A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 154, 2 July 1927, Page 24

A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

BLUE AGAIN IN FASHION. WOMEN iN ZOUAVE COSTUME. (Front Ota L*dy. Correspondent). LOKIX)X April 28. " Brighter London.'*

A brighter Mayfair is welcoming Londoners .back to town. Railings and front doors and window frames have all been re-painted, and gardens and window boxes re-planted. Shutters are thrown back, and blinds drawn up, and by the end of this week most of the important society hostesses will be "in residence" again. The Royal Academy and the Opera are the most important functions In the immediate future. There are half a score of big weddings to follow on ; and the courts and the charity entertainments to carry the programme still further. The Academy is likely to give us much to" talk, about as soon as the Private View is over on Friday. Last year there was a portrait of the Kin<> and one of Princess Mary's elder Master George Lascelles. This year there is Mr. Richard "Jack** picture of the Queen in a lovely gold robe, and a bust of the sipiling Duchess of York. Two of the state apartments at Buckingham Palace have been painted, too, and the connoisseur will be interested in the picture of the Chinese room. It is full of lovely examples of Oriental art which have been collected by the Queen from time to time, or presented to her during visits abroad or at home. The Opera Season. The Covent Garden season opens with "Der Rosenkavalier,'? to most people's delight. The music is charming, and, naturally; in ; striking contrast to the heavier" Wagner music. It was left out of last season's programme, for some reason or other, but " Lotte Lehmana, Delia Reinhardt,. and Elizabeth Schumann will aJJ. be heard in it next Monday. ■ The -opera is, one of the few glories of the London season which remains very much: as it was in the days before the war. Other, functions and customs have departed, society's has widened, and many balls and receptions have lost something of theft splendour, but the opera at Covent Garden can 'still; beßelied upon to provide a succession, of brilliant scenes for Londoners who are,fortunate enough tc be able to attend'it.'* 'It is .hardly possible to describe the beauty of an opera night, but it is a more attractive sight than any other one can think of is London. Every woman 'wears hei smartest frock, and every coloui of the "rainbow is seen in that vast crowded horse-shoe, that makes np the auditorium of the opera house. Jewels sparkle from boxes'and stalls, there it the scent of French; perfumes and ol exotic flowers, end in, the intervals the corridors and" foyer are thronged wit! the cream of London society. Princess Mary's Movements. Princess Mary, who was one of thi first of society's hostesses to return t< London, is a great lover of the opera She will probably use the Royal box t good deal during the season* The Prin cess came up to town from. Windso: Castle last week with her two smal |boys, and the children, have taken ful advantage of the fact that their mothei is more or less free just now from publii engagements. They have been out driv ing with her a good deal, and on Sunday as a very special treat, the little party with a lady-in-waiting, went to the Zoo Very few .people recognised ' them, ant . hardly any of the , attendant* knev imtil ,the. close cjf' day,' that th< King's daughter had been In theii midst. The children loved the largei animals and the sea lions, but they wer< equally interested'in the aquarium which is one of the most fascinatihj places in London for-grown-ups as wel as children. The flower, beds in th< grounds ( ara yery<love.ly just now, anc Princess' Mary, wfio loves"' gardens,'"wai charmed with patchet oi tulips as weTL'as with that lovely vie* across Regent's Park which you. can gel from the terrace. , V.ps. Pastoral Symphonies. - A professional woman of my acquaintance Who has-been ulvingJfor the pasi four years in the heart of London perched high above the roar oi the traffic in a tiny fla£ has-'recentljr moved int« the cpuntry. This Reasonshe left London was ahe simply .could .sot, stand the noise-any longer. No sooner, she declared, had the night,noises ceased than the early morning sounda began. 86 she went to the country for peace and quiet . . . and is now-, awakened every morning at 4.30 sharp! With, toe first faint eomca a soft) subdued twrtt' from the trees and the creepers—round "h^ 1 -- house; -t .foil minutes later.tfieYbi: I orchestra starts tc tune up; by 4.30 it in M full awing with a pastorapsyntph yrof r ita:ownl Shi says it is lovely. But she is, wondering nevertheless, where she can go to-get her eight hours sleep! ," Mrs Society in the Blues. It is almost as fascinating as trying to spot that Derby winner to endeavour to colour" will rule the London This year: the secret ii now out' modiste's bag. May fair dames areieEtiug the'chromatic pace foi suburbia "blue and. white.: I am almost JBcx|j|g myself for not spotting the fashion Winner nearly a month ago. One afternoon- j3tr*culously early sunny summer, out of a famous New Bond Street fasWpn atelier; there tripped the daintiest vision imaginable. I am not certain, whether she was an inspired mannequin t»r a dainty Vera do Vere ;tiuijih# waaiiii the lustrcnw twenties, pretty as a Watteau shopherdess, and smart as one of Louis XlV's Court faYOhrites/ And wearing a delightful costume.that was from neat shoes hati and in) eluding a ;kilt skirt of narrow straesj 'a perfect ensemhle of bine and wlufe!- ■% ought; to 4av* known that she wis Madame 1&27 L just out of the Paris summer bandbox! "'.'.'.' :■/■■< The rumour that women will be wearing trousers in the near future i 3 no£ it w&hout - found** tion. saw a gir; scarcely out 61 her teeui, wearing what; appeared£# Zouave costume. The skirt was just below and;' turned right under at the hem, the effect being that of- very "Imgfcjr liieecneaV r Above the skirt came a blouse with high, stand-oil collar and long sleeves' liberaUy embroidered |a> this was ajhtfle 2ouave coat, not unlike * fcolero, also emprpidered Estate with %™°? m -Ammy ms^m Mt that .. one aingle p«fton ,jartatr^*s^ c fs The affect was WliS* %£™£ .— **"»» «3I »*