CRICKET DE LUXE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 209, 3 September 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

CRICKET DE LUXE.

ETON-HARROW MATCH. FASHION'S RENDEZVOUS. (By NBLLE M. SOANLAN.) Wβ speak glibly of the Eton-Harrow match. What match.? Why, cricket, of course; but who cares about the cricket. They play, certainly, and parents and school boys, and ex-cricketers cheer and applaud the prowess of these youthful batsmen. But it is not the same which attracts the crowd. The Eton-Harrow match is probably the best-dressed social function in London's season, rivalling and often out-doing Ascot in the magnificence of its dressing. When England has a summer, it has a summer. Too often Ascot's frocks are ruined. TQiis year they have probably. been worn out in the sunny interval between the great raco meeting and the cricket event. Loveliness of English Girls. i I marvelled at the loveliness of England's girls—the elhn, willowy figures accentuated by the clinging frocks; the beautiful complexions matched by the soft colours. But even more I adruired the dignity and grace of their mothers, Ineir softly-waved grey hair adding charm to the pinks and blues they wore. This is not a London show. All England and more contributes to it. Nor is it any one set or age.. Army, navy, city, official life,-Parliament and the arte have drawn "from both Eton and Harrow, and until death Claims them, they never fail to pay tribute to their old school. And I must not forget the Church. Bishops and vicars abound. And from that eminence of age you come down through the generations, men of 70, 60, in the fifties, the young thirties, down to the lads of 12 and 13. And except for a few looking very uncomfortable in felts and tweeds—not a dozen in all —the mankind i of England sports a top hat on this day. And eo it is with the women. Ancient dames have come in their old lace and cameo brooches to see the foxirth generation carry a bat in this historic match. Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts and that delight of the eye, the small eisters in their pigtails, the soft pink faces, their bright eyes, delighting no less in a feast of strawberries and cream as in their organdie gowns. .A Lovely Summer. This year the heat and sunshine wiped out caution. There was no need to compromise with the weather. It was an unashamed summer day. I watched them pass, a bewildering array of bsautiful women, and tall, handsome men— men eo spare and straight that no other race seems to breed such types. In those hundreds I did not see one fat man. One cannot describe the frocks. Here and there something of special note stood out. One piquant dark girl, <vith a quaipt- pretty face, and tip-tilted noes, wore a period frock with great success. The frock of white taffeta had a black pin stripe. It had short, puff sleeves and a gimp of white chiffon, finished with narrow black velvet ribbon. A tiny white hat was perched over her nose, and in her mittened hand she carried the smallest of Victorian black lace parasols and poey flowers. The cheap organdiee crushed readily, but the good ones, the embroidered ones, kept their freshness and billowed about the slim, girlish figures, and the big hats drooped with their ribbon trimming. .... Vogue of Lace. J Lace in every shade was worn, and the pale pinks were specially lovely". A heavy flesh pink, with a sash of lovely deep blue, and even pale blue lace with deeper blue sashes, gave a soft, twotone effect. The hard- blue-bag blues did not blend into these shades and the few dresses stood out unpleasantly. It was the crisp blue and white that was better. The pale grey that came in with a rush, seems to have gone out as rapidly. I saw only two or three. Lace, lace and georgette, lace and chiffon, were among the cool combinations. Many were frankly evening dresses, and as a. concession to day wear, .a short velvet cape, often in a' contrasting- colour, , was worn, covering part of the -arms.' Many of these capes had long ends, crossing in front, and tying in a bow at fcne back, where they hung in sash ends. The new capes.fit closely, over the, shoulder, where a seam takes in the width. Quite a number of the girls wore the round knitted and crochet silk caps on one eide of their head. One girl ..had a cap of invisible net, with a wi-eath -of : white flowers. The wreath was all that was ■visible, and the white flowers sat eharmipgly on i thß dark, wavy , hair. One exotic figure wore a hard white pill box hat with a veil, but it had neither beauty nor grace to commend it. i . ■ . Lovely Women. (I saw one lovely woman, her-wavy grey hair beneath a large, flatj black bat, her complexion.soft and pink, and on her black' frock' and. hat ehe wore deep coral pink, most effectively. The auburas are safer,: in browns. There are many. • lively, shades .of brown, particularly in ,lace, and with' beige, deep. cream, or a sharp note of jade green, or the softer ilirhe greens it is most becoming, and was , much' to be seen. Prints, too, and ginghams were there, and smart frocks of "duster" check, and crochet hats.' If you can't have a smart frock, don't stay at home for that. Without excuse or apology numbers of young girls were.to be seen in the simplest materials, the colour wisely chosen, ; the style smart, but probably home made,-but that fact did not depress them. This year the match caught the strawberry season at its height. The club tents were crowded for luncheon and teas/and the coaches, with awning atop, and family servants serving the cold chicken, the -lobster salad, the iced drinks and the piles of strawberries and cream, were drawn up like grandstands in the gap between buildings.' Famous families had boxes, where they entertained, the young lavishly. Wandering about the lawn one saw many famous people. . T*he Eton-Harrow tradition still stands. Who won? I think it was a draw.