472
FASHIONS
FOR DECEMBER.
Ham Toast.-Chop very fine two spoonfuls of lean ham that has been cooked, take two spoonfuls of veal-gravy, a few bread-crumbs, and a spoonful of cream. Put all together in a stewpan, and heat it. Have ready a toast buttered; spread the above upon it, strew a few crumbs over it, and brown it before the fire. Rumbled Eggs.- Beat up three eggs with two ounces of fresh butter, or well washed salt butter ; add a teaspoonful of cream or new milk. Put all in a saucepan, and keep stirring it over the fire for nearly five minutes, until it rises up like suffle, when it should be immediately dished on buttered toast.
FASHIONS FOR DECEMBER. FIG. 1.-WALKING DRESS OF PLUM-COLORED VELVETEEN.The under-skirt is quite plain, the upper-skirt without trimming, but made long to loop at the back. The paletot, which is longer at the sides (and cut in points there) than at the back or in front, has only a heavy cording of black satin above the narrow bias fold of velveteen. Small round hat and scarlet feather. FIG. 1.-EVENING DRESS OF MAUVE SILK, WITH TWO SKIRTS. -The lower-skirt has a long train, and both skirts are trimmed with white lace put on plain. The upper-skirt has a white lace flounce brought down each side of the front, scarf-wise. FIG. III.- DINNER DRESS OF GREEN AND WHITE STRIPED SILK -The waist is quite short, and cut square in front. FIG. IV.- BALL DRESS OF WHITE TULLE, trimmed with six narrow ruffles around the bottom. Above the ruffles are five rows of crimson and black silk, put on in large scallops. The square waist is trimmed to correspond with the skirt. A broad, black sash, embroidered in corn-flowers, and with a deep crimson fringe, completes this elegant costume. FIG. V.-CARRIAGE DRESS OF LAVENDER-COLORED SILK, embroidered in black. The under-skirt is quite plain, the upper-skirt is open at the seams and tied carelessly at the bottom; the paletot is square, with long Jewess sleeves. Lavender-colored, bonnet, with a lavender-colored tulle veil, ornamented with field-daisies. FIG. VI. CHILD'S DRESS OF PINK SILK, cut square in the neck. GENERAL REMARKS.-We have but little to add this month to the very full descriptions of the newest fashions which we gave in November. THE SHORT DRESS for walking or morning wear is fully established ; but long trains are equally fashionable for evening wear. For ordinary house dress the skirt is made long, but not of the exaggeration of an evening dress. The varieties in style of the short costumes is marvelous- no two dresses are just alike, and any amount of coquettish taste can be displayed if the wearer chooses. Then, too, the admixture of contrasting colors makes a pleasing change to the eye, which for years was only greeted by browns, grays, and fawns, those colors only being considered the mode by a fashionably-dressed woman. But now we will, probably, be condemned to the unbecoming "Bismark," an ugly shade of reddish brown, though it may be redeemed by rich black trimmings. There are two shades of this Bismark-brown, a light and a dark one. Another fashionable color, but only suitable for brunettes, is the capucine or nasturtium color, nearer an orange color than any other. A complete toilet or this, except an evening dress of silk or satin, would, of course, be in frightful taste-but as a trimming on black it is very stylish. A black silk dress, corded with gold, nasturtium -colored, or Bismark-colored silk, would be very elegant. " Vin de Bordeur," or a bright claret color, is again popular ; and this, too, is improved by a black trimming. This color has the
advantage of lighting up well at night, a thing which should always be taken in consideration in preparing a dress. Green, also, is a favorite for this reason, whilst some shades of blue, some pinks, and all mauves, violets, and purples, loose all life and brilliancy at night. GOLD ORNAMENTS AND TRIMMINGS, which for a time have been popular, and are still so to some extent, so soon become common, that though the rage for them returns frequently, it never lasts long. In Paris, ivory ornaments have superseded gilt ones ; and ivory and jet beads, buttons, clasps, etc., are for the present the popular ernaments with the fickle Paris belles. BROCADED MATERIALS, studded with flowers, are very fashionable. The most distinguished have only a single flower, such as periwinkles, marguerites, poppies, (poppies on black are very effective, ) or bunches, such as bunches of grapes, lilac, and acacias. A VERY PRETTY WALKING DRESS of black silk has been made with the petticoat trimmed with three bias bands of black, corded with golden-yellow silk. At the back the upper-skirt is not joined together, the breadth being fastened half way up with a black bow piped with yellow. The paletot, which is short at the back, and with long mantillalike ends in front, is trimmed like the petticoat. VANDYKES AND TONGUES, which have been so fashionable around the edges of skirts, are as much liked for the bottom of paletots, and for the long Jewess and Hungarian sleeves. PINKED OUT RUCHES, sewn in rows very close together, as well as the narrow flounces, are very popular for trimmings. SASHES are now made of the very widest ribbon which can be bought, but the ends are not as long as they were earlier in the season. Some are simply tied in a loose bow, and others are tied with a multiplicity of pendant joops. THE REDINGOTE style of walking dress is very popular. The dress can be worn rather short over a colored petticoat, or made sufficiently long to dispense with it. The body and skirt are cut in one, like the Gabrielle dress, and either buttons all the way down the front, or at the sides. In the latter case, the body buttons like a gentleman's double-breasted coat. Some are made with and some without revers. The dress or the petticoat should be made just long enough for the highly-ornamented boots to be seen. Another avenue for coquetry has been opened in these boots. Many persons wear them of the same color as their dresses-though black boots are really much the most becoming to the feet. The boots are stitched in various colors, and the heels are very high. MANTLES, PALETOTS, AND BONNETS, were so fully noticed last month, that we have nothing new on the subject.
CHILDREN'S FASHIONS. FIG. 1.- LITTLE GIRL'S DRESS OF GRAY CASHMERE, spotted with blue, looped up over a blue cashmere under-skirt. Jacket like the upper-skirt, trimmed with blue. FIG. II.- BOY'S COSTUME OF FAWN-COLORED CASSIMERE.The pantaloons are short, loose jacket oper ing over a white vest. FIG. III -INFANT'S DRESS OF THIN WHITE CAMBRIC, with pink trimmings. The skirt is tucked, and worn over a richly ornamented petticoat. FIG. IV. DRESS OF BLUE SILK, FOR A GIRL, with a white . alpaca over-dress, trimmed with blue. FIG. V.- DRESS FOR A LITTLE GIRL.-The under-skirt is of crimson cashmere, looped up with bands of cashmere, edged with black. The upper-skirt is of crimson and black cashmere, with crimson cashmere braces and waistband, edged with black.
