Records of the Beau Monde.

FASHIONS FOR MAY, 1828.

EXPLANATION OF THE PRINTS OF THE FASHIONS.

EVENING DRESS.

OVER a white satin slip, a dress of tulle; a broad bias fold surrounds the border, of satin; over which fall Spanish points of the same material, ornamented lightly round the edge with gold, a delicate chainwork of which is placed on the hem of the skirt next the shoe. The body is of white satin, finished down each side of the bust by fichu robings of tulle edged with blond. The sleeves are of tulle, à la Marie; the fullness confined by a narrow gold chain; and a very broad Hindoostanee bracelet surrounds the wrist, fastened by an antique cameo head. The coiffeure is || a turban of white satin and crape, with a drooping white feather on the right side; and a few short white feathers play over the summit. The shoes are of white satin.

CARRIAGE DRESS.

A HIGH dress of gros de Naples, of cornflower-blue, with the body made high, and stomacher formed by narrow robings, with Spanish points on the outside, next the arms. The border of the skirt is surrounded by a broad bias fold, headed by points, which, as they turn over the bias, stand out distinct from the dress. The sleeves are very full, and à la Marie; the fullness confined by bands of the same material as the dress. Two bracelets en

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droops over the left side of the brim. The strings are of yellow ribbon, are very broad, and fastened very backward under the brim; they float over the shoulders, as low as the hips.

The ear-pendants are of gold; and half-boots, of corn-flower-blue corded silk, complete the dress.

PARISIAN EVENING DRESS.

A gros de Naples dress of pistachiogreen, bordered by one deep flounce, scalloped at the edge, and embroidered in floize silk, with the darkest shade of myrtle green: this flounce is headed by Spanish points, embroidered in the same manner as the edge. The body is made slightly en gerbe, with a pointed zone, the same colour as the dress, bound with dark myrtle-green. The sleeves are à la Marie, with the fullness divided and confined by narrow bands, and the wrists are encircled

by two bracelets; that next the hand is formed of cameos, and the upper one consists of a gold chain. A pelerine of white satin, ornamented in quarters with green rouleaux, and trimmed round the edge and at the throat by a double frill of broad blond, fastens behind. A hat of pink gros de Naples is overshadowed by a very beautiful plumage of white feathers. The hat is placed on one side, and under the part of the brim which is elevated, on the right side, is a feather, and on the left, which reclines, another feather waves gracefully over the throat; the remainder, which compose the plumage, play, in various directions, over the front of the hat.

circle each wrist; they are very broad, of gold, and are both fastened by a cameo, Round the throat, surmounting the dress, is a frill of pointed lace. The hat worn with this costume, is of white gros de Naples, tastefully trimmed with gauze and blond, and ornamented with bird-ofParadise-yellow ribbons, and the blue. flower "Forget-me-not." Two small marabout feathers, with a rosette of yellow ribbon, are placed on the right side, || barbel-blue, with stripes of delicate foliage under the brim; three of these feathers, very short, and forming a panache, are placed on the same side, at the summit of the crown; and one feather, rather longer, ||

FRENCH CARRIAGE DRESS.

A PELISSE of figured silk, the ground of

of very dark mazarine-blue. Ornaments resembling bâtons, formed of rouleaux of blue satin, are crossed over each other, and are placed from the throat to the feet,

composing the favourite heraldic-trimming, of chevrons-brises. The body is madet ight to the shape, with a narrow French collar, surmounted by a double frill of lace. The hat, which is round, with an extended brim, is of gros de Naples, the colour mazarine-blue; and it is trimmed with a simple ornament across the crown, en bateau, with a full rosette under the brim, on the right side, with two ends. Two white feathers, one on the summit of the crown, of light and gossamer quality, the other more full, and floating over the brim, on the opposite side, complete the ornaments on the hat. The sleeves of the pelisse are à la Marie, with bracelets of wrought gold, fastened by a cameo head. The ear-rings and neck-chain are also of wrought gold: to the latter are suspended a watch and seals.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

ON

FASHIONS AND DRESS. BALLS, splendid evening parties, musicmeetings, and grand dinners, are now in all their brilliancy; and though we still must lament over the great number of absentees belonging to the modish world, we have among us, and now in our metropolis, many of those illustrious members of high rank and wealth, in whom Fashion must ever find her most authentic and elegant resources.

the colours are chaste and unobtrusive; the trimming very slight, and the skirt is fastened down the front with rosettes, or imperceptibly by springs underneath, on one side.

Black velvet bonnets are now fast declining: they have been replaced by those of silk; generally of becoming, unobtrusive colours, more of a dark than of a light tint, or in anywise glaring. They are trimmed with bows of a more lively ribbon, of a very contrary, yet suitable colour to the hat, in rich satin stripes. They are still large; nor is it likely now that the hats or bonnets will decrease in size, as they are always, judiciously, large, as the summer sun becomes more ardent. A few, but very few, Leghorn bonnets have appeared, of a new shape, trimmed lightly with spring ribbons. They have a distinguished appearance; and their form is very much like that of the village bonnet. As yet, they have been seen only on the heads of very young ladies. We are assured by the fashionmongers, that flowers will form a favourite ornament on all hats this summer; and they are, certainly, more attractive in that season, than in any other. The new silk bonnets are often encircled at the edge of the brim with a broad blond, falling over the face, either white or black, according to the colour of the bonnet. White hats, or bonnets, of watered; or figured gros de Naples, have been seen in carriages, ornamented with spring flowers.

Nothing is reckoned more elegant for half-dress, than a gown, made only partially high, of Navarino smoke (a shade lighter than the fumée de Londres) the material, gros de Naples. The border is trimmed with a broad bias fold of black velvet, cut in square notches at the top: the body is in the Anglo-Greek style, the stomacher part, on each side of the bust, being formed of black velvet, notched to correspond with the bias at the border: the front of the stomacher terminates in a point at the base, but not so ridiculously long as that of the corsages à la Marie Stuart. The sleeves are finished at the wrists by a very broad, black velvet cuff, ascending almost as high as the elbow. On this ornament, on the outside of the

During the commencement of April, the cold was so intense, that the female form in out-door costume was enveloped in all the appendages belonging to a rigorous winter. Well wadded mantles, and cachemire shawls, imparted warmth and comfort to our fair pedestrians, and also graced the carriage; we say, graced, because the adoption was instigated by prudence, after a winter unusually mild; and women should always reflect, that when health is lost, and the lips and nose chapped and disfigured by cold, beauty is no more. The muff, the Russian-mantelet-cape of fur, were yet prevalent, as were the furred boots lined with flannel, and the Indian mocassins drawn over the dress shoe. The new pelisses prepared for the spring are of rich sarcenet, which is of lighter texture than gros de Naples, arm, is very thickly set a row of gold Almeida buttons, beautifully wrought. 2 G

and is more suited to the verdant season:

No. 41.-Vol. VII.

Dresses of puce-coloured, and of violet and who are yet young enough to appear gros de Naples, with three rows of flounces, without a cap, consist of jewels, in diadeeply festooned, the bust ornamented || dem, and other ornamental combs, strings with very narrow rouleaux, forming coral of pearls, flowers, and bows of ribbon; branches, are also much in favour for the yet so common is the fashion of going above style of dress. Poplins, batiste, without à cap, even among the lower and tastefully-figured chintzes, with bor- classes, that ladies of distinction and real ders, or flounces, representing in their elegance always preserve the exposure patterns those of the Indian cachemires, of their tresses to the style of full dress. prevail much in home costume. White, The elegant fichu of unrivalled blond, now whether of figured tulle, gauze, or white | adorned only with a few tasteful bows of satin, seems most admired for the evening || richly-striped gauze ribbon, while it disparty: the tulle and gauze dresses, when covers the clustered curls, bows, and ringthe body is of the same material, do not, || lets, nevertheless chastens their exuberant in that portion of the form, by any means display, and is highly approved for halfset it off; though, certainly, it is the most dress, and for the theatre; while the dressimportant. The waist is made too long; hat, of white crape, ornamented with and a clumsy appearance is given to it, sprigs of pearls and tails of the bird-ofby the front being laid in very full, though Paradise, and light ornaments of crape small plaits, across: these are confined and blond, or the tasteful hat of white downwards, by very narrow rouleaux of satin, with plumes of ostrich feathers, satin; so that there is no distinctiveness decorate the boxes at the opera, the dingiven to the contours, howsoever beautiful ner-party of ceremony, and sometimes they may naturally be. Infinitely to be the evening gala. We certainly think, preferred, is a corsage of white satin, fitting however, that both for the dress dinnerclose to the shape, with a bouffont drapery party, and the evening, turbans are of tulle, or gauze, just across the upper more suitable; and we saw one lately, at part of the bust, which imparts grace to an evening assembly, of a very splendid every shape. We saw a lady at a dress description: it was of white and silver dinner-party, whose costume pleased us gauze, intermingled with gauze of a extremely. It was of pink crape, very || bright geranium scarlet, on which were elegantly finished at the border with fluted roses figured in gold: the turban was ornaments, set on in wavings, and com- folded in the Ottoman style; and in front, posed of crape and pink satin; the satin between the two divisions, was a splendid was of a very rich sort; and its opposite aigrette of diamonds; whence arose, and texture to the light material of crape then depended over the left side, a superb, formed a beautiful effect. The body was but very delicate white plumage, of some made low, and the sleeves, which were rare foreign bird; the light sprays of long, were worn over short ones of white which resembled those in the tail of the satin, and were ornamented at the wrists || bird-of-Paradise. The caps, and turbanto correspond with the trimming on the caps, worn by our matrons, are still in skirt. An elegant fichu-tucker of crêpe- || favour; the latter are appropriate to any lisse, trimmed with blond, was worn under style of dress, except déshabille; and for the dress, and in front of the bust was a those ladies who do not admire either most splendid brooch, in the form of a dress-hats or turbans, they are well bouquet, of valuable pearls. On the fine adapted to the evening rout, and even to dark hair of this lady was a vibrating sprig the ball-room, when worn by ladies who of the same material, and long pear-pearl do not dance. As these head-dresses rings ornamented her ears. A few dresses should be placed backward, the hair reof white gauze, with coloured satin stripes,|| quires to be well dressed, or they are have been observed in ball-rooms, but rendered unbecoming. white is most in favour.

The favourite colours are violet, puce,

· Head-dresses for the evening party,|| Navarino-brown, or smoke; scarlet, pink, among those ladies who have good hair, meadow-green, fawn-colour, and blue.