Frocks for a Duchess

Southland Times, Issue 21088, 21 May 1930, Page 12

Frocks for a Duchess

(From Our Correspondent). London, March 26. The most famous fashion houses of London and Paris contributed to the trousseau of Miss Loelia Ponsonby, who is now the Duchess of Westminster, and wife of one of England's wealthiest men. _ On the day before her marriage the duchess revived a pre-war custom and gave a trousseau tea to her intimate friends, who were able to admire all the lovely things which she had acquired in preparation for Her wedding. The duke has showered jewels upon her, and these were shown in a special case. The engagement ring was made from

a square sapphire set between two oblong diamonds, and there was another singlestone diamond ring set in platinum and a ring made from two diamond hearts centred with a sapphire and a ruby. One necklace might have seemed at first sight to be made of the newly fashionable round beads, but in this case the beads were made of real sapphires and emeralds. Many other jewels were presented by the duke, including a diamond tiara which was not on view, as it is not yet finished and two magnificent fur coats also came from him. One was of mink and the other, of ermine, had one of the new roll collars carried out in silver fox. Miss ‘Ponsonby’s wedding frock came from Molyneux, and embodied several new features. It was made of brown velvet patterned in the tiniest gold check, which, nevertheless, gave it ag learning surface. The frock was nearly ankle length and was worn under a hip-length coat of the same material cut with a fluted basque and a high roll collar of beige fox. On her wedding day Miss Ponsonby wore a spray of tawny orchids pinned to her coat, and completed her ensemble with one of the new ribbon hats made of velvet ribbon in two shades of brown. This fitted her head closely, with a straight line across the forehead, and the ends of ribbon were drawn down to one side.

As the Duke and Duchess are spending I heir honeymoon on the duke’s yacht, several trousseau frocks were chosen especially for wear on board. One navy blue dress had handkerchief collar and cuffs of red spotted silk, and was worn under a short navy coat lined with the spotted material. The new transparent tweed, in a soft shade of green, was used to make another frock, whose accompanying three-quarter length coat had a roll collar of grey caracul. Chocolate coloured shaved caracul trimmed a beige tweed wool coat, and the matching dress was pleated and came nearly to the ankles.

One of the prettiest afternoon dresses found expression in black crepe Mongol. This had an inset bow of fine beige lace trimming the front of the bodice, and was accompanied by a short lace coat adorned with beige fur. Black georgette patterned in large roses made one evening gown, another one of turquoise blue chiffon was cut with a long flowing skirt which touched the ground, while the requisite moulded hip line was provided by means cf a hip sash. This dress was accompanied by a short coat, of blue ring velvet collared in celestial grey fox.