rich silk buttons intermixed. The trimming of the skirt consists of gauze bouillonnée, interspersed with satin disposed in crescents.

We observe that high dresses begin to be as much, if not more, worn in carriage costume than pelisses. The envelopes worn with them are either cachemire shawls or large fur tippets, and in many instances our élégantes adopt both. Tippets are worn extremely large, and long ones are more in favour than round.

Bonnets now begin to be worn larger, and black ones, both in velvet and satin, are very prevalent. There are two distinct styles which prevail in this kind of coeffure, and both equally fashionable. One is remarkable for its extreme plainness, the bonnet being altogether black; that is to say, it is lined with the material of which it is made, and adorned with superb plumes of black feathers. The other style is as showy as possible; the bonnet and lining are black, but the edge of the brim is corded with crimson, or some other striking coloured satin: a full black knot placed at the bottom of the crown is adorned in a similar manner, and the feathers correspond with the colour of the cords. We have seen also a good many black bonnets with coloured strings, coloured bands at the edge of the brim, and adorned with garlands of winter flowers. Rose-coloured gros de Naples, velours simulé, and pluche de soie, decorated with white feathers, are also much in favour for carriage hats and bonnets. One of the most novel of the last has a remarkably low crown, which is entirely covered by a quantity of Marabouts, that surround and droop over it.

Vol. III. No. XIII.

A new material, called Camelia, is in favour in morning dress, but it is not so generally adopted as poplin, reps silk, or gros de Naples. The newest forms for morning dress are those which we have just described in speaking of carriage costume.

Coloured satin begins to be much in favour both in dinner and evening dress: one of the prettiest gowns we have seen in the former is of crimson satin, trimmed with crèpe lisse of the same colour, mixed with velvet. The trimming consists of bouffants, which are formed at regular distances by velvet ornaments in the shape of lions' paws. The corsage of this dress is finished round the top by a row of blond let in full, drawn to the shape of the neck, and finished by a row of very narrow velvet points. Coloured tulle over coloured satin is still much in favour for evening dress. White tulle, or white crèpe lisse, is more in request for ball dresses. Some of the newest trimmings for these latter consist of bouquets of lilies formed of the down of the Marabout, and interspersed with branches of laurel-leaves in velvet. Another pretty style of trim-` ming is a chain of various flowers of the smallest size, which are fancifully unwreathed in drapery folds of gauze or crèpe lisse. Waists are still worn very long, and the corsage in evening dress is cut extremely low round the bust; sleeves rather short, and in general very full. Toques and turbans are, as we predicted, much in favour with all but very youthful belles, who adorn their tresses with flowers or pearls. Coloured gems are much in favour with elegant matrons. The most novel ear-rings in gold have the pendant in the shape of a I.:

heart, exquisitely wrought. Brooches | of rather a large size set in gold, forming a flower surrounded by foliage, are also much in favour.

Fashionable colours are, maroon, bright crimson, damask-rose colour, dark chesnut, lavender, and fawn colour.

My dear SOPHIA,

equal favour for the spectacle: the most fashionable among the former have a bright crimson or black ground, with a high palm border, or one en rosaces. A new material has just been introduced for mantles,

Bonnets are of velvet, gros de Naples, and some new inventions in silk plush. The latter have always the same kind of ground, but it is differently figured in quadrilles, lozenges, or wolves' teeth. Black velvet or satin bonnets are in favour; they are in general trimmed with ribbons, shaded in strikingly contrasted colours, and of a rich dark tint: there are generally three colours in the feathers of the bonnet, to correspond with the ribbon.

It is this year the fashion to go very much dressed to the spectacle: rédingotes habillées are much used for this purpose; they are composed of gros de Naples or velvet, but the latter is most fashionable. The trimming is satin, with sometimes a mixture of gros de Naples; it is arranged either in rouleaus, coques, or folds. If the rédingote is of gros de Naples, it is always of a very dark colour, but trimmed with satin some shades lighter. In some instances the satin is of a different colour.

Shawls and mantles are in nearly

shionable: it is composed of wool; is extremely fine, light, and soft; is printed so as to imitate embroidery very successfully, and is of sufficient width to form a mantle without a seam.

The alterations which have taken place since my last in full dress are mostly in head-dresses, some of the most novel of which I will try to describe to you. The latest is the coeffure à la neige: in this head-dress the hair, disposed in a great number of small curls, which nearly cover the temples, and dressed very high behind, has seldom any other ornament than a pearl or diamond comb. In order to form a perfect idea of this coeffure, you need only recall to your mind the portraits of Marie de Medicis, mother of Louis XIII. from which this antique fashion has lately been copied on the stage, and is now generally adopted in the first circles.

Coeffures à l'Espagnol are also in favour: the front hair is disposed in soft curls; the hind hair, knotted at the ends with bows of black and rose ribbon, is fastened up in a very large knot on the crown of the head: three large coques of rose and black ribbon placed behind this knot are par tially covered by a black blond veil,