Early Victorian Era Fashion Chit Chat - October 1859 Peterson's Magazine

Early Victorian Era Fashion Chit Chat - October 1859 Peterson's Magazine General Remarks As will be seen by our fashion plate, velvet will be very generally used as a trimming for winter dresses. This is an expensive ornament, but very rich and effective. Silks of solid colors will be very much worn with velvet trimmings. ONe of the most elegant dresses made recently in Paris was of Pearl-grey silk, with the skirt laid in large plaits behind, and slightly tending to form a train; it was trimmed at about twelve inches from the bottom with a deep quilling of silk, having between all the plaits a light red velvet forming at top a small loop fastened by a button, and at bottom a larger loop and an end fastened by a similar button. The sleeves, which were wide, lined with white, and tending to form a point, were trimmed with the same ornament as the bottom of the skirt. The body was plain, buttoned, with a large bow of light red velvet at top, and the opening of the pockets was marked by a wide, red velvet, and a row of ruched silk crossed by velvet. For Evening Dress, velvet of light colors is also employed. A very pretty dress for a young lady has been made of white tarletane, and has thirteen flounces, each bordered with a row of narrow rose-color velvet. The corsage, low and pointed in the centre of the waist, is covered by a berthe forming a point before and behind, and trimmed with rose-color velvet. The sleeves are short, and formed of two frills edged with velvet. Another very beautiful dress has just been made of lilac-colored silk. This dress has a low corsage and short sleeves. Over it is to be worn a canezou of white tulle. The body of the canezou is composed of puffings crossed at regular intervals by rows of very narrow black velvet. The sleeves consist of nine puffs, extending from the shoulder to the wrist, where they are finished by a small mousquetaire cuff; the puffs on the sleeves are separated by rows of black velvet. Some of the bodies lately made are cut open in front, to show a richly worked chemisette underneath, but the fashion has by no means become general yet. In fact, as the cold weather approaches, the tendency will most probably be to have the dresses cut quite close up to the throat. Sleeves still retain the pagoda form, in a great measure, particularly for the better style of dress: though for out-of-door wear, we are assured, the tight sleeve will be adopted during the winter. Flounces will not be so much worn during the coming winter as heretofore, or only one deep flounce will be worn. Velvet is much employed for evening head-dresses. Torsades of velvet and gold have a very rich and elegant effect. A bandeau of this description should be finished at the back of the head by a bow with long ends, finished with gold fringe, or tassels. A head-dress just introduced in Paris consists of a sort of coronet composed of plaited rolls of Azoff-green velvet. On one side there is a lappet of black lace, and on the other two small bouquets of the tea-rose. Caps suitable for dinner or evening demi-toilet are frequently made of colored crape, and trimmed with puffings of white tulle, amidst which are interspersed bouquets of flowers. For morning costume, caps are made on a foundation of colored silk, and covered with black or white lace. Green or lilac, with black lace, have a very pretty effect. Bonnets are worn somewhat longer in the head, with very large silk or velvet side bows, and wide flowing strings to match. The wreath of lilac or cherry-colored flowers, which nearly surround the face, are very fashionable; sometimes the flowers alternate with jet ornaments or black velvet, which produces a good effect.