FASHIONS FOR APRIL,

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 286, 17 July 1860, Page 3

FASHIONS FOR APRIL,

{From' Le Fottet.) The Zouave Jacket still reigns triumphant in the fashionable world. Those of velvet will give place to materials of lighter texture. They are now being made in taffetas, and also in cashmere of different colours, principally of China blue, violet, and white. The colours used for those of taffetas are" blue, white, rose, maize, and any one of the lighter shades, so that it harmonises with the rest of the toilette. The black taffeta Zouave - is always simple and pretty, and has the advantage of being quite free from any eccentricity of appearance. These jackets are no longer quilted, but simply lined, with taffetas of a contrasting shade. Thus the black or white, with colored silk—the colored with white; The lining is bordered with a; narrow ruche of the same color, generally placed so that it shows a little beyond the edge, and the outside has a trimming of narrow guipure round it, which falls over the ruche. The embroideries of gold or silver give to these a more particular styfe, which many ladies do not admire. A little later in the season iwe Bhall find them made in muslin for summer dresses. We even now meet with them in lace for soirees or. dinner dress. > Round the foundation, which is generally of tulle, is a broad lace falling over the dress, forming a flounce pr ruche. The sleeves are made very large, and opened up, and trimmed round with lace, and, when dressily worn, have no under sleeves, but leave the arm uncovered. The following is a description of a Zouave jacket, made for full dress, for a lady somewhat advanced in years, for whom it was particularly becoming. ■ . _. <»It was of white moire antique, made low behind and very open in front, so as to show the whole of the stomacher. The sleeves were open, back and front, and laced with gold cord. The. under sleeves were very bouillonnees, and trimmed with small rosettes of ribbon, matching the color of the dress. The jacket was braided with thick white sLUtbraidaad gold flat braid, ia bows* one over

the other. Altogether,'this had a charming effect. Morning dresses are still worn with closed high bodies, and trimmed with ruches; but;fdi' demitoilettes, some wear them open in front, but not far down. i " Skirts continue to be trimmed with a number of narrow flounces, or with a wide one, having several narrow as a heading. A rather more novel style of trimming is that of narrow flounces, parted at the bottom of the skirt, and taken up to the waist between each breadth. In taffetas, of rather a deep shade, this looks very well. '.''"'