Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-06-12
Summer Fashions.

y more coquettish spring than this OF
1861 was surely never known. The first
April dav, were full Of sweet promise,
which have utterly failed of fulhllment, and
the last OF May finds the ground still cold,
the trees and flowers discouraged, and the
fashionable world in despair OF what
use Is it that Miss MacFlim>ey has given
the moIiSte, and milliners no rest, that
She might be ready to shine forth in mar
velou~ array a. soon a the Lenten aus
tcritieS wereoyer2 Easter late as it was,
brought only chilly winds and pale, cold
sunshine. Evidently not even the most
hewitching novelties could be appreciated
ia such a temperature. and Miss Mae
Flimsev >taid at home. for fear OF exposing
her new bonnet to a sudden snow-storm.
Nor has she been much more fortunate
since and her bonnet i absolutely bccom-
ing old-faShjomed without having been
worn at all She is beginning to think
that the mi>cries OF nothing to wear :
are by no means to be compared to those
of the opposite extreme, For now summer
Is at hand-in the almanac at least-and
her provisions for the intermediate season
viii very likely be useless She will doubt
less in one day make the transition from
the winter wrapper in which she has been
covering by the fire, to grenadines, bareges
and croquet. Again comes up the mo.
mentou~ question. Wherewithal shall she
be clothed ,
Doubtless with the first June days we
shall better appreciate the beauty of the
fabrics in shop windows, which now look
so chilly and undesirable. No wonder the
merchants are in despair as they display
in vain the delicate muslins and cambrics
and laces for summer wear. But their
time will come : the dear creatures whom
these lovely snareS are intended to attract
will flutter around them, and be entangleC
all the more easily for having been wary
50 long. Miss MacFlimsey will have a
wcarisome time of it through the month OF
June, with her long-deferred preparations
for the summer campaign, but the first OF
July will behold her, fatigued yet victori
Gus, at Saratoga or Newport. And now
what shall she get
In the first place, her elegant silks which
were cut with short skirts and pettlcoats
of different colors early in the spring, are
no longer endurable Only morning walk.
inc costumes are now cut short, and these
must either have no undcrskirt, being
made to come Just below the ankle, or the
underskirt must be of the same material
as the upper For these dresses, whose
convenience especially i'll the country, viii
insure their continuance in fashion for the
present, velveteen, the new cotton material
alpaca. black silk, or any strong and ser
yiceable fabric may be employed. Bu
for full dress or even for home wear tn,
trained skirt is Indispensable. 1t is yer,
I long and much gored. with no fullness a
the waist Such II skirt, unless of yer,
rich, heavy material, must have gooC
deal of trimming TO relieve It's plainness
There is an infinite variety of styles, anc
Miss MacFlimsey may follow her OWL
sweet will or the more cunningly devised
schemes Of her dresS-maker without feal
of being out of the fashion In fact tn,
more novel and striking the combination
the greater Will be its success. Whit
continues i'll high favor, partly for th'
reason that it admits Of the most elaborat
ornamentation. White leno, alpaca, gren
adine. and organdie, will be the mos
fashionable goods. These are trimme'
with bands Of satin or silk and the seam
corded with the same. Satin is the mos
stylish trimming, even for muslins. Sum
mer silks have white or very light ground
with small bright boquets, or delicat
chene pattern. Foulards are to be mucl
worn; they are eminently suitable for tn
cool days of New England summer, ant
are quite durable. The latest style Q
rich silks is the brocaded, revival of Al