PARIS FASHIONS.
(From our own Correspondent.)
The summer changes begin to get more frequent and decided, and toilettes are in preparation fit for the country and for travelling. Deep pique jackets with skirts to match are likely to be very fashion- able, and out of Paris this style is adopted by children, and by children of a greater growth. There is nothing more convenient for a walking dress, as it does away with all necessity for mantles or shawls. These ea- segues, as they are called, are generally made of that good and durable ma- terial known as pique, and maize is one of the most favorite colours. Sometimes the pique has a small coloured pattern running over it, and then the casaque is trimmed down the front, where it fastens, and bound with a white washing braid. When the piqué is whole coloured, it can be braided ; Arabian designs are preferred to any others. This descrip- tion of dress is exclusively negligee.
For visiting, dining, and evening costumes, there is nothing so light and appropriate as mousseline-de-soie. The skirts should be trimmed with two extremely deep flounces, and these flounces in their turn co- vered with two or three smaller flounces ; which are arranged in waving lines or vandykes. The effect of this is, that the wearer looks as if she had on two skirts, only there is this advantage, that the figure, as it ap-
proaches the waist, does not present an inflated appearance; grows "fine by degrees and beautifully less." The beddiee is mae with a waistband and full front for girls, and it is sometimes cut square at the throat. Ladies wear the corsage cut rather low, and square before and behind, with a ribband slightly pulled all round the opening. It is fas- tened in front by little square bows and buckles, and the sleeve puffed in the middle has three little flounces above, and three below, not falling over the hand, but turned back like mosquetaire cuffs. When the mousseline is whole coloured, and not blue, green, or pink, it can be mixed with muslin of another tint. For instance, the flounces of e grey or chesnut dress, can be bordered with blue or green; ribband makes a charming change. threIfemghoeuszlwilethdeeareesoienitst,emeepl h the trans- mit through be lined Edpetfortieoa roatbesho-csaawinqgueth, parency would look anything but well. Velvet is still the trimming ; but it is too heavy for thin dresses ; its place is taken by riband and lace. English barege is much used because it is both simple and inexpensive. The skirts are almost always covered with tiny flounces, which are either edged with a narrow riband, or a ruche, which peeps from under the flounce. Low dresses of this material are useful, since they can be rendered high at pleasure, by a pelerine, flounced, and pointed before and behind.
All the bonnets are blossoming with flowers. The most ex- quisite artificials are made of velvet, satin, and feathers, and if the eye feasts for a moment on these, it is difficult to resign oneself to the less costly but pretty inventions in cambric. That great artist in flowers, Mademoiselle Pitrat, has produced a charming harvest wreath, of red velvet poppies with jet stamens ; daises, white feathers, and reed grass. It is worn on Italian straw bon- nets, and it is destined to have a great success. We must not forget to mention this lady's red peonies and white magnolias, so lovely in white rice straw ; but nothing can compare with her collection of artificial orchids, which look as fresh and dazzling as if they had just been gathered from their native haunts. A white crepe or white rice straw bonnet can scarcely have a prettier trimming than the elegant reed grass, and for girls, nothing is more simple and becoming than a wreath of fresh
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