Cocktail Parties

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 485, 15 October 1928, Page 11

Cocktail Parties

Bars Built in Houses LONDON’S SMART SET The cocktail party seems to be firmly established -with the smart set in London. Where women's committee meetings once assembled and imbibed weak tea afterwards, thej* are now mediums of the cocktail party, even when held in the morning, writes Nell Murray to the Melbourne “Herald.” Certain art shows and mannequin parades are not complete without it. At a recent show of paintings by a Russian with futuristic tendencies, ! arranged by the famous Sitwell family i ! green and gold cocktails were handed : round. ! For a day the topic in London newspapers was the production of a blue cocktail. Every other colour is possible, and the result of the discussion was the discovery that the only two colouring substances suitable were the juice of the gentian* (a blue flower which grows on the high Alps) and a French sirop known during the last century but not made now. Some of the newest designs for houses include a cocktail bar in one corner of the lounge. It is usually done in artistically panelled wood, luxuriously fitted with crystal bottles, glasses and shakers. Already a few hostesses have created their own recipes, the details of which are jealously guarded. Salt, almonds, potato chips and caviare sandwishes are often served with them. A famous dress designer invites one

to a dress parade and a cocktail party in the same breath—or an elaborately engraved invitation is sent, entitling you to spend an hour or so in a parchment and gold drawing-room, sipping from gold fllagreed glasses, while mannequins parade in lovely clothes. At one of these combined functions given recently by Madame Luander and her sister. Lady Glenmorris. mannequins displayed a novelty—the cocktail party frock, designed specially so that it is suitable for both late afternoon and dinner wear. Made in coloured lace, the ensemble was particularly charming. In most cases the frock -was sleeveless, and had an accompanying short coat of the same material, which could be slipped off to reveal the evening outfit. Lady Glenmorris told me that the name of this model was “Clover Club.”