Godey's Lady's Book

GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, March 1850

BRIDAL COSTUMES.

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We have before this been so explicit on the subject of trousseau, that little more need be said with regard to the beautiful and exquisitely tasteful plate which we give this month, than to describe the various parts of the different dresses.

Figure 1st.– A dress of satin, with flounces and double berthe of a light French lace, styled point d'applique. This is suitable only for a tall and stately woman. The bouquet de corsage and the wreath are of orange flowers; and the veil is simple tulle, set upon a small cap made to fit the head closely. It falls more fully about the figure in this way than in any other.

2d figure.– A rich robe of soie d'antique, a very heavy old–-fashioned silk. The richness of the material requires it to be make very plain; but it may be fully ornamented with natural flowers, as are here given. Full-blown white roses, with their foliage at the hem, and graduated in size to buds at the waist, which is finished by a finely-plaited chemisette fitting close to the throat.The veil falls low on the forehead, and is fastened back by bouquets of rose-buds at each side. This is decidedly, the most tasteful of the two, and better fitted for a short or slender figure. If there is any time in the life of a woman when her costume should be simple, it is at her bridal, although we know an opposite taste prevails. Everything that will impede freedom of movement or thought should be banished, and, above all, whatever would make her conscious of " how she was looking."

Some pretty bridal dresses, more simple than either of these, have been made by Miss Wharton this winter. One is a silver-spotted tulle over white satin, with a veil to correspond. It is novel, and has a pretty effect in the evening, with silva ornaments, such as we have before described.

Another tasteful robe was white crepe lisse over a slip of white silk. The skirt was caught up at one side by a delicate wreath, extending to the waist. White roses, orange flowers, or jessamine may be.used for this. The crape skirt was bordered by two rows of narrow satin ribbon, with a purled edge, put on plainly, at a little distance from each other. The crape sleeves (over the silk ) were edged in the same way; the waist plain, low, and covered with the crape. Tulle veils, very full, are still worn more than any other. They are unexpensive, and always give a peculiar grace and delicacy to the face and figure of the wearer. Our lady readers will remember that, properly, the veil should never be worn after the ceremony; its significancy is lost after that interesting event.

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