ROYAL WARDROBE FOR TOUR

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26633, 19 January 1952, Page 2

ROYAL WARDROBE FOR TOUR

PRINCESS ELIZABETH PREPARES [From the London Correspondent of "The Press’’] LONDON, January 7. In the workshop of Hardy Amies. Norman Hartnell, Edward Rayne, and Aage Tharrup. needles are stitching busily to complete Princess Elizabeth’s wardrobe for the forthcoming Royal tour. Everything must be completely finished and fitted before the Princess leaves England by air on January 31. Nothing is to be left to chance and forwarded later. The details of the dresses, shoes, and hats she is to take with her were some of the first matters Princess Elizabeth discussed on her return from Canada. TOthin 48 hours of returning to Clarence House she received Mr Amies and Mr Hartnell, together with their vendeuses, and told them her requirements. Later they returned with sketches and samples of materials and a long conference was held.

A few months ago Princess Elizabeth would probably have agreed fairly quickly with' their ideas, but since her Canadian tour her dress sense has quickened and she now takes a serious interest in her wardrobe, making many suggestions of her own. She is also known to pay the closest regard to what her husband says, for he has his own definite ideas. Finally, designs, colours, and fabrics agreed, the dressmakers began work, returning at least three times a week, each dress taking as much as half an hour for a fitting. Them have also been discussions between Princess Elizabeth’s shoemaker, Mr Edward Rayne, and her milliner, Aage Tharrup, to ensure matching and harmony of the ensembles. They, too, present themselves at Clarence House and submit their ideas. All pay special attention to the types of climate the Royal party will encounter. Aage Tharrup, for instance, had a long talk at New Zealand House and asked many questions as to the weather that might be expected in May. Details Still Secret Just what Princess Elizabeth will wear is kept a closely guarded secret, details usually not being released until the day she wears a dress for the first time. However, during the Canadian tour she was persuaded to weaidark colours more than in the past and it is pretty certain that in New Zealand she will be seen in dark greens and blacks. On the other hand the Queen and the Princesses have long favoured pastel shades (because they show up well in crowds) and on the forthcoming tour Princess Elizabeth is to sponsor four new light colours fpr the British Colour Council—Tudor cream, Edinburgh rose, Pacific yellow, and wildflower blue. Tudor cream is the lightest of a range of warm browns which are popular this winter. It is said to have the soft glow of a creamy rose. Edinburgh rose, a flower-fresh pink, is a lighter tone of Elizabethan rose, sponsored for the Canadian tour. Pacific yellow has the clear tone of the wattle and will often be seen in millinery and accessories, and wildflower blue has been chosen as typical of the clear cool blues found in many varieties of wild flowers in Australia and New Zealand. According to the Colour Council, all shades are extremely youthful and summery in appeal and are excellent in combination with white. Among the dresses there said to be 12 shimmering new evening gowns, featuring shiny silks and satins, both popular materials with the Duke. Several of the styles are elaborate with full crinoline skirts and precious stones embroidered on low rounded necklines. Others again are simpler in cut and a surprise is expected to be a number of ballet length. The many cocktail dresses are expected to be in darker tones, but the afternoon dresses will mainly feature the new light shades. Their length will be shorter than the present mid-calf line, it is predicted. All the shoes are being hand-made •and most are in leather, especially calf, which is the Princess's favourite. Evening shoes will often be extremely fragile in appearance. Many will have platform soles which. Mr Rayne says, tend to be easier on the feet over longj periods. Princess Elizabeth’s hats are not expected to feature any particular new trends, although they will mostly be off-the-face styles to enable crowds to see her more clearly. Although Princess Elizabeth still does not take the same strong interest in fashions that her younger sister does and is said to be unconcerned as to whether she is a leader of fashion Or not, she has been widely acclaimed for her good taste. In North America her clothes were widely admired although not slavishly followed. That is likely to be the reaction in New Zealand too.