PARIS FASHIONS.
(From our own Correspondent.)
The summer promises to be very showery, and new toilets have been invented suitable to the sudden and frequent changes of temperature. Casaques are still in favour, but then they are inconvenient, and cannot quickly be thrown off and on. The newest things for out-doors are talmas without sleeves or hoods. They have a longitudinal opening in front for the arms, beginning at the shoulders and continuing all the way down, and this can be buttoned up or not, according to the state of the weather. This charming mantle is to be seen at La Maison Guge- lin, and it is called une orageuse. It can be made in coutil, nankin, or pique, to match the dress ; or in black poplin, when it can be worn with anything. The buttons must be of cotton, silk, or velvet, to correspond with the material employed. The opening up the front, is imitated at the back for the sake of uniformity, only in this case the button-holes are false. Closed talmas, if made in grey poplin, or the stuff known as pep- per-and-salt, are trimmed with plaid which is laid on deep at the bottom of the sleeve. It is also employed for the collar, which forms a sto- macher in the front.
There is nothing more distingue for morning negligee than white mus • lin. The Louis XVI. jacket or peignoir, is a great favourite ; but it re- quires to be cut with peculiar nicety, as it sets perfectly loose, ex- cepting at the throat. It has no other ornament than a fold of muslin over a wide blue or pink ribbon, which goes all round, just leaving space enough in front for bows of ribbon made to look like butterflies. This peignoir is sometimes worn over taffetas or white sarsenet ; but per- cale does equally well, provided it is very fine and lightly starched. The dress is completed for outdoors by a mantle of white muslin trimmed with ribbon like the jacket. Although the toilet we have just described is very simple, yet it is luxurious on account of its exquisite freshness. Ladies who cannot indulge in white, wear muslin that soil less quickly, such as spots, downward stripes, and small checks, and flounces wide or narrowed. Muslin dresses are usually accompanied by white muslin shawls, which are either flounced, or simply hemmed over a ribbon, and the color can be changed to harmonize with different dresses. If the shawl is festooned or embroidered, of course it is all the lighter and prettier.
Bonnets arejust now so light and aerial that they look as if blown together. Tulle plaited in numberless plaits, and mixed with a multitude of tiny ruches, is all that is necessary. A bouquet of exotics scarcely adds to the weight, and this is really what is principally worn by our
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