Romantic Era Fashion Chit Chat - May 1830 The Ladies' Pocket Magazine

Romantic Era Fashion Chit Chat - May 1830 The Ladies' Pocket Magazine

Cursory Remarks on the Last New Fashions

The rich, but heavy, garb of winter is now completely laid aside; our elegantes have exchanged their velvets and satins for silks and muslins; though as yet, we see, comparatively, few dresses of the latter material, that is to say, in white, for colored muslins are coming generally into favor. Silk pelisses and high dresses are, however, more in request for the promenade. The former are made in a plain style, and have either a pelerine to correspond, which is usually trimmed with fringe, or else one of lace, or richly embroidered muslin.

Straw and Leghorn bonnets are in favor in promenade dress, but the former are more generally seen in the early part of the day; they are mostly of a close shape, but always a good deal trimmed with rich figured ribbon. Leghorn bonnets are still more trimmed; they are quite as large as the velvet and satin ones, which have been just laid aside. Those of the bonnet shape are most in favor in walking dress, for though hats are worn in the promenade, they are by no means so much in request as bonnets. The same may be said with regard to silk bonnets, but hese latter are mostly confined to carriage dress.

Silks of different colors, and Leghorn are the materials most in favor for carriage hats and bonnets; they are always adorned with flowers, which are intermixed either with gauze ribbon, or else with noeunds of the material of the bonnet. A white gros des Indes hat which was trimmed with a large butterfly bow in front of the crown, and a bouquet of wild roses and ripe corn placed in the centre of the bow, struck us as being remarkably elegant. Another hat of pale citron colored gros de Naples was finished round the inside of the brim with a wreath of foliage, composed of white gauze ribbon, and the crown was most tastefully ornamented with a mixture of the same kind of foliage and blond lace.

White gowns are already much worn in carriage dress, but as yet they offer very little novelty, being principally remarkable for the richness and beauty of the embroidery which ornaments the border of the dress.

Crape, gauze, and China crape scarfs are much in favor in carriage dress. Our neighbours, the French, have given a spur to our industry in this respect, for which we ought to be very thankful. We began by imitating their goods, and we have ended by surpassing them. The truth of this observation will be evident to any one that takes the trouble of comparing the fancy articles of both nations.

Rose colored, blue, and citron colored book muslins begin to be in great favor in evening dress; they are generally worn over sarcenet slips to correspond, but sometimes the slip is of white satin. We saw the other evening one of these dresses made in a style at once so delicate and becoming that we beg to recommend it to our fair subscribers.

The corsage of the slip was cut rather higher in the centre of the bosom, than evening dresses usually are, but rather low round the back part of the bust and shoulders; it was finished round the bust by a full ruche of blond net. The body of the dress was open on each side, and disposed in folds so as to form a V in the centre of the bosom. The sleeve was of the double beret form, divided in the middle by a gold armlet of the antique form, and of very massive construction. The trimming of the skirt consisted of a ruche of same material as the dress, arranged round the border to correspond with the bust, but instead of being palced above the hem, it was laid in it, and being very deep, the points reached nearly to the edge of the skirt. The ceinture was of white ribbon spotted with rose color, and finished at the ends with feather fringe.

Fashionable colors are green, rose color, French grey, citron, and sky blue.