Princess' Styles

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5299, 11 January 1947, Page 3

Princess' Styles

Now that Princess Elizabeth is pla.ying her owi individual ))ar. in public li ro, and keeping mar.y private engagemeins as well, fhe que-tion arises, how does s.he manage to Hring so many changes in her wardrobe if she adhcrcs tt> coupon ratings. Despile a pe^.nissable concession because cf her public engagemcnt -, Princess Elizabeth has firmly adiiored to her coupons as far as possioie, writes a London correspondent. Like any other family in the Empire, too, the princess wears her mother's frosks c-ut down. Cleverly disguised with trimmings, altercJ neclclines and lengths and styles of skirts, trim little f rocks in which the princess o'ften appears cannot be recognised as those previously worn by the Queen. The princesses help each other to defeat the coupon shortage, borrowing accessories and often exchanging jerseys, blouses and stockings. One garment they do not need to changt — the white lambswool packets sen; by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester for Christmas last year. They were thrilled. Y'oung Girl's Dream Princess Elizabeth sometimes borrows her mother's evening froc-ks for small informal occasons .It was only lately that she firs* realised whai is many a yottng girl's dream — a lovely romantic frock. She appeared on a dance floor weaving a full-skirted vvhite chiffon, bishop-sleeved, with her favourite heart-shaped •necldine, and patterned with tiny silvery blue stars She looked a picture, with her light brown hair parted simply at the side and curled up at the ends, and her lovely peach and white eomplexion. When the princess appeared at the opening' of the ballet she was wearing new white fox furs. But no, she had borrowed her mother's furs. She has no fur coat other than the dyed ermine given to her before the war. At the same time Princess Margaret was given a white ermine . Both loolced dainty in fluffy pink and white full-skirted frocks at the ballet. Taking yards and yards of xulle? No again: both frocks were made of uncouponed net. One gown —her own— that Princess Elizabeth is weaving to theatres is a bright red satjn-backed marocain. It is longsleeved, tailored with a heart neclcline, and edged with sequins. Daytime Dressing The princess works almost to a blue-print for dressing in the day time, making' a long coat the foundation on' which to ring' the changes for the complete outfit. She 'has four' coats — two she has had for over a year. One dark wool coat, with four flap pockets and a link-button fastening, has gone over print silk frocks for the past two summers, with a small white flower hat or a dark straw halo. This year it has been worn with a new bow-topped felt. With .a pastel light wool coat of similar style, with bow-knots on the : breast poc-kdt, and a waist-tie, she Rvears.,£^skiull cap trimmed ' with .mhlti-cbioiired ..flowers qr'.f. wide-i 'brimmed; felt.r.'The third coat,' in pale

moss-green, is a tailored long guard niodel, double-breasted and with wide military revers. This is worn with a new ostrich-feather toque or a soft matehing beret pulled sideways. A new iblue coat is worn over a navy blue dress with a white beaded motif at the neck ancl a navy blue felt hat with a wide front -bow and eye-level viel, which is already beir.g adopted by young London (grls. Without topcoat the dress is sometimes worn with a little fitting navy blue jacket. ; Recently the princess has been seen dining in public in simple anlclelength dinner frocks, including a black georgette tied with searlet ribbon — it was the Queen's! Princess Elizabeth has not yet worn a decollete evening gown — the time is not yet considered right for England tc»' go really gay again.