FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 127, 11 June 1853, Page 8

FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

(From Le Follet.) Ball dresses claim our first attention, though they are so varied and magnificent that it is with difficulty we can make the selection. It may be observed that bouillons continue very much employed as trimmings for the skirts, bodies, and sleeves. In speaking of these bouillons, we must observe that to give grace to them, they are often crossed at distances by wreaths of small flowers, ruches a la ville of ribbon, or leaves 01 ribbon. Tuniques are also much worn, either real, or marked on the skirt by ruches of tulle, or rows of lace fastened up at intervals by long floating ribbons, or hanging wreaths of small flowers, to match the coiffure.^ We have seen some beautiful dresses of this description, imitating the costume of the Illyrians and the Croats; but instead of being open in front, the sides are opened, fasteued together by zigzag lacing of pearl beads, showing the under skirt of crape trimmed with perpendicular bouillons. The body is also in two pieces, joined on the shoulder and down the arm in the same manner

as the skirt. Tulle robes with double skirts are trimmed deeply with bouillons of tulle, with dots of violet and gold leaves. The short bouffant sleeves are trimmed in the same manner; the waist is round, and the sash of gold Llama ribbon is tied on one side. Many tarlataiie robes have twelve or fifteen stripes of gold or silver tissue worked in the material. The skirts are double, the top one looped up with bows of ribbon with long floating ends, or by bouquets of mixed flowers. Gold and silver embroidery, mixed with rich shades of silk, upon tulle or organdi, are also much used for full dress. In this style may be seen robes of tarlatane worked with wreaths of small flowers in gold and silver, mixed with fuchsias in bright silks, which increase in size and width towards the waist. The bodies have a large bouquet embroidered on the front, spreading towards the shoulder. The sleeves are raised in drapery by bows of broche, gold, and puce ribbon, and are edged with a small embroidered wreath. The colours of the crape and tulle dresses, embroidered with gold and silver, are chiefly white, rose-coloured, blue, and maize. For eoiirt dresses, brocades, broches, with gold or silver, or the Pompadour Llame are much employed. There is a new material, called the robe imperiale, which is likely to become in great request. The make of walking dresses approaches nearer to the Puritan and Chatelaine style than the Louis XV, The bodies , are high, and closed either in front or behind. The waists are round, or ornamented with basques, deep only towards the back. The ballon sleeves are obtaining much success. They fit at the wrist, and are worn with cuffs and bracelets. On account of the round waists, the quasi empire and crossed bodies, .the skirts close on one side, A very elegant innovation, in trimming them with small silk buttons, like the sleeves. Evening dresses have the bodies drawn and cut low, a la Reine Horteuse, or a la vierge, flat at top, and drawn at the waist. The sleeves are short, formed of one or two bouffantes, and often trimmed at distances with small bows of ribbon, or buttons of pearl beads. We must now mention the bonnets, caps, and coiffures. The capote can never be styled ordinary or simple when the shape is becoming and the trimming tasteful. For instance a capote of satin, Cuba shade, quilted diagonally, and lined with quilted satin. The edge is of plain satin. The crown is composed of cogues of ribbon, which commence at the bottom of the crown at each ear and join on the summit of the head. A bow is placed on-the middle of the curtain. This capote is very beautiful, of white satin, but can only be worn in carriages. A wreath of nut roses, concealed under floats of blonde. They are of satin, with a stamped edge, to imitate quilting. Capote of bouffantes, alternately black and violet, separated by a small plait of black and violet velvet, placed at the edge of a narrow ruche of black lace. The crown is made "* of black lace and small rouleaux of black and violet velvet. A bouquet of black and violet ostrich feathers falls gracefully on either side. The curtain is like the front, and the inside 1 trimming is small tea rosebuds, separated by hows of black and violet velvet, with blonde. A bonnet of pink terry velvet and satin, A blond edge; the front of drawn satin, with two biases of scolloped terry velvet, the point edged with a wide white blonde, 'reaching the open edge. The crown is round, and covered with a fanchion of terry velvet, scolloped at the edge, and cut on the bias. Two pink feathers are placed at each ear, very near the edge of the bonnet, so as to turn inside and mix with the trimmings of the cap, which is of moss rosebuds and long black velvet ends. A more simple bonnet is of black velvet, trimmed with cogues of very broad groseille satin ribbons, mixed with cogues of black velvet. A blaok ostrich feather, knotted with groseille silk on the left side, and a bunch of velvet rings floating at the right ear.