Page:Peterson's Magazine 1843, Volume III.pdf/44



Vol. III.

FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY. THE Costumes presented in our plate this month are of unusual beauty, and comprise varieties sufficient to satisfy the most fastidious. Fig. 1. represents a WALKING DRESS, worn with a shawl, splendidly fringed. Close-faced bonnet trimmed plain. Fig. 2. is an OPERA DRESS : the waist pointed. Over this is worn a short mantle, elegantly trimmed with fur. Head-dress of lace, ornamented with roses. Fig. 3. is a WALKING DRESS, half cloak, half pelisse, worn over a rich green silk, and lined with crimson. It is fringed all round, and adorned with tassels. Bonnet close to the face, and decked with marabouts.

WALKING DRESSES.-These are generally destitute of trimming, owing to their being concealed by the mantelet, camail or cloak. Corsage high and plain : sleeves and skirt to match. Velvet dresses are much worn , both for morning and evening toilette, and are made perfectly plain. The other materials in vogue are satins of different colors, China silks, Indian damasks ; levantines and pekins. We notice a costume made up of a dress of black satin, perfectly plain, and sitting close to the figure : over this is worn a surtout of French grey cachemire, fitting to the figure, and attached around the waist with cords and tassels ; long hanging Persian sleeve ; the cloak and sleeve lined throughout with blue gros de Naples, and bordered with round soutache embroidery capote of rich amber gros de Indes, the interior of the brim lined with white, and ornamented with three small puffs of ribbon, interspersed with small green sprigs ; the crown decorated with knots of amber velvet ribbon, and a fancy feather forming a half wreath on the front of the crown : muff of sable, lined with cherry color. Another costume is composed of a dress of blue Pekin silk, the skirt full and long, ornamented down the front with a soutache embroidery, having a row of large buttons decorating the centre ; the sleeves ornamented to match: manteau of rich chocolate satin, opening on each side as well as the front, attached as far as the arm-hole with a broad rouleau or silk cord, finished with a nœud and tassels of the same ; small round collar ; the whole of the mantle surrounded with a broad bias of velvet, headed with a vandyke of narrow silk braid, the lining white taffetas : capote of white velours épinglé, lined with pale pink, the left side trimmed with puffings of white velours épinglé ribbon, surmounting a small bouquet of roses, the puffings of ribbon reaching from the roses to the nœud behind.

BALL DRESSES are now much sought after. We have seen one made of white crêpe, trimmed with an embroidery of ponceau silk and Grecian gold, the dress forming three tunics. Another of three jupes, each embroidered in gold lama ; pointed waist ; tight low body and short sleeves, surrounded with a double square cape, embroidered to match ; coiffure of rich blue velvet, decorated with pearls and a double plume of white ostrich feathers, the under plume falling very low on the left side : this head-dress is worn very much on one side : hair in ringlets. We have noticed also an Evening Dress of a delicate lilac peach-colored satin, the jupe very full, and doubly gauged round the waist ; the bottom of the jupe trimmed with two deep pieces of velvet, of a shade darker than the satin, each piece being on the bias, and divided with a deep flouncing of white lace ; the corsage low, and fitting tight to the figure ; waist à pointe, the top of the corsage ornamented with a double fall of lace ; short tight sleeves, trimmed to match. Another Evening Dress is of rich pink satin, trimmed handsomely round the jupe, with a broad flouncing of sable, headed by one rather narrower, which continues up each side of the front, narrowing toward the point of the waist ; corsage and short sleeves, fitting tight to the figure, and ornamented with sable trimmings ; waist à pointe. The hair arranged in bows behind, and caught with gold cord and tassels. Scarf of striped lama muslin.

BONNETS for promenade are of middling size, decorated with feathers shaded, the same color as the ribbon. Half dress bonnets are of velours royal, blue sapphire, gris Mineral, vert de gris, straw or citron color, and ornamented with marabouts : the interior trimmed with velvet ribbons of a light and lively color. In form, bonnets have undergone a slight change at the ears, t