FROM OUR FRENCH CORRESPONDENT.

BOULEVARD DES ITALIENS, January 26th, 1858. CHERE AMIE,-As a general observation, we must state that the skirts of dresses at present are nearly six yards in width and very long, some forming trains, though obviously not very suitable to the season; and, to avoid the folds which such a width would occasion over the feet, the skirt is hollowed out at the bottom in front some five to eight inches. It is sometimes thought that skirts will be worn shorter, but we have no decided opinion yet to record on this head. Light coloured velvets are much in request this winter-pink, white, blue, lilac, lemon, and particularly Parma violet; this new colour is charming. Satin is also worn in dress, but in dark or sombre colours. Promenade and carriage dresses are of rich materials this winter, and is with the burnous or casque trimmed with fur; flounces would not be suitable; the skirts are plain, but very full and bouffant. Pretty fireside dresses are made in the Peignoir or douillette style of two colours a dark and a light, as marron and blue, grey and mauve, violet and black, mauve and white; they are made with large apron and stomacher of satin, and very wide band near the bottom of quilled satin as the apron, the sleeves with revers of satin to match.

Double skirts are not now worn in morning dress; the single skirt of very rich material is more fashionable, the front ornamented with black lace or noeuds of velvet, or large straps or tabs of the same material, with buttons at each side, the same repeated on the body and sleeves. Basques continue in favour; they are becoming to the figure, and the bodies are mostly with them; some have them to all, even the ball-dress and the simple toilettes of young ladies of white, taffetas striped with pink or blue have very small basques. A dress of blue moire antique, with high pointed body, had a small basque, such as is made to a waistcoat, deeper behind, and slightly forming point without any folds, brandenbourgs of blue chenielle, ornamented with long tassels, trimmed both body and skirt, increasing in width as they descend.

Sleeves closing with wristbands are much worn for the promenade; open ones seem reserved for dinner dresses, etc.; some are made tight à la Louis XIII, and in the style of Francis I.; these are covered by a second hanging sleeve, an elegant and rich effect for handsome materials. The sleeves Louis XIII. are with puffs and bouffouts at the top and plain turned-up cuffs; the tight sleeves, however, do not diminish the number of extremely long wide ones, termed Persian, Chinese, or Odalisque.

Many very small casaques are made for the fireside of black velvet, embroidered in silk, steel beads, or bugles, and are of the Algerine form of veste. The most elegant are of coloured velvet, embroidered in white silk and gold boullion, which, with ruby velvet, is really very pretty, but also rather singular; those of black velvet embroidered or trimmed with fur, are more approved.

Pretty evening dresses are made of moire antique with double skirts, the upper one covered by a tunic of black lace, edged by a wreath of small flounces, the body with berthe covered with lace and edged with flounces and bunches of flowers on the shoulders; others are of tulle illusion, with five skirts merely hemmed; a wreath of ivy, which ornaments the body, descends in long branches, and loops up the skirts on one side, which are worn over a skirt of white satin. Dresses of thicker materials are still ornamented with quilles of various descriptions; some are of stamped velvet, others of flowers or of satin covered by bouillons of tulle. Marabout, either as a fringe or heading for flounces, is fashionable. Ball dresses are always of very light description, draperies of tulle, confined by bouquets, quilles, and ornaments of flowers. Very pretty berthes and fichus of tulle and lace are made for ball dresses intended to be worn over plain bodies; the form of the berthe varies with the style of figure, and the fichus intended for young ladies are not the same as those worn by married ladies: the fichue Fauchounette is more youthful and more simple than the fichue Antoinette.

Some fancy ball dresses for children have lately been worn in Paris.

VOL. 31.

same, with rich embroidery below them. A little girl had a dress of moire antique, with double skirt; the upper one, as well as the basques, of the square body, vandyked; a guimpe of cambric very delicately embroidered, and under-sleeves to match. Another was of emerald green plush, with single skirt and high body, ornamented with chased gold buttons.

For evening coiffures, long lappets of lace or blond are sometimes worn; also large noeuds of ribbon, of velvet, or of silk; very long tassels also ornament head-dresses in preference to feathers, which, however, are very much worn in full dress. Amber and coral are fashionable; pretty coiffures of amber are made with tassels, and a plat twisted round the hair, and on the top of the head.

Pretty bonnets are made of violette de Parme velvet, having simply a scarf laid in large folds on the front, the two ends trimmed with lace, and small noeud of velvet on the top. The Parisian ladies still wear bonnets of crape or tulle, lined or merely fulled for carriage or visits. Simplicity is rather required for bonnets; they are frequently without lace, and the feathers are in wreaths, instead of being placed at the sides; a round feather is often all that is used. The velvet bonnets this season are often plain, sometimes trimmed with satin of the same colour; the mixture of black and colours is rather gone by, though black and rose colour, by a whim of fashion, continues in favour; sometimes a satin scarf, the same colour as the velvet, crossing in front, and forming point without other trimming; inside, a Bengal rose. bonnet of quilted taffetas had merely a wide bandeau of black velvet round the edge; and the bavolet of velvet, which, with a voilette, is considered quite Parisian in style; when more trimming is wished, a torsade of velvet, falling at the side, with tassels of feathers, is sometimes used. A white bonnet was ornamented by a plaid feather; and a blue one, quilted, had each square marked by a bugle, and long blue feather at the side.

A

Burnouses are made of velvet, trimmed with fur; these are rather shorter than the cloth ones used for walking, and are also more elegant. Sable fur and swansdown are used to ornament dresses. Large casaques are again in favour, made of velvet, and trimmed with fur. A new style of pelisse douarriere is also very fashionable; it is made of satin, taffetas, gros grain, or of velvet, and may be trimmed with fur; it recals the pictures of ladies of the eighteenth century. The manteaux of velvet, trimmed with bands of fur, continue to be worn in preference to the burnous by those who require more elegance in their toilettes. Swansdown is much used on Sortus de bal, or opera cloaks, for which purpose the burnous form is most suitable. Lace is always used for mantelets and shawls of velvet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVINGS.

PLATE I.-Walking Dress.-Robe of lavender moire, with very full plain skirt, and body with basque; manteau of cloth, with borders of velvet. Bonnet of black velvet and lace, with flowers.

Ball Dress.-Robe of white satin, with bouillons of tulle, and upper skirt of tulle with flounces embroidered in amber colour, pointed body with pelerine crossing in front, edged by lace; short sleeves with lace. Carriage Dress.-Robe of popeline, ornamented by quilles of velvet; shawl of velvet, richly embroidered and trimmed with lace. Bonnet of citron Terry velvet and white lace, with velvet flowers.

Child's Dress.-Frock of Cachemire, with flounces edged with velvet ; casaque of the same, with pelerine to match. Bonnet of pink satin. Carriage Dress.-Robe of taffetas, ornamented by velvet ribbon put on in vandykes in three rows of two tiers; the body and sleeves similarly ornamented. Bonnet of black and green velvet. Manteau of taffetas, with deep vandykes edged by galons and tassels at each point.

PLATE II.-Walking Dress.- Robe of taffetas; manteau of ruby velvet, with pelerine trimmed with rich black lace. Bonnet of green velvet, with feathers.

Carriage Dress. Robe of green taffetas, the skirt covered with flounces festonnes; jacket-body with pelerine revers crossing at the waist; sleeves in bouillons, terminating with frills. Bonnet of marron