Romantic Era Fashion Chit Chat - September 1829 The Ladies' Pocket Magazine

Romantic Era Fashion Chit Chat - September 1829 The Ladies' Pocket Magazine

Cursory Remarks on the Last New Fashions

There are but few changes now to be looked for in fashion's hemisphere, at this season. Whatever advancement may take place in what is really tasteful and elegant in female attire, is but slight; we shall therefore record only what is most in general favor, except where there has been, in some few instances, any marked alteration.

Printed muslins and chintzes were very prevalent during the month of August, and are likely to be still in request at the commencement of September for half dress; the grounds of these materials are of the most delicate and beautiful tints, and they have often a running pattern of variously-colored Indian flowers; the most admired, however, is of the lightest shade of pea-green, with a delicate figure on it of dark violet. Dresses of muslin, generally clear, and trimmed with lace, and those of colored crape, or gauze, over slips of white satin, are most prevalent at balls in the country. The dresses are, for the most part, made square, across the bust, with a drapery a la Sevigne, and are cut very low on the shoulders. At dress parties, many ladies partially cover this nude appearance by an elegant pelerine of blond, with a frill border of very handsome Vndyked blond. THe petticoats are stll worn short, and the skirts of the gowns are set in, very full round the waist. e favourite long sleeves are yet a l'imbecille; and at the top are frill mancherons.

The hair is arranged in ringlets, or clustered curls, next the face, as best accords with the fancy or features of the wearer; plaited braids and bows adorn the summit of the head: a few flowers are interspersed with the tresses, on particular occasions; but according to that simplicity of style, usually observed in the country, during the summer months, young ladies seldom add any ornament to the native beauty of a fine head of hair, well dressed. Dress hat are often of white crape, trimmed with white satin ribbon: they are generally ornamented with bouquets of field-flowers, or with garden-lilies. A wide bonnet of pink figured satin is much admired for morning visits; it is elegantly trimmed on the crown with large bows of white gauze ribbon, with pink satin stripes, and a superb white broad blond falls from the edge of the brim: we mention this among the dress hats, for it is too conspicuous for any gentlewoman to wear at the summer promenade. The blond caps worn in home costume are very tasteful, - they are seldom seen with flowers; but the ribbons with which they are trimmed are very rich and beautiful, both as to color and design: they are elegantly ornamented with these, and more in taste than in profusion.

A favourite out-door covering is a pelerine of black velvet, or one the same as the dress, if that dress is of gros de Maples: these graceful auxiliaries are of an entire new form to those worn last autumn, - they are pointed at the termination behind, and from thence carried up on each side, in a gradual direction; the ends in front, which are confined under the sash, reach nearly to the feet: the pelerine, when of black velvet, is lined throughout, with bright rose-color, cherry-color, or rock-geranium, in sarcenet. For young persons, nothing is more fashionable for the promenade than a petticoat of Levantine, or gros de Naples, with a white muslin Spencer, with very full sleeves. Silk pelisses are now becoming more general, - the most beautiful we have seen was the green of the reversed side of the sage-leaf; it was elegantly finished round in ruche trimming, about the bust and down the front where it closed, which was on one side: next to this we admired one of fawn-colored taffety, made extremely plain, and fitting close to the form. An open pelisse also of figured gros de Naples, of a puce-color, looks well at this season over a handsomely embroidered muslin petticoat. The hats and bonnets are worn very backward, but have all a deep blond at the edge of the brim, which partially conceals the face, which, without this appendage would be entirely exposed. On light blue silk bonnets, and also on those of Hortensia, and of pink, many ladies have now lain aside the white blond at the edge, and substituted the black: this may be more accordant with the declining season, but is not near so becoming as the white. Veils are worn with bonnets that are without trimming. When flowers are worn in carriage hats, they are generally of the harvest kind, with a few ears of corn, in bouquets.

The favourite colors are sage-leaf-green, marsh-mallow-blossom, fawn-color, buff, pink, and etherial-blue.