HARPER'S BAZAR: DECEMBER 15, 1877

The wedding dress was the handsomest seen in New York since that of Nellie Grant, which was made by the same modiste. It consisted of an empress train and corsage of the richest brocaded white satin, with an apron of plain satin nearly covered with lace, pearl passementerie, and bouquets of orange blossoms. The lace, said to be the finest of its kind ever brought to this country, was point applique, bordered with round point, and ornamented with medallions of point de Venise. The front of the brocaded corsage was a round waist, with a wide belt formed of five satin folds fastened by a bouquet; the neck was high behind, with a standing collar, while the Pompadour square front was filled in with lace, on which was laid pearl points embroidered on tulle. Below this were the clinging satin front breadths, on which three deep flounces were laid diagonally and headed by satin folds and the beaded trimming. These flounces began high on the right side, descended to the first seam on the left side, where they each formed a point to hold a bouquet, and thence sloped upward, trimming elaborately the left side gore that is more plainly seen than the right side, which is next the groom in walking; across the foot of the three plain satin breadths was a deep satin flounce shirred in clusters, with a bouquet in each space between the shirrings, and this flounce fell over a knife-pleating of satin that edged the dress. The empress back, beginning with five long seams at the shoulders, sloped smoothly low over the tournure, whence the rich brocade formed a court train, cut in very deep leaf points, under which were five rows of satin knife-pleating. The back was three yards long, yet the flowing breadths were not looped, but fell in easy graceful folds. A long deep panel was formed down the middle of the train with lace and pearl passementerie. The sleeves were long duchesse shape, made entirely of the transparent lace, with two ruffles falling on the wrists, and held by a cluster of blossoms. The graceful train was supported by a fan made of two gored breadths of crinoline from the waist to the end, shaped like the skirt, and covered with flounces of muslin and lace; this fan was sewed in beneath the train, and moves with it. A small bouquet was in the left corner of the square neck, and another high on the right side. The lace and pearl trimmings on this dress were so rich that but few flowers were used, and these, according to the newest fancy, were all in bouquets instead of long garlands. The veil of lace, combining Venice and round point, was fastened with orange flowers.

Among the richest of the evening dresses of this outfit was a dress of sulphur-colored brocade combined with plain gros grain, and trimmed with wide Valenciennes lace and tulle embroidered with pearls; the train was ninety-five inches long; the sleeves were of white chenille in open square meshes held by pearls. A handsome costume with a jacket to match, for the street, was of plum-colored brocade and velvet, trimmed with bands of silk and velvet; a large gold buckle fastened the belt of this corsage, and another held up the drapery in the back. A visiting and reception dress was of maroon velvet, trimmed with wide bands of cocks' feathers of the same shade. A second rich costume was of black brocaded silk and plain silk.

One of the handsomest house dresses was a black silk made in princesse shape, with transparent sleeves entirely of mordore beads, alternating with clair de lune; one side gore was also covered with this beaded trimming, while the scarf apron fronts crossed each other and were fastened on one side of the train. A bouquet of dark red damask roses with buds of the yellow tea-roses is worn at the belt of this dress. For morning dresses was one purely white wrapper of India cashmere, trimmed with marabout feathers and Mechlin lace; a second wrapper had a train of pale gray camel's-hair, with front of pink silk, trimmed with Valenciennes lace; around the train was a band of gray ostrich feathers holding pleatings of pink and gray silk.

The dress in which the bride's mother accompanied her daughter to the altar was pearl-color, with an apron of gros grain, a brocaded Pompadour basque, and long princesse back with flowing train. Three curved rows of duchesse lace, in which were medallions of round point, entirely covered the apron breadths, and were caught on the sides with bows of silk finished with tassels of strung pearls. The square neck was trimmed with lace and pearls fastened by a cluster of pale pink roses. The train hangs in folds without being caught up at a single point; it is trimmed up each side with lace, and across the bottom with pleated and gathered flounces; the sleeves have lace inserted their whole length.

The bride's sister, Mrs. Shepherd, wore ciel blue brocaded silk with postilion basque, and flowing train with revers, while the plain blue silk front of the skirt was trimmed with a garniture of velvet embroidery, representing olive shaded leaves and pink blossoms that looked as if painted on the silk; below this rare needle-work was lace in rows held by pink rose-buds.