Page:Peterson's Magazine 1842, Volume I.pdf/6



No. 1.

THERE is unusual taste displayed, this winter, by the elegantes both here and in Europe. The London and Parisian fashions for the winter are characterized by spirit, elegance, and great variety. In nothing, perhaps, has more taste been displayed than in the various patterns for carriage and walking dresses, which have emanated from the shops of London and Paris, or been planned in the boudoirs of the European fashionables. The most beautiful carriage dress of the season is the one brought out by the Marchioness of Abercorn. It consists of an under dress of grey pou de soie, perfectly plain and simply elegant, over which is worn a manteau of velours Persans, the form somewhat resembling the capuchon, and falling into two long ends in the front; this is trimmed all round with fur de queues de Canada, forming the arm-holes, and trimmed round the shoulders, so as to give it the appearance of a small pelerine, fastening close down the front; a high tight chemisette is worn underneath, manchettes in lace a point d'Alençon. Bonnet of emerald green byzantine, the form of the front shallow in the centre, and very low and round at the ears; the brim ornamented with folds of green velvet, placed at distances. A long flat green ostrich feather, curled at the tips, falls gracefully low on the left side.

An elegant style of London walking dress is composed of satin gris, having a facing of velvet, cut in rounded points, edged with a ruche of satin; the body high up to the throat, where it is finished by a velvet collar, half high, shading the throat. The sleeves tight, and finished at the top with two epaulettes of velvet placed one over the other, each edged with a ruche en suite, which also surrounds the wrist. A chapeau of velvet of a pale blue, the inside having a fulling of lace, descending on each side in the form of long lappets; the crown tastefully decorated on each side with a saule plume.

There is every variety of morning, evening, and public promenade dresses. In our PLATE, besides several specimens of bonnets, hats, head-dresses, &c. we give one of the many varieties of short cloaks, as well as an evening and public promenade dress. The description of the carriage dress of the Marchioness of Abercorn, given above, will be the best guide for those wishing the choicest pattern for the former. The evening dress, figure 2-is an organdy robe', over Pomona green pou de soie; the corsage, low and tight to the shape, is covered by a canezou a revers of the same material, embroidered and trimmed with an organdy volan, edged with lace. Short tight sleeve, covered with tucks to correspond. The skirt is ornamented with three rows of tucks; they are placed two together, each edged with lace, and each row surmounted by an embroidery in feather stitch. The head-dress is an English point lace lappet, placed far back upon the head, and arranged en bonnet, with the ends floating on the neck; the trimming is composed of a bandeau of green ribbon, arranged in nauds, in which flowers are placed at the sides. Emerald green silk scarf.

The public promenade dress, figure 3, is one of much taste, and will be in demand, especially for the warm sunny days which continually vary the tempestuousness of an American writer. Too little attention is paid by our ladies to the variableness of climate, but we hope that this evil will soon be corrected. A slavish imitation of foreign fashions, without regard to their fitness to our climate, is not to be recommended. Every lady should pay attention to the weather, and dress accordingly. This public promenade dress is one that ought to be-apart from its elegance-introduced into general favor. It is composed of a robe redingote of poussière gros de Naples: corsage, a three-quarter height, tight to the shape, and trimmed in the stomacher style, with cords and tassels, forming nœuds, at a short distance from each other; the same style of trimming is continued down the sides of the skirt. Tight sleeve. Cambric fichu en cœur, embroidered and trimmed with lace. White crape chapeau, an open brim, embroidered in a wreath of colored silks round the edge, and finished with

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