Paris Fashions for July 1860 — Illustrated London News (date): 217.
Commentary and captions from the Illustrated London News
In confluence of the extraordinary continuance of unfavourable weather the summer modes hare a great difficulty this year in making their ordinary début, much to the regret of the Parisians, as well, doubtless as to that of many of our fair readers; and the modistes have joined in the complaints made by many other commercial branches on account of the dulneas of the spring, which has been one of the most unprolific in the annals of female dress during the present century. Like good generals, however, the dressmakers of the French capital have not been idle in making their arrangements for the summer campaign, in which they may justly hope to moke up for lost time. They and the linendrapers have entered with spirit upon the summer operations, as witness the large and beautiful stocks of light silks of all descriptions, barèrge dresses of the most tasteful patterns, and a collection of gazes de Chambéry that renders a selection difficult. A still greater difficulty, however, will occur in the choice of the bonnets, for they are as rich in variety as they are elegant in their composition. It may be well to remark that they are of somewhat larger size than those worn in Paris during the spring, and of greater proportions in all respects than the small adhering chapeaux that grace the heads of our fair countrywomen. Of the two selected from a magasin of the Rue Richelieu we give a short description. The first was a rice-chip, with lace bavolet and black velvet bow and ends in the centre of it, and an elegant white rolling feather; the tour-de-teête composed of lace aud daisies mixed with black velvet, the flower over the centre of the forehead surmounted by gilt stars. The second, equally charming, was of white silk; blonde fall, cap of blue flowers and bfonde, bottom of the crown relieved by blue flowers and velvet bow, tho latter enlivened with one or two of the gilt ornaments just now, it would seem, de rigueur.
We cannot believe that this yellow invasion of earrings, waist-bonds, and buckles is destined for a long existence; for if such were the case European ladies would eventually look more like the fair sex in New Zealand than denizens of that quarter of the globe in which civilisation has hitherto been considered as marching nand in hand with good taste.
The Illustrations
Fig. 1. Walking Dress. — Light grey striped silk robe, with flat, high-necked, and round corsage, and plain skirt; the waistband fastened with a Byzantine buckle. Scarf-mantelet of the same material as the dress, trimmed with a small flounced edging. Muslin collar and sleeves. Bonnet of whito tulle, sloping rather sharply towards tho ears, and ornamented with a cap composed of small rosebuds and blonde.
Fig. 2. Dress for an Evening Party. — This dress is also of silk, but light-blue in colour and low-necked ns to the cordage, which is brought to a point at the bottom of the chemisette. The chemisette itself is laitcd, and bordered with Valenciennes lace insertion. Plain skirt. ic sleeves arc very short, and consist simply of a small flounce falling gracefully over large lace sleeves drawn in at the wrist and fastened by a bracelet. Tho headdress is composed of a row of jet beads, terminated by silk bows corresponding in colour with the robe.
Fig. 8. Dress for a Young Lady. — The skirt of this convenient dress is of piqué, having a white ground sprinkled over with small Pompadour flowers. As in the preceding Illustration, the jupe is quite plain. Tho casaque is of light-coloured flannel, very long-waisted, descending to a point, and fastened with buttons. The sleeves, close-fitting at the top, gradually increase in width, and are drawn in at the wrist, which is fastened with an elastic bracelet. Plain linen collar. Headdress of black velvet in the back hair, enlivened by a few of the before-mentioned gilt trinkets.
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Last modified 22 November 2015