Fashionable Life– Grand Fete Champetre
at Oakland’s, Baltimore– Summer Fa-
shions and Dresses of the Principal Ladies
Present. – Part IV
The very lovely Miss O’D—–, wore also a gor-
geous promenade dress, which set off her fine figure
and beautiful features to great advantage. Her
dress is seen in detail in figure 2. It consisted of a
pea green pou de soie dress, figured in detached
flower in emerald green; the corsage high, and
formed to the shape by three plaits on each side of
the front, is partially covered by a pelerine fichu
of antique point lace. Demi large sleeve, the upper part
tight very nearly to the elbow, is disposed in longi-
tudinal folds, and trimmed with two bounces placed
at some distance from each other; the lower part
of the sleeve is very full, and finished with a broad
waistband. The skirt is ornamented by a single
deep flounce, with a heading disposed in full hollow
plaits. Rice straw hats, a round and very open
brim, descending low at the sides; the interior os
trimmed with tufts of small ponceau, yellow and
green flowers; the exterior is adorned with a willow
feather, shaded in the dame hues, and plaided vel-
vet ribbon of corresponding colors. India muslin
shawl, lined with lilac crape; it is made with a large
heart pelerine , rather open on the bosom, embroi-
dered, and trimmed with Mecklin lace. The body
of the shawl is trimmed en suite; it is looped on
each shoulder b a band of lilac ribbon, terminated
by a cluster of coques, which form an epaulette;
a similar ornament, but with the addition of long
floating ends, depends from the point of the long
pelerine.
Miss H—– looked exceedingly interesting, and
her dress, though not so gorgeous, was as pleasing
as any in the party. It is seen in fig. 3, and was
composed of gros de Naples, a drab-colored ground,
striped with brown, a deep tuck surmounts the hem,
and each is headed by a rich silk cord. The cor-
sage is half high, and made with a little fulness on
each side of the front, out of plain behind. The sleeve
is large at the lower part , the tope tight, and trim-
med with four folds. The shawl of the same mate-
rial is simply bordered with a deep hem, headed by
a cord. Rose-colored crape bonnet, a moderate
sized brim, the interior trimmed at the sides with
small white flowers tastefully intermingled with the
pink ribbon that forms the brides: the exterior is
decorated with a lace lappet drawn across the crown
and disposed on the brim in a kind of rosette on
each side; pink flowers without foliage are inserted
in the rosette, and a demi wreath crosses the bottom
of the crown in front.
But the dress worn by the queen of beauty, Miss
H—–, as seen in fig. 4, cannot be surpassed for feli-
citousness of design, taste, and artificial grouping.
It consisted of a white tulle robe, and tunic over
white pou de soie, the former is trimmed round the
border, with two deep tucks, each headed by a gold
band; the body of the tente is cut low, made full, and
disposed down the center of the front in a deep hol-
low plait; the fulness is gathered in on the shoulders
by fancy jewellery(sic) ornaments, and the corsage bor-
dered with a gold band. The upper part of the
sleeve is tight to the arm; the remainder made is
the Turkish form, and very large, is loomed above
on the shoulder, and is encircled and headed by a
gold band. the skirt of the tunic, made open and
rounded off at the corners, is bordered by a single
tuck and gold band. A fancy jewelry cord and
tassels serves as ceinture. Head dress of hair, or-
namented with a demi couronne, corresponding with
the ceinture. A very full knot of crimson velvet,
with pointed ends, terminated by tassels similar to
those of the ceinture, but much lighter, is placed on
one side, and two white ostrich feathers droop on
the other. the top of the white kid gloye is trim-
med with a wreath of down feathers. Shoes of rich
white silk; fancy jewellery bracelets.
Mrs. A—– had on what might truly be termed a
grand costume, consisting of a plain rich white satin
dress, short cut surplice, but with the body low and
pointed at the waist. Her head dress was simply a
coronet of pearls, fastened with gold pins, repre-
senting petite flowers, and lace veil. She wore one
plain gold bracelet on the left wrist, according to
the prevailing Parisian fashion, and a plain gold
chain. Her hair was in ringlets, and she looked as
lovely as any lady in the fete. [The young lady,
Miss J—–, represented in figure 6, was dressed
somewhat similar to Miss S—–, though with a
more redundant head dress.]
Miss W—– looked very sweet. She wore a
robe of grey gros de Tours, a low corsage, quite
square at the top, and very deeply pointed at the
bottom. She had many admirers during this de-
lightful day. See figure 7, in the above drawing.
The dress of Miss S—–, was much admi-
red. It is represented by figure 8, and comprised a
beautiful blue gros d’ ete robe, a tight corsage, cut
very low, and trimmed round the top with three
broad folds of white satin, laid on. This set off her
beautiful figure to great advantage, and although we
did not very much admire her head dress, still her
appearance was not less pleasing than the most beau-
tiful belle in the fete… to be continued (Part V will be the final entry to this article)
~transcribed by Keri Pacella