AUSTERITY CUSTOM

Lake County Mail, Issue 25, 12 November 1947, Page 9

AUSTERITY CUSTOM

PRINCESS’S WEDDING GOWN EVENING FROCK LATER The austerity custom that Princess Elizabeth is sure to share with other brides in England is the practice of converting her wedding gown into an evening frock afterwards. or the Princess loves wearing pretty dance > frocks and like most other young girls of her age enjoys admiration of her clothes. A Hartnell-designed bridal frock can undoubtedly be switched to a glamorous evening gown later with some remodelling, and this may have been one of the points that weighed With Elizabeth when she and her future husband, Lieutqnant Philip Mountbatten, studied the designer’s sketches. It is only lately that she has had a really free hand in choosing her own clothes. During the war, when the Royal family cut their wardrobe to a minimum, Princess Elizabeth was guided by her mother in the choice of her wardrobe. Her clothes were practical first—they had to wear and wear, but still remain smart for all public engagements. Also, in the war years, some of the Queen’s extensive Canadian wardrobe was cut up to clothe both Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, in the spirit of Britain’s “ make-do-and-mend ’’ campaign. Nothing Extreme Her careful budget of clothes, however, has for some time now been an example to many young girls of her own age, and older women as well. For the Princess chooses nothing extreme. Like most young girls she went through a" “ bits and pieces ” stage when she demanded —and was often allowed — too many bows, frills and other trimmings. But now, simple elegance for day clothes is her rule—and many of her coats and frocks are interchangeable to give the impression of a far bigger wardrobe than she does in fact possess. She could afford many handbags. Instead she has just a few classic designs in dark tones of calfskin, which will look smart with all her outfits. She thinks high-heeled shoes are feminine and attractive. But hours of standing during public engagements have made her realise they are not the most practical, as it is impossible to look poised and happy, with aching feet. So for day wear she chooses smart wedges or neat Cuban-heeled models (but with .sling-backs and peeper-toes for summer). Loves Big Hats \ The Princess loves hats; big hats, little hats, feather or flowered toques, haloes, hats with dramatic sweeping brims, flowered beribboned feminine bits of nonsense. But there again she buys mostly models that can be switched among many of her outfits. For her South African wardrobe, though, site passed up this utilitarian ruling and favoured some ultra-smart hat-dress combinations, like the candy pink and white spotted outfit which she wore at the first Royal Presentation Garden Party this season, after her return home.. It is Princess Elizabeth's evening gowns that give a clue to the romantic girl she is at heart. She loves gleaming satins, sparkling embroidery, and glowing shades —and she feels that over evening wear she can “let herself go.” It was Hartnell who made her white

accordion-pleated satin frock with gold sequins between pleats; a heavy white crepe two-piece, both dinner frock and jacket being embroidered in lustrous aquamarine jewels; and a young girl’s dream is her rose pink satin frock with its bands of honeycomb-smocking and voluminous skirt. Two of her favourite long frocks last season were a bright, red dinner gown with longsleeves and glittering sequins outlining the heart-shaped neckline, and a black dross trimmed with bands of cherry red velvet. Her usual evening wrap is a white fox cape, though she sometimes switches this with her daytime fur coat.