CORONATION ROBES WILL COST UP TO £432.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 363, 18 February 1937, Page 2

CORONATION ROBES WILL COST UP TO £432.

Peeresses who Will play an important part in the pageantry of the Coronation, will, according to a recent cable, have to face large dress bills “for robes which can only be worn once or twice in a lifetime at coronations.” Continuing the message states: The dress bill of a duchess for the Coronation ceremony will reach £432, of which £336 will go in a crimson velvet three-piece robe, including a train and an erminetrimmed cape, and the remainder for a White or gold court dress costing £6O, a coronet £25, gloves and shoes £5 each, and stockings £l. On the same scale a marchioness must spend £304 on a robe, a countess £2BB, a viscountess £267 and a baroness £246. The differences are largely due to the lesser ermine and the shorter trains required by the lower ranks, but peeresses content to wear rabbit instead of ermine and machine-woven velvet instead of hand-woven and other cheaper materials can save between £135 and £l7B according to rank. All, however, will have further expense on tiaras and other jewellery.

Cheaper Materials. To-day the manufacturer’s art ha.s reached a very high level, so much so that it is difficult to tell the artificial from the genuine article. An expert of course could quickly detect the, difference. We have read about synthetic pearls and synthetic diamonds, which have b. en described as excellent imitations. We have seen humble bunny disguised as costly ermine and lovely synthetic fabrics as rich brocades 1 and delicate silks. The depression created a demand for cheaper materials and the market has been further stimulated by the attractive substitutes allied to the lower cost, which is an important consideration to the woman with a limited income. All of which leads us back to the question of cheaper materials and the suggestion that peeresses' might be content to like substitutes at the Coronation. The cost is Vtrtainly a big factor and no doubt that will be taken into consideration when a final selection is l made, especially when it is remembered that the robes can only be worn at a Coronation.

Englishmen “Slipshod.” While on the subject of dress, it is interesting to note the comments of the authoress, Winifred James, on the Englishman’s sartorial deficiencies. She told the Press Association that “Englishmen have become slipshod and they are no longei- the world’s best dressed men.” She drew comparisons between the sartorial elegance of the Scandinavian men and the dress atrocities of the Englishman, “who had gone to pieces since the introduction of that horrible mixture of brown coat, colourful pullover and grey unpressed trousers, or worse still, plus fours.” . . .

. . . So far as men’s fashions are concerned delegates' at a recent convention held by the men’s clothing industry in Chicago, stated that,“The Duke of Windsor is still the nearest approach to a world arbiter of men’s styles.” The president referred to his Royal Highness’ impeccable taste and "perfect sense of style.”

Hair Protection. To protect the hair effectively from sea water when bathing, soak a large silk handkerchief or old piece of silk in olive oil, dry it in the sun and tie neatly around the head before putting on a bathing cap. To remove sea water stains from leather shoes, dissolve a lump of washing soda (about two tabl:spoons.) in hot milk, rub over stains, and when dry polish in the usual way. Dry tea scattere-d amongst the folds is an effective protector of cloth from the ravages! of moths and sil venfish. Dry, stale bread will remove powder marks from black dresses. When washing loosely knitted or celanese garments, before putting out to dry v'rap them in a towel for a short while. This will absorb all surplus water, and the material will not drop when hung on the line. Never peg woollen or celanese garments, just throw over the line or put on coat hangers to dry.