Page:Peterson's Magazine 1842, Volume I.pdf/234



No. 1. THERE are several very beautiful styles out for this month. The season indeed is one of the most brilliant that has been for years. The latest and newest fashions will be found on looking at our plate, and we trust our fair readers will be satisfied with the varieties it illustrates. The following are the descriptions of the various costumes.

Fig. 1. A MORNING DRESS.—A morning robe de chambre, composed of figured Pekin blue silk, made perfectly loose, confined round the waist with a rich pink girdle, the front of the robings edged with pale pink crape to match; loose Persian short sleeve, bound also with pink; this robe de chambre is worn over an entire dress of Indian muslin, ornamented in the front with volants of rich work or lace reaching nearly to the waist; body edged with the same round the bust; a loose sleeve confined from the elbow to the waist with straps forming puffings.

Fig. 2. A WALKING DRESS.—A dress of rich Pekin à raies glacées, pink and lilac, made perfectly plain and high, and sitting close to the figure; Richelieu cape of the same material; the entire front of the dress and cape trimmed with four rouleaux, forming a perfect border; cordellierre of pink silk cord and rich tassels. Bonnet of pale primrose and white, the inside of the brim edged with a torsade of twisted areophane; the crown ornamented with a bouquet of small rose-buds and nœuds of ribbon.

Fig. 3. A PROMENADE DRESS.—Dress of gris pou de soie, the skirt made ample and open on one side, which is faced with a pale primrose, caught back with a button; the waist rather pointed and guaged in the centre of the body reaching to each of the shoulders; the sleeves are made rather full to the wrist, which is ornamented with a narrow rûche of white lace, the top of the sleeves decorated with folds of the same, forming a perfect top. Capote of pale primrose and white, the inside of the brim being very becomingly arranged, with a rûche of tulle running round the entire centre of the brim, and decorated with small flowers of the same color. A point d'Angleterre is thrown over the exterior, slightly shading the face; the crown ornamented with small bouquets of flowers of the same color.

There are patterns of dresses for still lighter material, but they are much after the same style. The half-figures, at the top of our plate, represent two of these lighter costumes-the centre capote, and shawl being particularly elegant. The bonnet to the left is also much worn. It is of pale primrose, the edge of the crown and brim being decorated with a twisted rouleau of gauze, giving a very light effect to the bonnet, which is also trimmed with flowers tastefully arranged. Chinese parasols are now all the rage, edged with either rich lace or fringe, and splendidly embroidered; the colors are mostly shot, and glacé, and of a light and becoming twist; the size of them smaller than ever.

We now proceed to give the latest London and Paris styles more in detail.

WALKING DRESSES.—A most becoming style of body and sleeves is now being made, showing the figure off to the greatest advantage. The corsage being composed of four successive rows of guagings, continuing to the waist, which is rounded; these guagings or fullings, instead of being across the bust (like those canezous now worn,) descend from the epaulet to the waist, diminishing in size, each row being separated from the side by a double rouleau of cord of the same material as the dress. The body is made high, the centre part being plain, and forming a lengthened heart. The sleeves are made in the same manner, being formed by four fullings or guagings longitudinally to the wrist, which is without a band of any kind. This sleeve has the advantage of giving a rounded appearance to the arm, and taking off that plainness which some ladies so much object to in the tight sleeve. This style of body is seen to great advantage when made up in light textures, it being either adapted for evening dresses, or for pelisse robes. Dresses of silk, of taffetas, and of moire

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