Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1875 — Fashion Changes. [ARTICLE]

Fashion Changes.

A Paris correspondent says: Fashion has crept into even the minutest details of a lady’s toilet, and it is decreed that the simple Balbriggan stocking, whose claims to attention were merely its fineness, its durability and its elasticity, is to be replaced by a crowd of new inventions in the hosiery line. The counter devoted to stockings in the large shops here is now as radiant with color as is that which is given up to ribbons and neckties. Striped, embroidered, openworked, blue, pink, yellow, violet, scarlet —every shade, in short, save white. The long line of shelves looks like the avant'garde of a bodiless corps de ballet. It is the mode now to wear a stocking that matches the dress; thus, if the toilet be in two shades, the stocking is striped to correspond. The last style in embroidered stockings is to have a garland winding round and round the leg. Stockings which are half dark and half light should have the foot and ankle of the darker shade. They are usually made in different shades of the same color, but sometimes a contrast is used; thus the lower part may be of peart gray and the upper of peach color. In stripes, scarlet and peach color, violet and lilac, black and pink, and other pretty contrasting shades are %-orn. The open-worked stockings are fine as lace and in, as delicate and dainty patterns. To better display all this luxury of hosiery ladies’ boots are now cut across the front to simulate straps, and slippers are held in place by three straps adorned with buckles or with bows. The pointed American shape is beginning to replace the broad, square toe, up to this time adopted for ladies’ boots by French shoemakers. Handkerchiefs are coming into vogue again as visible portions of a lady’s toilet. The corner is suffered to peep out from the

little siffe-pocket or the escarcella; it may be either of batiste or of foulard, with a colored hem or with colored blocks at the corners, and marked with a sac-simile of the wearer’s signature or else with her arms or monogram. The latest style for full dress is of finest cambric, edged with five rows of narrow Valenciennes, or else richly embroidered and bordered with a single row of wide Valenciennes put on like a flounce: In parasols the latest mode decrees a black silk covering, lined with pink, blue, or straw color to suit the costume; at one side a sipgle spray of flowers is embroidered, which must match the flowers on the wearer's bonnet . White parasols, all purely, spotlessly white, both handle and covering, are sometimes seen. Others are embroidered with stars of brownish steel, whieff new tint is called Sphinx color. These new ornaments glittervery eflectively in the sunshine. In letterpaper the monogram has b<pen replaced by tiny devices stamped on the left-hand corner of the sheet, and eacli having its special signification. Thus, a carrierpigeon means to answer quickly; a swallow, return; a fly, do not count on me; a key, I expect you; an opened envelope, the secret is discpvered j an imp stirring a boiling saucepan, I renounce love, etc. If this style becomes a general one stationers will be forced to sell a card of explanations with each quire of paper. -*• y The man w*ho, with his sweetheart, eats strawberries and creac at this season has the dear things all together.