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

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

Cursory Remarks on the last new Fashions

Comfort seems to be the order of the day, as far as regards out-door costume among our fair fashionables. Muffs, tippets, and mantles keep their ground most pertinaceously. Bonnets have suffered some change, both in carriage dress, and for the promenade. Velvet is still the material most in favor for the latter: they are the same size as last month; but the capote shape is most prevalent: it is certainly the most appropriate for walking dress. The most elegant of these bonnets are finished with a curtain veil of black blond lace, round the edge of the brim.

Hats are most in favor in carriage dress: those composed of velvet, are ornamented with bows of the same materials, intermixed either with very rich colored ribbon, or feathers; but the latter predominates: satin, and figured gros de Naples, are also in request, particularly citron and cherry-color: hats, composed of these materials, are very much trimmed: some have large full bows to correspond with the hat, finished at the end with a very rich fringe: others have the crowns arranged en draperie, with blond lace: they are all, more or less, trimmed inside the brim: the most becoming, are those that have a fulness of blond lace arranged next the face, and terminating with bows of ribbon at the sides.

A new dress for the breakfast table, and one that is likely to become a favorite, is composed of dark lavender-colored poplin; it is made to the throat, but without a collar: the back part of the corsage is tight; the front is disposed in three deep folds on each side, which are continued to the bottom of the skirt: the sleeve is a l'Amadis: the hem is very broad, and the upper edge of it is finished with two rows of deep points, which are placed irregularly, and fall over.

Watered, and changeable silks and satins, are in favor in full dress. Various new trimmings have appeared; but fringe, though now so long in fashion, is still the favorite. Gowns, in full dress, continue to be cut very low round the bosom: some ladies, and we wish the fashion were more general, have the bosom delicately shaded by folds of tulle, or blond net disposed round the upper part of the corsage; this is equally delicate and becoming. Sleeves are very short and full in grand costume; the most elegant, are those which have an upper sleeve a la Marino Faliero; these sleeves are of two descriptions, some hang quite loose in the oriental stile, others equally full, are confined in the middle of the arm by a gold bracelet, or a rouleau, and the remaining part of the sleeve which is cut like a ruffle, hangs loose.

If the dress is not finished with fringe round the border, it has a row of embroidery above the hem, or a drapery flounce of blond lace, or tulle trimming en bouillon, also after having been for some time out of fashion, have been recently introduced, the bouillons are formed by rouleaux placed in various ways.

Fancy black is very much in favor for social parties: the dress is either of satin, or gros de Naples: the trimming is fringe of some bright rich color, or else a party-colored chain, or rouleaux disposed in various forms. Dresses for social parties are usually made partially high, or else a lace pelerine fichu is worn with the dress.

Ball dresses, are of gauze or crape, a good many have the corsage of satin. When that is the case, they are simply finished round the border with three narrow satin rouleaux, placed immediately above the hem.

Caps are very much in favor in half dress, they are of a large size, and a most unbecoming shape. Many have a drapery across the crown, which is looped in different places with a single flower.

Caps are also in favor in full dress, but not so much so as toques and dress-hats. The hair continues to be dressed very high, and to be a good deal ornamented. Many head-dresses are composed of gauze, so arranged as to have nearly the appearance of berets; these are adorned with feathers, or if they have no ornament, then a sprig of roses is placed in the curls over the temples, or else a bandeau of gold or silver is brought low on the forehead.

Fashionable colors, are very bright chesnut, grass-green, pink, cirtron, and crimson.