Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 19 March 1860, page 6


FASHIONS FOR JANUARY.

(FROM HE FOLLEY.)

Alster lots for evening dress or full toilette are

very magnificent this winter- nob silks, velvets, plush, and taffetas of a particular make. The silks for visiting dress are of two kinds plain, or with brocaded bouquets and velvet. The taffetas Imperatrico, reps, Pekin velvet, taffetas with velvet flowers, a now satin with an exceedingly bright surface and those beautiful fabrics, with gold or silver intermixed, which are so peculiarly adapted for ball dress-are all made with silver bouillonncos skirts, sometimes ornamented with

i flowers or bows of ribbon. The bodies, which are of

course low, have several ruches, 01 nie trimmed with lace. The sleeves are short and very small, and have bouillons of tulle ; or the sleeve of tulle,

with ruches round it.

Many woollen dresses mont the preference they obtain. They have small black stripes upon great, brown, drap, French blue ground, or with Pompadour flowers or small brass checks The material is thick, without being heavy. Reds and poplin are either figured or plain.

For walking dress, a new fashion has been adopted by the court. The waist is round, short in the front, and very long behind, the skirt to suit being shortened in front, and with a train

behind.

Various kinds of trimmings are used passed menterie, bows, velvet ornaments, lace, net' work, plaits, and guipure. Thus we find lace (point de Genes) and wide passementerie placed upon a high body across both back and front to the height of a low body. The skirts have some times a band from about His. to him., in width, gradually diminishing to the waist;

placed in front, made of passementerie, guipure or point de Genes. Buttons, fourragères, epaulettes, and bows like cigarettes upon the shoulders or in front of the body and skirt, are still in vogue, also a trimming of guipure mixed with jet beads, in the front of the skirt, and a pelerine which covers the half of the body, forming a point at the back, fastened at the throat, and falling open in, two points on the chest ; also two bands for gullies meeting at the waist, and opening in' front down the skirt. This kind of ornament is very suitable on velvet. Bright steel buttons'

are ''used ohio, or buttons or precious stones. 1 Upon satin, taffetas antique, or striped poplin; ' thÖ"buttotis mo made of passementerie, surrounded

by tulle. lace, and mixed with jet. ' Dresses are often trimmed at the bottom with wide borders of passementerie, or velvet sewed in a network, or in other designs ; sometimes it is * 1 band of velvet, wide, or several bands of different

widths. 1 The material is also bouillon round dresses' with a double heading. Plisse a la ville is now a little common ; a wide band of quilted is very distingue. These borders are very useful and freshening addresses which may have been a little damaged at the bottoms now they are worn. so long' They also speak of putting a breadth of a, different colour down the sides of the dresses. J '

Dresses are made as full as ever, and set in large plants and although the petticoats are dùcidedly worn smaller than they were, at present there is no appearance of crinoline being altogether discarded. Ribbons are always used much in trimming. Funds are universally in favour ; instead of buckles a kind of clasp is worn. The newest are those made in imitation of Kussiiiu or By Kantine jewels, gold enamelled, in various designs. The

shape of bonnets is at length decided. The front is long, round, advancing over the forehead, and very much thrown back at the cars. The curtain is rather narrow. In general they are very much trimmed, indeed,' overcharged with trimmings, but the best houses and old this fault, although they all use large A velvet flowers,

plaister scarfs of velvet, fastened at the side' with rosettes of black or coloured feathers. Long 1 netted feathers, velvet scarfs with fancy fringes,

or long ends of lace fall at the sides. ' - '

Plaits of gold and velvet, with long tassels of fancy gold ornaments, are much worn, and form an elegant head-dress ; they form a diadem, still' fall over the right shoulder. Sometimes strings of peak 1 beads are added, but generally the gold and velvet produce the best effect.. "j

Nets are still worn. We have seen some good ' nets with small are coats, and black meets. with'

gold medallions, which are very elegant.