We appeal to you, ladies, whether this is a fancy sketch; and yet sometimes it is not the fault of the hostess—­you really do not know how you are expected to arrange your toilet.  It is to obviate this evil that we propose giving a few plain hints on evening dress.

We once knew a very nice lady, who had come to town for the purpose of taking music lessons.  She was entirely unfamiliar with the etiquette of the toilet, and living at a boarding house, there was no one she felt at entire liberty to consult.  A gentleman invited her to the opera.  She was wild with delight.  It was a cold winter’s night, and she dressed accordingly.  She wore a dark merino dress and cloak, a heavy velvet bonnet and plumes, and thick knit gloves, dark also.  The gentleman looked astonished, but said nothing; and imagine her consternation, when she found herself in the centre of the dress circle, in the midst of unveiled necks and arms, thin white dresses, and white kid gloves.  At once the oddity of her mistake flashed across her; but she bore it with unparalleled firmness, and enjoyed the music notwithstanding.  The lorgnettes attracted by her costume, found a very sweet face to repay them, and her naive and enthusiastic criticism interested her companion so much that he forgot all else.

And how should she have dressed?  Cloaks—­and what is an opera toilet without a cloak?—­are nothing more than sacques of bright cashmere or velvet, lined with quilted silk or satin, with loose flowing sleeves.  A shawl is, of course, thrown over this out of doors.  One of the prettiest cloaks of this season was made by Miss Wharton, of black satin, with a hood lined with Pompadour pink.  But cashmere is less expensive, and may be trimmed with pointed silk or satin, and lined with the same colored silk.  Your dress is not of so much consequence, if it is light, for the cloak conceals it.  But the undersleeves should be very nice, and white kid gloves are indispensable.  A scarf or hood may be worn to the door of the box, and then thrown over the arm.  The hair is dressed with very little ornament this winter; but, whatever the head-dress adopted, the two chief points are simplicity and becomingness.  Dress hats are allowed; but, as they obstruct the view of others, are not desirable.

Nearly the same dress is proper for a subscription concert, where you are sure of a large audience; of course, where Jenny Lind is the attraction, the same thing is certain.  All her concerts are dress concerts.  But, for a ballad soiree, or the first appearance of any new star, a pretty hat, with an opera cloak or light shawl, is quite sufficient.  For panoramas, negro minstrels, or evening lectures, an ordinary walking costume is sufficient, and it would be very bad taste to go with the head uncovered.

A party dress should be regulated by the invitation, in a measure.  In “sociables,” the most sensible of all parties, a light silk, mousseline, or cashmere, is sufficient, with short sleeves and a pretty collar.  Gloves are by no means indispensable, and many prefer black silk mitts.  If the number of invitations exceeds twenty-five, a regular evening dress is expected, as well as at weddings, receptions, or a dancing party.  A full evening costume we have often described, and shall give some new styles next month.