dainty costume most becom.
ingly For those whose taste knows no de-
Walton from the accepted usage OF past years,
our merchants have provided gloves Of I'M
impeachible color and quality, perfect work
manship being their only ornament. Taste
and convenience decide the number OF but
tons requisite insgloyes that are to be worn
with close sleeves.
exclusively to indoor attire, and are never
seen on the streets. Snowy morning dresses
are made in this style, and are appropriate
and effective through the fitness OF things.
Carpeted floors and trains belong to each
other like cause and effect.
Very long trains are worn on full-dress oc,,
casions, the trains being frequently lined
with silk or satin In some prettily contrasting
color, such as pale blue, jonquil, yellow, Ola
gold. apple blossom or sea foam. The lining
Is so adjusted as to give here and there a
piauant CLING se of bright or soft color. The
power of these half-revelations 10 as great In
dry goods as in character and 1eellngs ana we
see It very coquettlshly used by those who
understand its application. 1he subtle insin-
uation of a mere touch ofcolor betrays genius
in the author OF many costume, ana makes
a success Of its Wearer
PIaitings of silk have been substituted fol
the white balayeuse, SO long worm the colo
Of the silk corresp spending with that which is
key to the whole costume. This plaidng alse
81 appears as a finish in the elbow sleeves
which promise to be popular, in spite OF winf
} or weather, during the coming winter. w
suspect collision between lace-top gloves ant
t elbow sleeves, or else their contemporaries
!, is one of those happy accidents that make:
j us believe in general mulua41ty.
, We have seen some very fich and elegan
! dress-trimmings OF velvet and satin com
/ bined In alternate stripes, the velvet showing
clusters Of brilliant flowers that look almos