A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 187, 9 August 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

STARTLING FASHIONS.

APPEAL TO THE EYE.

(From Our London Lady Correspondent.)

Lady Oxford has written a eulogy— not to a great statesman, poet, or artist, but to a hat. It is a very becoming black hat wreathed with a feather, and Lady Oxford wore it the other day at the wedding of one of her young friends, and everybody admired her in it. She herself was so pleased with her appearance, and the comfort and fit of the -hat, that she sat down and wrote to the young milliner who designed and made it for her, praising her artistry and skill and describing her as "the one woman in London who can make a perfect hat." The milliner in question is the rage at the moment among smart young actresses, who go to her one-room salon in a Mayfair side street and wait just a matter of moments for her to make hats "on their heads." She drops a felt mount over their hair, pinches it here, pulls it , there, slashes it with scissors, adds a stitch or two, and hey presto! —the hat. THE SPOTLIGHT DANCE. The fashionable charity dance season has had an excellent send-off. Far from people being tired of dancing, or giving it up for skating, they seem to be as keen as ever they were, and ballrooms have been crowded the last few nights when.balls for hospitals and other philanthropic institutions have taken place. There-"is a new craze to take the place of the "Paul Jones" which became so popular towards the end of last dance season. This is the "spotlight dance," in which dancers upon whom the light falls in a particular number receive dainty little gifts as souvenirs. At one of these balls a night Or two ago two young folk were presented with "weekends in Paris," and others had vouchers ' for dinners at smart restaurants. _ A charming handbag and a bottle of whisky were other spotlight prizes. FASHIONS AT THE DRAPERY EXHIBITION. One can have an amusing time at the drapery exhibition at the Agricultural Hall. At each stand where there are mannequins the directors seem to have : tried to outdo each other in the matter of startling fashions, and hats, and , frocks, and bathing costumes alike are ; just a little more exaggerated than any , that have been seen at the numerous spring dress shows. Seven inches is said to be the average width of the brims . which we shall be expected to have on our hats before the summer is over. They are so light, as well as so wide, that they have to be weighted down, and every hat for garden party wear and for Ascot, rests on the shoulder and sports a rose or a bunch of beautiful flowers to keep it in place there. Skirts, both for afternoons and evenings, definitely trail, and bathing costumes are so abbreviated that they hardly exist at all. Huge straw hats are to be worn with them this sum* Xmer. , I LADY WITH THE BOUQUET. This bizarre adventure befell a famous journalist the other night. He is willing.to.eell the film rights to Mr. Edgar Wallace. He reached his Hampstead.flat from Fleet Street at 2 aim: 'Fast asleep across the threshold he found a welldressed middle-aged lady, with a bouquet of flowers still grasped in her hand. When he roused her she proved quite sober, and calmly asked what time it was. "After 2 o'clock in the morning, madam," said the Fleet Street man, a trifle severely. "Gracious! I look like being late!" was the nonchalant response, and, gathering her bouquet, she tripped off. Now what do you make of that— unless the'lady was the eccentric aunt of R.L.S.'s Young Man with the Cream Tarts? thecentral: figure. It is not very 'often i. that'the bride's place as thecentral'figure ; of her own *wedding ! ceremony, js/v.usurped..'; But at Lady Millicerit Taylor's;: inarriagei: to '..Mr. Henry Tiarks this week a-small',three-year-old very best, to; win from the. huge crowds outside,.Westmin-. ster Cathedral the-admiration belonging? to the bride.-' She : .was ; one'of. the tinybridesmaids,' and 'the' ? Nuptial - Mass proved altogether.-; toa.'ldiig; and 'too boring for her. So of her place in the processioniand crept'to the top of the Cathedral, I 'where,'.!- watchful mother, just prevented'' her "'from giving away her orange blossom posy to a woman sightseer. Disappointed, she made a dash for the steps outside, and struck up acquaintance with two of the commissionaires on duty, The hundreds of people waiting to, see the bride emerge clapped and cheered her, and she stood for a, moment, or two smiling and waving her hand and thoroughly enjoying the experience. Not until she had been,photographed many times did she consent to return to her post as train-bearer. ..'.-■• SHOP-DRESSING PSYCHOLOGY. An enterprising American "display, artist" has been trying to.get West End shop-keepers-to "wake up." This gentleman guaranteed all sorts of .miracles in. the way of, increased -Sales if onty he might be.commissioned to put a- little New York "pep" into their windows. A shrewd old tradesman,.; with an interest in two Bond Street 'shops run under, different names, agreed to give the bright American-a trial. He let him"dress" the window of one shop, which the "display artist" promptly converted into an all-scarlet ensemble. At first sight he seemed to hav/' made good. Three time*, as. many vratLOa stopped to gaze into that ©hop, as Into the duller -window further down the street. But at the end of a week the duller shop bad done the more business. The bright colour scheme caught the eye, but did not offer enough variety.to attract sales. WEST END SIMPLE LIFERS. The few "super" grocery and provision shops catering for Mayfair are preparing for the, climax, of their year, Chefs now installing themselves in the great West End mansions are placing their orders,, and inquiries, for the supplies they will need during the season. The manager of one of- these establishments tells me that there is a marked tendency towards plainer food.. Sample dishes will be served,,in many, great houses this season This does not mean that they will be less costly. There is more demand' than ever for what are known as ."Primeurs," the first supplies of any fruit or vegetable. Iced canteloupe, brought by' aeroplane from France, roast baby lamb from,.. the Pauillae marshes,, the-: tiny shouldei ' weighing only two or three pounds,, fcurj I green peas grown in Bheltered-.K-entisl gardens, and Alpine strawberries,: packed in Alpine snow and brought by air, mak? up .the menu of one "simple" lunci given recently. ~