Figure 4.—Full-dress for Home.
Waistcoat of black watered silk; festooned edges, high behind, open in front. A row of Alençon lace sewed on flat projects beyond the edge all round the waistcoat. Basquine of terry velvet, trimmed with a broad satin ribbon and plaid velvet of bright colors. The sleeve, wide at bottom, is open behind and trimmed the same. The trimming is drawn in very fine gathers in the middle; the quilled edges are loose.
The skirt of terry velvet like that of the basquine, is trimmed with five flounces lying one on the other. On these flounces are sewed satin ribbons and plaid velvet bands, the top one No. 12, the two others, No. 16, the bottom one No. 22. These ribbons are sewed flat on the flounce, which is not gathered in that part; the gathers of the flounces are preserved between the flat parts. The interval between the ribbons is equal to twice their width. The under-sleeves follow the shape of the others, and have two rows of Alençon lace.
We have nothing new to report respecting the Bloomer costume. The following clever parody of Hamlet's soliloquy, is quite ingenious:
To wear or not to wear the Bloomer costume, that's the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in us girls to suffer
The inconveniences of the long-skirt dress,
Or cut it off against these muddy troubles,
And, by the cutting, end them. 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To don the pants:—