majority will be so. It is not, however, easy to say what form is or will be the most à la mode, for each of our celebrated "couturières has one that she prefers; thus one makes corsages to fasten behind close to the throat in front, and trimmed round the back and down the front with a lappel which figures en petit pelerine; the corsages of another open en redingote, displaying the chemisette; a third presents you with a corsage half high, and round at the top. Generally speaking, all are more or less pointed; one will have the sleeve only demi-long over a cambric or muslin one; another declares nothing is so becoming as a tight sleeve; and a third adopts as a juste milieu a demi large under sleeve, with one of an easy width, and deeply arched in front of the arm over it. I have presented your fair readers with each of the different forms. As to the skirt, it is open or closed according to the style of the corsage. I have sent you models of the most fashionable trimmings; one of the most novel, and I think the prettiest, is the second figure in your first plate; others have the skirts closed by petits choux of ribbon, or grelots of marcassite; a good many are trimmed with vetours frappés, diminishing gradually in length and breadth from the bottom of the robe to the waist, so as to form a tablier; the corsage is also trimmed with velvet in a reverse direction. Passementerie is also very much employed for tabliers. they were all of a light kind; wreaths of flowers, We have again to add our testimony to that of Madame de M-, as regards the royal Mechlin lace: we find that it is in very high request here, and that her Majesty's gracious patronage has been followed by that of several of our most distinguished leaders of fashion. One of the purposes for which it has lately been much employed is lingerie, and certainly it is admirably calculated for the garnitures of canezous, gimps, collars, &c., &c., &c. We are sincerely glad to find that one at least of our own manufactures begins to be appreciated as it deserves. We hope ere long some of the others will be also. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. FIRST PLATE. poussière crape lined with pink poult de soie · it is an oval shape of the demi-Leczinski form. The trimming is composed of three feathers shaded in pale poussière and pink, and ribbon of the colour of the chapeau; the interior is decorated only with pink brides. Muslin shawl lined with lemon-coloured poult de soie, and bordered with royal Mechlin lace headed by embroidery. Evening dress is at this moment in a medium between the splendour of winter, and the negligé No. 1. PUBLIC PROMENADE DRESSES.du sor, which a few weeks more will introduce. Robe of deep blue poult de Soie, corsage à The dresses at the last soirée of the English am-l'Amazone, and long tight sleeve. Chapeau of bassador were in the most elegant style of summer dress; a few dowagers only were seen in velvet or satin. The robes of younger ladies were mure, Italian taffeta, gauze, and tulle; and some also of the new silks, which I have already described. A good many robes were trimmed with tulle bouillonné, others with passementerie, and a great majority with lace. Flounces were very predominant; several robes were trimmed with them nearly to the hips: the effect is by no means becoming; but what will not fashion reconcile us to? A few of the robes were trimmed with black lace flounces; white ones were much more numerous. A great many were of the royal Mechlin lace; one of the most admired of these dresses had the corsage cut very low; it was trimmed with a lappel, which formed a small round pelerine at the back, and a short point in front; the top of the corsage and the lappel were both trimmed with royal Mechlin lace, set on with very little fulness; and the short tight sleeve was bordered with it a l'enfant; the front of the skirt was trimmed en échelle, that is with rows of lace placed across at regular distances, and of different lengths, forming a tablier; each row was headed by a very light and pretty trimming in passementerie to match the robe, which was blue taffeta glacée de blanc, and each end of the lace was gathered under a nœud of passementerie, also to correspond; the effect was equally novel and elegant. There was a good deal of variety in the coiffures; No. 2.-Foulard robe chequered in pink and fawn colour; the corsage, high at the back, opens en V on the bosom, and is trimmed with a revers descending en cœur; it is cleft on the shoulder, the opening ornamented with a knot of ribbon to correspond. The sleeve rather more than a half length, and of easy width, is arched in front, and trimmed with a similar knot. Cambrick under-sleeve and high chemisette; the latter with a small falling collar edged with royal Mechlin lace. Ruffles of the same. The skirt is trimmed with three flounces; they are lightly festooned at the edged, and each arched in the centre of the front. A row of knots of ribbon placed at regular distances descends from the waist to the bottom of the skirt. White crape chapeau, a close shape, the brim lined and edged with light green silk. A row of royal Mechlin lace crosses the front of the crown, and turns at each side round a rose panache attached by a striped green ribbon, the ends of which and a gerbe of foliage float from under the lace. Striped ribbon brides complete the garniture, White China crape scarf, with ends striped in two shades of green, and finished with white fringe. HALF-LENGTH FIGURES. No. 3. DEMI-TOILETTE.-Pink taffeta robe; the corsage-quite high and close-is decorated with a garniture à la Vielle, forming a cœur and descending en tablier on the front of the skirt. Muslin under-sleeve made very full, and terminated by a deep lace ruffie. Silk sleeve demilong, of an easy width, with a cuff à la mousquetaire. Pink crape capote, a drawn shape round and open, the interior of the brim trimmed with tulle bouillonne of the same hue, and white brides; the exterior with a long and very full plume formed of the barbes of white and pink shaded marabouts twisted. No. 4. MORNING DRESS.-French grey gros de Naples robe; the corsage rather more than half high, and square, is trimmed with a pelerine lappel bordered with a ruche; it is deep on the back and shoulders, but shallow in the centre of the breast, which is ornamented with a knot of green ribbon. Sleeve a three-quarter length, open at the bottom and edged with a ruche. Cambric under-sleeve and chemisette; the latter made high, and trimmed with royal Mechlin lace standing up. Ruffles of the same. Chapeau demi-Pamela of pale pink gros d'Afrique; the interior of the brim very full, trimmed with coques of ribbon to correspond, and the exterior with a bouquet of yellow roses and foliage. No. 5. PUBLIC PROMENADE DRESS.-Robe of blue and white striped foulard. A high corsage, close, and trimmed with a lappel edged with fringe: it forms a petit collet and revers. Sleeve demi-long and finished with a deep fringe. Under-sleeve of muslin bouillonné. The skirt is trimmed with cross tucks, each fringed. Capote of pale straw-coloured poult de soie bouillonné; the interior of the brim is trimmed with roses mignionnes and floating brides; a knot of ribbon at the back and one at the side; the latter attaching a tuft of roses mignionnes. SECOND PLATE. PUBLIC PROMENADE DRESS.-Poult de soie robe, shot in blue and rose colour; the corsage quite high and plain, with long tight sleeves. Sprigged muslin mantelet à pointes, of a large size, a double fall, and a pelerine, which appears to form short sleeves; it is quite high behind, but partially open on the bosom, and trimmed with a lappel, which descends quite down the fronts. It is formed of a row of scalloped embroidery, set on plain, and headed by a ribbon, passed through interstices in the work. Each fall of the mantelet and the pelerine is similarly trimmed; the bosom and the top of the corsage is edged with royal Mechlin lace, standing up. A knot of rose ribbon, attaching the mantelet at the point of the corsage, completes the garniture. White crape capote, a large, close shape, the exterior trimmed with folds on the brim; they are surmounted by a royal Mechlin lace lappel, on which a sprig of foliage is laid. White brides. MORNING DRESS.-Light grey taffeta robe; corsage à basquine, made quite up to the throat, and trimmed down the front with a row of silk buttons. The jacket of moderate depth, and pointed in front, is trimmed with a row of fringe, to correspond. Tight sleeves, rather more than a three-quarter length; cuffs à la mousquetaire. Five rows of fringe are disposed in the style of volants on the shirt. Pink chapeau of crape, with velours en application; it is trimmed with pink ribbon, and pink and black shaded feathers. HALF-LENGTH FIGURES. No. 3. SOCIAL PARTY DRESS.-Lilac taffeta robe, a low corsage, and short tight sleeves. Tulle fichu à la Maria; the tulle disposed in folds, figures en pelerine behind, crosses on the bosom, and ties in sharp-pointed ends behind. It is embroidered round the border. Tulle cap, a small round shape. The garniture is composed of royal Mechlin lace, disposed plain over the forehead, and in full choux at the sides; roses in the choux, and a band and knot of pink shaded ribbon complete the trimming. No. 4. BRIDAL DRESS.-India muslin robe, over white silk. The corsage, made quite up to the throat, is trimmed with a row of royal Mechlin lace; two magnificent falls of the same lace are disposed in the style of a berthe round the lower part of the corsuge, and fall very low on the sleeves, which are arranged in bouillons from the top to the wrist. The border of the skirt is trimmed high, with flounces of royal Mechlin lace. The head dress is the bridal veil of point d'Alen con, attached in the hair by a wreath of orange blossoms, and so disposed as partially to shade a bouquet of roses penaches placed on one side. No. 5. DRESS FOR THE FRENCH OPERA.— Robe of one of the new spring striped and figured silks; the corsage square, and moderately low. Short tight sleeve, of two falls; they are trimmed, as is the top of the corsage, with lace. Ceinture of green ribbon, fastened in front by a gold buckle. White crape chapeau; the garniture is composed of a lace drapery and floating brides. TO CORRESPONDENTS. - The Editress is sorry to decline "The Lay," which appears to her a promise of poetical power rather than an achievment. ACCEPTED. "X. Y. Z.;" "The Sisters" next number. The Editress regrets extremely that from unavoidable press of matter the article "April Visions" has been kept back beyond the time when it would have been appropriate. The MS. is left at the publisher's. DECLINED, WITH MANY THANKS.-"Spring;" "A Forest Scene;""M. C." Does not our title-page suggest a reason why the poem of "The White Cockade" must be excluded? Several MSS. have arrived too late for examination this month. It is desirable that articles intended for insertion in any particular number should be transmitted five weeks before the publication of the same. Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand, |