Page images
PDF
EPUB

imbecille form. The pelerine is cleft upon the shoulder, so as to form two irregular points. The skirt is trimmed with a very broad band of sable. Very full ruff, composed of white tulle. The bonnet is purple velvet, lined with white satin, and trimmed under the brim with nauds of white gauze riband; a very large naud of white gauze riband, with a bouquet of pensees in the centre, adorns the front of the crown. Sable muff and boa tippet.

EVENING DRESS.

A white satin dress; low corsage, arranged before and behind in deep longitudinal folds; it is trimmed round the top with a flat gold trimming, surmounted by a row of pointed blond lace, which stands up round the bust Béret sleeve of the usual form, over which is a long one of white gaze bril. lantée; it is of equal width from the shoulder to the wrist, where it terminates in a narrow band. The trimming of the skirt consists of a single row of flat gold galon, corresponding in pattern with that on the corsage, but much broader. The head-dress is a black velvet béret; the front is of the usual size; the crown is adorned with draperies, which are trimmed with gold fringe. The ear-rins, neck chain, and bracelets, are of burnished gold.

GENERAL MONTHLY STATEMENT OF

FASHION.

Fur pelerines are more in favour than boa tippets for the promenade, and waiking bonnets are of a more showy description than last month. Some of the most novel are of black or dark-coloured velvet, or satin, lined with rose-colour, or blue silk plusb, and trimmed with ribands, corresponding in colour with the bonnet, but fringed and brocaded to match the lining.

Mantles are very much worn in carriage dress. Those lined with expensive furs are not yet so generally adopted as they were last winter. Black velvet ones are much in favour; they are trimmed round the collar, and the pelerine, either with black blond lace, or rich fringe.

Carriage pelisses are composed of velvet gros de Naples, or gros des Indes. Some are fastened down the front by knots com posed of four pointed ends, edged with very narrow fringe; others are trimmed round the border, and up the fronts, with a Gothic border formed by very narrow satin rouleaus, of a colour strongly contrasted with that of the pelisse. Whatever the trimming of the skirt may be, the collar and cuffs are always ornamented to correspond.

Velvet is the material most in favour for carriage bonnets and bats. Some are composed entirely of the same colour; others are lined with velvet of a different

hue, or with silk plush. Black and rosecoloured satin, particularly the latter, is also in favour for carriage bonnets and hats If the hat is of rose-coloured satin, the lining of the brim is of the same material; but if it is black, it is frequently lined with a different colour.

Hats have the brims very wide over the forehead, but small behind, and rather close at the ears. Some are profusely trimmed, and others very sparingly; those of the first description are adorned with knots of the same material as the hat, intermixed with light rosettes, composed of notched ends of rich riband, or with feathers. A band of riband, ending in a full rosette on the right side, is the only ornament employed for hats of a simple description.

Bonnets have not altered in shape nor size. A good many are ornamented in the demi voile style, with a fall of blond lace at the edge of the brim.

We have seen some dinner dresses composed of figured gros de Naples of a light green ground, thickly strewed with small bouquets of flowers in various colours. The skirt was finished above the hem with a trimming of stamped velvet leaves; they were placed at a considerable distance from each other, were of a large size, and rose from a chenille stalk. The corsuge was partially covered with a kind of brace, composed of velvet, which corresponded with the trimming, and was darker than the ground of the dress.

Velvet, velours epinglé, and grenadine gauze over satin to correspond, are all in favour in evening dress. The most fashionable trimming is blond lace.

Dress hats are of velvet, or white satin; the brims are shallower than those of last winter; the crowns are low, particularly behind; they are generally adorned with feathers.

Bérets are composed of velvet, crape, or gauze; they are trimmed either with feathers, or light sprigs of flowers

lemon

The favourite colours are all the darker shades of red, blue, and green, as also lavender, chesnut, azure-blue, colour, and rose-colour. STATEMENT OF FASHIONS AT PARIS IN

DECEMBER.

Mantles are very much in favour. Some of the most novel are composed of gros des Indes, trimmed with rich fur, not arranged as formerly in bands, but disposed in a rouleau so as to present the appearance of a small boa tippet; this trimming edges the fronts, the bottom, the collar, and the pelerine; the latter is always enormously large.

Wadded pelisses are much in favour for

the promenade, particularly those of black satin, ornamented down the front with broad bands, à revers, of black velvet Pelisse gowns, and high dresses, composed of velvet, are also in much estimation. These last are made without any trimming, except that on the pelerine, which is either a row of black blond lace, or else a very broad rich fringe.

Promenade gowns are not in general trimmed round the border; some few, however, have been lately seen composed of rich twilled silk, (which is now coming much into favour,) that were finished round the bottom with a bias band of velvet reach ing nearly to the knees; it was cut round the upper edge in ornaments of the crescent form, which were bordered with narrow blond lace, set on plain; the pelerine, composed entirely of velvet, was cut round the edge to correspond with the trimming. These dresses are mostly of light colours, as pearl grey, vert Irlandais or drab colour; but the velvet that trims them is always black.

Undress bonnets are composed either of black velvet, or black silk plush, and are always of the capote form. Some have appeared this month, the crowns of which bear no small resemblance to the caul of a high old-fashioned cap; the brims are larger than those of other bonnets; they are always lined with plush, but of some light colour; rose is most in favour. band of riband which crosses upon the brim, close to the bottom of the crown, is the only ornament of these bonnets.

A

Those composed of black velvet are trimmed in a style of great simplicity, two coques on one side, and one only on the other, or else a riband which goes round the crown, and terminates in an ornament resembling a rose on one side.

Capotes are much worn in half dress, particularly for the spectacle. A good many are composed of satin, covered with crape of the same colour; the crape is plaited en tuyaux, both on the crown and brim, the edge of which is finished by

a deep fall of white blond lace; two aigrettes, one placed in front, the other nearly behind, decorate the crown; a nœud of riband, or an ornament resembling a flower, but composed of riband, is placed between them.

Hats of canary yellow, or pale lavendercolour, are generally trimmed with black blond lace, and black ribands. One of the most novel half dress hats, is composed of black velvet; the crown is adorned with a drapery of violet satin, so arranged that the ends form rosettes, one nearly behind, the other on the right side of the bottom of the crown; from these rosettes issue two aigrettes, finished at the tips with small violet flowers.

Satin and velvet are worn both in half dress and evening dress; the only novelty that we have to announce in the first, is a redingote that attracted much admiration at the Italian Opera; it was composed of white satin; the corsage made to set close to the shape behind, but crossed in front, in folds which came from the shoulder, so as to display the upper part of the rich chemisette worn with it; the collar, made in the pelerine form, was cut iu three points, one of which fell low on the back, the others spread over the shoulders; the sleeve was made in the style of the sixteenth century, with a cuff consisting of a single, very deep point. A bouquet of roses, with their leaves in velvet, ornamented each point of the collar and sleeves; the front of the dress was trimmed from the waist downwards, with a revers of white satin, narrow at the ceinture, but gradually wider towards the bottom; this was cut out on each side in points, each decorated with a bouquet to correspond with that on the corsage.

The most novel bérets are of plain gauze, or crape, with a single feather placed under the brim, and falling back upon the crown.

Fashionable colours are violet, green, brown, vapeur, rose, ponçeau, drab-colour, grey, and different shades of dark red.

[blocks in formation]
[graphic][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »