I am inclined to think that the reign of the shaped flounce is perhaps nearly over. Never have its inconveniences been more shown than during the present winter, when those who wore them cut long enough to be in the fashion have been really encumbered by them, and wretched from the impossibility of holding them up. Certainly there were many who never even attempted to raise them and just simply let them drag in the dust or mud, and one shudders to think of what their feet and undergarments must have looked like, apart from the dress itself. Frenchwomen held their dresses up in the style of long ago, taking a good grip one hand on each side, the effect being most odd and funny.
Just as many blouses have been worn as ever this winter underneath the ever-fashionable coat and skirt; and at the sales there has been quite as great a rush for the remnants of silk, which are always prepared for those occasions. Nothing can be more ornate than some of the blouses and fancy tea-jackets; and there seems to be a very generally united opinion that, having a proper skirt to wear with them, they are not an extravagant purchase, as they perform so many parts and are suitable for a variety of occasions.
There are two new basques which, however, remind one more of the coat-tails of the ordinary dress-coat than of anything else. They go by the name of the “swallow tail” basque, and lie extremely flat; by no means could one wear any such thing as gathers beneath them on this particular account. They may be very long, or they may only measure about half a yard in length. The basques nearly meet in front, and are cut in one with the swallow tails; but when it is so cut, it is called by many people the “spoon-shaped basque.” However, I find in many of the French papers, as well as the English ones, that both are called by the all-covering name of _Directoire_—an epoch of time which describes many articles of dress of late years. I should not be surprised if these basques were much worn when the spring appears.
The fancy for wearing tan shoes has been very remarkable this winter. Rather a dark wood-shade is worn—not too dark, but darker than was in vogue last season. Both glacé kid and calf are used; and, in any case, they should be of an extra good quality, as, otherwise, they will not stand the winter’s hard wear.