FASHIONS FOR JULY. [From Le Follet.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 853, 5 October 1853, Page 5

FASHIONS FOR JULY. [From Le Follet.]

The adaptation of the fashion of past times to the costume of the present day contributes to produce most charming models. Thus, the dress worn in the fifteenth century by Marguerite of Provence — the flat body encircling the hips, — to which is added the sleeves of the time of Raphael, the coiffures of Elizabeth of England and Diana of Poictieis, and all tbe fancies of the times of Pompadour and Watteaa, form the becoming costume so much in demand at the present season. The lingerie creates quite a sensation ; but the immense variety, both in form and embroidery, renders it quite impossible to give anything like a lengthened detail. The peignoirs worn for morning in the country have a plastrou formed of insertions of embroidery and narrow tucks, and are composed of nansook, trimmed with deep-pointed embroidery and insertion of Valenciennes. Some ladies have their peignoirs of toile de Perse, or taffetas flambe, lined with gros de Naples. Casaques are still in favour ; they are of taffetas, trimmed with fringe, and worn over a skirt of English embroidered muslin. Morning traps are very small, with long floating strings; they are made of emlroidered muslin and narrow Valenciennes, or plain net insertions. The new comb with double galerie, just invented, may be' worn under these caps, as well as with all styles of coiffure ; and it is particularly pretty for evening dress with a wreath of flowers or a bouquet of roses. Evening dresses, for undress parties, are composed of white muslin, with three skirts trimmed with Mechin lace : of tarlatane trimmed with fringe : or taffetas skirts may be worn with muslin bodies. Walking or riding dresses aie high to the throat when made of taffetas. Printed muslin, bareges, and taffetas d'ltalie skirts are worn with .canezous of muslin, embroidered in small dots ; a taffetas shawl, edged round with stamped velvet and CbantilJy lace, clear muslin scarf, or barege scarf with fringe, or an echarpe-mantelet of taffetas with a ruche a la vieille upon a ground of black tulle. Leghorn btunet trimmed with ribbon, embroidered with fruit and flowers, or fancy straw trimmed with ribbon and straw flowers. In accordance with the season, tbe lightest tissues are being employed for robes ; and novelties, both in style and form, are sought after, and constantly invented. Rich silks are also employed for full dress robes, and are rendered more expensive by the prodigality ef diamonds with which they are ornamented. The little chaperons, a I'Elizabeth, are also much worn, and are equally ornamented with precious stones. Fancy straw is much used both for bonnets and trimmings. Rosettes of narrow pattern straw are mixed with ribbons both for outside and inside ornaments of these light and graceful bonnets. Capotes are often composed of a mixture of straw and taffetas, or tulle. Taffetas bonnets are also worked with an embroidery of straw in wreaths j or detached flowers. Young ladies' bonnets are | mostly composed of white taffetas ; the crowns are plaited en coquille, with a ruche of pinkfl taffetas across the head and edge of the front, which is made of a stripe of taffetas and one ol planed crepe lisse ; bunches of long ends of nar- , row white ribbon at each ear, and small flowers

inside. Black lace bonnets continue to be worn, and are mucb trimmed witb flowers and light colored fancy ribbons ; the crowns are loose, and floating in the fancbon style.