Litchfield enquirer., 1860-06-21
A JUNE GOSSIP ABOUT FASHION

BY MRS. GEORGE WASHINGTON WYLLYs.
 It is decidedly nice" to be woman-to have the privilege of wearing one style of dress in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening, if body chooses. A man jumps into his what-do-you cal-'ems in the morning, and there he is-a fixture for the rest of the dayl No delightful de. Alterations as to whether white or blue, green or manrs, shall be worn; no sweet perplexity as to the properest collar or belt; no back-hair" to be ornamented with velvet or ribbon, and no rosetted slippers to be lux usiated in! Poor fellowl if it is any comfort to him to indulge in envious "left-handers" about the frivolity of dress, and such stereo- typed nonsense, pray don't interfere with itl
 And now about the summer fashions, for the fair readers of Life Illustrated must not be left in ignorance of the gradual revolu- tions of the wheel of "style." There Is much talk of change in bonnets The im- mense "Jersey wagons" from whose depths feminine faces have peeped out during the spring, have reached their climacteric of size, and the ''poke"-all the ladies will know what we mean-has taken 6 down. ward droop. In Paris the bonnets are worn somewhat smaller, and without the mon. strous hanging crowns which form so prom inent Q feature of our oaapea1s here. Gilt and pearl slides, buckles, and rings are very much worn both for outside and face trim ming.
 The Arab Mantle" is the summer novel; ty in outer garments. It is made up in bar ege, grenadins, chaf, and silk. Although new in this country, it has been the rage in London during one season already. It is simply deep scarf, or long-shawl, folded once, and closed about eighteen inches from this back fold The two remaining corners are rounded; the closed angle forms an awk. ward hanging hood, with three heavy tas- sells, and the mantle is faced and corded en- -tirely around with some bright-colored silk. The most dsxtrous arrangement of the gar ment will not obviate an ungraceful wrinkle, or "hitch," ss the ladies phrase it, under the hood; but that is the beauty of iti It wouldn't be an Arab" without the wrinklei Our readers will be interested in the ori- gin of this curious wrapper. When the uD- fortunate Queen of Dude came as an honor ary prisoner to London not long ago, she was, of course, the observed of all observ- ers." especially among the ladies' whose quick eyes immediately noticed the priceless India shawl that she wore, caught up at the back in this way. In few days, every lady who could boast of anything in the shape Of scarf, had it hitched up in a perfect fac simie, and hung with tassels to produce . greater effect; and those who were unprovi- ded, cut cloth, silk, etc., into the shape which had been so admired on the shoulders of the hapless Oriental Queen. So spring up fashions!
 Gray and purple are the favorite colors; dresses en suits in cool French poplins are almost universal. "What is the cloth that makes women look like shiny tishesS" asked a critic, belonging, of course, to the other sex. It wasn't bad illustration; tho lus- trous sivery gray of this favorite material is not unlike the glittering scales of the iuny tribes. Msrmaidens, he might have likensd us unto, had he been more politely disposedi
 Long casaques, or street-basques, are go- ing out of fashion---more's the pity. Colors will be much used in trimming black silk mantles; for instance, a double pufing of rose color or Marie Louise blue around the edge of 6 black mantilla. In dresses, foun- ces still predominate. Black kid gloves, stitched with white silk will be worD by ev. erybody, and for evening, it is aw rsgls to wear white, stitched with silk to match the dress worn.
 We have seen some exquisite little para sols, lined with colors to contrast with the covering. as, for instance, black parasol with light blue lining, and gray, with cher. ry lining. The fringes are double, so that the two colors mingle. Fans are circular and elegantly decorated.--Lifs Hiastratsd,