The Fashions (from the 1843 “Illustrated London News”)

Paris Fashions for September

1849 Illustrated London News

See commentary below.

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Commentary and captions from the Illustrated London News

Fashion seems to be now taking a holiday, like the gay wearers. The autumnal novelties which are in preparation have not yet appeared. Taffetas are greatly in vognue; Chinese crapes, more habillés, also make charming dr eases for this season, and rival the muslins lined with light-coloured silks. The bodices are made higher than ever up to the throat, and quite plain. For slight thin persons, the corsages are plaited at the bottom in the form of a fan, but tight on the shoulders. The sleeves also, as may be seen in our Engraving, are very open, falling over a large muslin or tulle sleeve, drawn in at the wrist with an insertion; these large sleeves are trimmed with a pretty puffing, and have an excellent effect. The make of dresses à la ardinièr is also very récherché. In the country, it suits young persons especially: the front of the bodice is low, cut square; is ornamented with five frills one above the other, forming a point; a tucker of plaited muslin is placed Inside the corsage; it is trimmed with a ruche round the throat, and the front of the chemisette is dosed with studs of precious stones of very small dimensions: the colour of the dress, which la made with abort aleerea. The sleeves are trimmed with frills of lice like that on the front of the bodice. If an analogous, but more simple toilette be desired, the frills of the corsaga and the aleerea should bo made of the same stuff as the dress. These dresses are of elegant simplicity.

The bonnets are worn more open than at any period of the season; they are made of poult de soie, trimmed with ruches, and on each side are placed tulle roeettea, or bunches of autumnal flowers. Flowers or ruches are worn less inside; the open, balloon shape of the poke leaves the bandeaux and the entire oral at the face uncovered. This fashion Is becoming to young, pretty women; but we do not recommend it to others.

Children’s costumes are always engaging to mammas, and really now their dresses are charming. For little boys, we see blouses, with square epaulettes, and drawn in at the waist by a belt of Russia leather; a fine cambric plaited shirt, very high, with a simple hand round the throat, and cambric puffing sleeves: a felt hat, turned up with a bunch of feathers at the side, completes the dress. Little girls’ skirts are made excessively full, only descending to the knees, where they disclose richly-embroulered drawers, trimmed with Valenciennes lace; the bodices, like those of grown persons, are ornamented with frills.

References

“Paris Fashions for September.” Illustrated London News (1 September 1849): 156. Hathi Trust version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 3 December 2015. The text above was created from web version with ABBYY FineReader.

Last modified 3 December 2015