London Says

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 5, 14 August 1936, Page 54

London Says

These London Fashion Notes were specially written for the "Radio Record"

by

MAIE

WEBSTER

@°::.. ROYAL OCCASIONS The Royal Afternoon Receptions are very near now. Frocks of heavy crepes with embossing in metal thread; satins and laces, too, have been chosen for these occasions. The gowns will just touch the lawns and will be worn with large, rather severe hats. The Queen, the Duchesses and the Princess Royal, clad in their mourning garments, made a distinctive contrast in the blaze of colour when the King attended the colourful ceremony ° of the Trooping of the Colours. The two small Princesses wore mauve frocks and wide~' brimmed mauve hats. ‘ The Duchess of Kent wore a wide brimmed black hat on Alexandra Rose Day, and when she made a tour of the selling stations in her new role of President, some of the sellers wished to garland her with roses. Alas, they had not allowed for the width of the hat brim, and it took some little time before the garland could be persuaded to come over it! Eventually perseverance won, and the blushing maidens were cordially thanked by a radiantly smiling Duchess.

SEEN AT WIMBLEDON | FASHIONS at Wimbledon are decorative this season. Gay flowered frocks ‘ and spotted sun suits. A smart suit of pink linen had for trimming three rows of suede buttons in beige and brown.. A very smart outfit was in white crepe. The three-quarter length coat was removed to display. a sun top frock. Very plainly made, the smartness lay in a double harness of shoulder.straps made of plaited strips of the fabric. . White linen suits were popular. A flower garden crepe blouse was worn with a suit of lettuce linen. Madame Mathieu, ‘the brilliant French player, demonstrated the becoming qualities of coloured rims for spectacles. Hers were of an aquamarine tint and accentuated her lovely grey eyes. fo

MORE IDEAS FROM ASCOT AFTER a visit to.Ascot. on Royal Hunt Cup Day, men will surely never. again’ complain that women all try to look and dress exactly like each other. The-weather was perfect, and fashions in infinite variety paraded the lawns. The most gossamer, of Jace and organdie creations floated over the grass-Ffrills and flounces everywhere. Large shady hats were necessary as well as becoming; many ladies carried sunshades, most of which were befrilled. One ultra-smart young damsel had a very novel three-cor-nered parasol made from the same printed fabric as her dress. Hats of lace were in evidence, though etheréal in appearance, and many of them had been specially treated to withstand:a shower. Printed crepe-de-chine frocks and two-piece ensembles were very popular, particularly with the older women. Though on'this day the garden party type of clothes predominated, lots of smart "town" clothes and "‘little suits’’ were worn. These certainly’ confirmed the short skirt vogue. Figured and floral suits, some with short sleeves, 2re a very feminine interpretation of the tailor’s art, and English girls seem to look their best in a tailleur-be it silk or tweed. A few fox furs were to be seen despite the ideal weather conditions, but I fell in love with the pastel-shaded feather and marabout capes. Their soft, fluffy fronds so accentuate youthful charms, and they are so essentially the correct complement for trailing delicate ‘gowns. On the lawns I saw two charmingly dressed ladies of special interest to New Zealanders. They were Lady Prudence Jellicoe and her sister who is now Lady Norah Wingfield. The latter wore a dress and hat of sapphire blue, and Lady Prudence‘'s cool green frock and short coat had accents of brown to match her hat. I recognised a Norman Hartnell model of citron trimmed with black fox. It was perfect in simplicity of line.

THE DEBUTANTES AND OTHERS TTHE younger.set, who have been dancing in the open air lately, are wearing exquisite picture. frock evening gowns. In lace and tulle, broderie anglaise and net, they are very lovely. Picture to yourself, pleated delphinium organdie mounted on rustling taffeta. Cream broderie anglaise in off the shoulder line mode with forget-me-nots and moss roses. at the waist,.and still] more of these flowers twined in the golden curls of. the wearer. Or stiffened Jace in double-skirted tunic style. Finely checked net with squared neck line and front fullness of the skirt finely ruched-these are some of the frocks that have been worn by "‘debs"’ in idyllic surroundings of dewy lawns and blooming rhododendrons . . . and one little thing I have noticed particularly about this year’s debutantes-a thicker eyebrow line!