Nashville Union And American

(From Paris Correspondent Journal of Commerce,)

LATEST FRENCH FASHIONS.

Basques are still worn in walking and negligee dress, while in full dress the bodies are without lapels. The skirts are very full when not trimmed, and are arranged in double or triple plaits, according to the fullness.

Flounces continue to be in favor, although many skirts trimmed en tablier. Bodies of dresses are decorated on the back as well as the front, with passementeries and velvet placed in the ladder style (en echelle), forming a kind of pelerine. A slimmer toilette may be composed of a striped silk alternately pink and white; the white is of gros de Naples chine, with bouquets of roses and leaves, and the pink of moire antique. The very full skirt has half a train opening in front in the apron style. The under skirt of white gros de Naples, embroidered in white silk. On each side of the dress are bows of ribbon, to match the color of the flowers on the white stripe. The corsage, open to the waist, has a plastron of gros de Naples embroidered, and braces of wide ribbon to match the bows on the skirt, ending in a bow and long ends behind. The sleeves are formed of three jockeys, each drawn up in front of the arm with a bow.

The exhibition of Autumn and winter bonnets gives us hopes of an approaching disappearance of the small and unbecoming coiffure which has been adopted for the last two years. The first model for winter wear is of velvet stretched smooth and plain over the foundation; the bavolet is edged with a lace, either white or black, according to the taste of the wearer. The only ornament is feathers, arranged tastefully on both sides, the ends of which pass above the bavolet behind. Flowers and plain tulle ruches decorate the inside. The second model for evening—visiting, or the theatre—is composed of sky blue velvet, the passe, or front of the bonnet, is much longer at the side than it has been for years, and the form diminishes towards the crown. The crown is covered with an aureole of blonde, the vandycked edges of which, form, in front, the garniture, and at the back the curtain. A soft downy feather, of blue and white, is laid close to the edge of the brim. The interior of the bonnet is adorned by the grappes d'anneaux (a bunch of velvet loops), which have become much the fashion of late.

The silks now exhibiting for winter are quite new in design, and almost so in material; we have gros grains of bright blue or pink, green or grosseille, upon which is brocaded a design considerably raised from the surface in white. As trimmings for robes all kinds of drooping ends, streamers and agrafes, are abandoned for the present. Short flat bows, mostly indeed, ironed down, have superseded the long ends. There are robes with velvet flounces; some of these flounces are in a check pattern, and terminate with a rich fringe wove in the stuff. The medallion dress has three flounces of two shades, with wreaths worked in the material. The Reine des Fleurs Robe has four chine flounces on a plain ground; the Diana de Lys is made of pansy or purple; the ground is plain and the flounces are covered with several rows of black velvet, as thick and round as a finger. To each row there is a row of fringe, making five in all—There are also an immense variety of simple silks, with very dark grounds, and very small patterns and tiny bouquets of bright colors, also tissues of mixed silk and worsted, which form very pretty walking toilettes. Enamel is as much in favor as jewelry, instead of bright and sparkling stones, that is for demi-toilette. Sarranzin has carried this style of ornament to great perfection in studs and buttons, also bracelets of blue enamel and gold. The medallion is of enamel, with an exquisite bouquet of flowers in the centre; gold loops fasten the circles together, which are also surrounded with a rich gold setting.

Fruit is still much used for ball head dresses. The mixture of blonds and flowers, or fruit, and is very becoming and elegant. There are coiffures composed of barbes of black lace, mixed with long gold leaves and cerise velvet, which have a charming effect, particularly in light hair.