PARIS FASHIONS.
(From our own Correspoudtnt.)
There has been no break in the round of gaieties, and balls without number take place every night. The ball at the Hotel de Ville was truly magnificent, and went off splendidly. Besides the balls held every
Tuesday at Court, a grand one has been given by the Princess Czarto- riska at the Hotel Lembert. There has been a ball at M. Rothschild's, another at M. Pereira's, and not to make our list too long, M. Fould has had a bal costume.
Thi3 was the gayest of all, and a thousand new and fantastic things were invented for the occasion. Out of a delicate compliment to the Princess Clotilde, the majority of the costumes were Italian. A fort- night before the event, the 'liaison de M. Moreau, the first costumier of Paris, was inundated from morning to night by an elegant crowd seeking new disguises. Nothing can be more difficult than the produc- tion of new fancy dresses ; yet a hundred ideas never before thought of were elaborated with wonderful success. A Portici peasant, in a skirt of red silk and gold lace with ribbons streaming from the waist ; an apron covered with brilliant embroidery ; a boddice of black velvet trimmed with gold and coral, and cut so as to show the chemise, the sleeves of which reached half way down the arm, where they were tied up in two places by plenty of streaming ribbons, produced a most charming effect. The head-dress was white and of a square form ; long ribbons floated from it at the back ; and the whole most enchantingly became the beautiful person who wore it. Two Greeks in skirts of ornamented gold, with green velvet caftans embroidered in gold and pearl bead-dresses, were very remarkable; and there were four 'Bohemians, all different, and so well dressed, that no one knew which to prefer. One of these had on a red silk skirt covered with hieroglyphics in black velvet, encircled with gold. The vest eras covered with rows of sequins and coral pendants; and the head-dress was also of sequins and coral. This lady was declared the queen of the gypsies. Another covered with roses looked like a walking bouquet; and one cos- tume sparkling with precious stones must have cost a fortune. There were several delicious looking Pierrettes in Louis XIII. style, with white satin dresses and red or blue top-knots. But all that we can say will never do justice to the inexhaustible invention of our celebrated costumier.
Amongst the most remarkable costumes which appeared at the other balls, we must not forget to notice several attempts made to bring up the fashions that prevailed at the time of the Finst Empire. Many noble ladies wear their dresses fitting close above the petticoat, but very much larger at the bottom ; the corsage rounded, and shorter .than it is usually worn. The prettiest made in this fashion appeared on Tuesday at the Tuileries. It was of salmon-aoloured taffetas, and on the skirt were rows of white blonde, separated by strings of violets. The rows of blonde diminished upwards, SO as to form large indentations, touching each other at the bottom and separating at the top, and this was continued all round the skirt. The corsage also was made with rows a blonde divided by strings of violets. The sleeves were very short, and surmounted by large bunches of violets, a string of which finished them off at the arm. The coiffure which accompanied this dress was as pretty as it was novel. Imagine a diadem of an antique shape, pointed in the middle, and con- sisting entirely of satin violets. A round hood of closely-peeked violets contained the hair, which was twisted verylow at the back, and escaping from this were two beautiful blonde lappets.
At the ball of the Hotel de Ville were several Russian diadems re. sembling those worn by young Russian girls on their wedding-day. The form is antique, raised in the centre without being pointed. The ma- terial is velvet, covered with three open engine-turned plates of gold, with a number of little balls hanging on minature chains of gold. To complete this coiffure, the hair must be curled a Pantique, and lifted up with a comb, to which are attached balls of gold, suspended on chains ; and these should be scattered in profusion among the curls. This ori- ginal head-dress is particularly suited to regular features, and it may be made infinitely richer by adding precious stones. Just now a number of dresses are covered with three lace flounces. In this case an interval should he left between the flounces, and filled up with flounces of double tulle, upon which, at stated distances, are placed bows and ends that fall over the lace. The corsage to correspond should be trimmed with lace and bows forming a kind of epaulet. The fashionable colours are mauve, green, and bouton d'or. White tulle ball dresses, sprinkled with silver stars or flowers, produce a brilliant effect. Ball dresses arc also worn rather shorter, but, to make up for it, robes de 'vile are made with quite a little train behind.
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