ENGLAND’S FASHIONS AND FANCIES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 16

ENGLAND’S FASHIONS AND FANCIES

Duchess of Westminster Interviewed

VISIT TO WELLINGTON While 'Wellington felt yesterday that, although the day was certainly cooler than many experienced recently, the time had not yet come for discarding summer clothes, the Duchess of Westminster, who had arrived in the morning by the Rangitiki from England, confessed to a “Dominion” representative that she had been wearing a fur coat in the street—a. fact which speaks silent praise for the English climate which writers have described as despised. Her Grace, who is travelling with her husband, Captain J. Fitzpatrick Lewis, is making only a short stay in New Zealand; she will spend a month touring the two islands and hopes to return to England by the longer route. “The trip out seemed very long," she said. '“Five weeks without sight of land except for Panama and Jamaica. On board were several exsoldiers who had been patients in my hospital at Le Touquet during the war. It was splendid to see them again, I was in France almost four years, leaving Le Touquet finally in July, 1918. During that time more than 2000 men and 15,000 officers (Germans as well as the Allies) passed through the wards. War is a terrible thing. The young people of to-day are beginning to realise that behind

all the glamour and romance of patriotism lies something heartless and cruel.

“The plays of to-day are forcing the need for peace very firmly upon the people. Noel Coward’s “Cavalcade” that left its London audiences weeping unashamedly; “Jorney’s End.” a beautiful, grim thing that stressed the tenseness and strain of war.” Theatres anti the Cinema. . A question concerning the theatre in England brought an enthusiastic reply. “Shakespeare is having a tremendous run now. John Gielyud, who also produced and took the name-part in ‘Richard of Bordeaux,’ is playing the star role in ‘Hamlet.’ Shakespeare, to ring true, must be spoken beautifully, and John Gielgud picks his (-ompany not only for their acting ability but for the melody of their voices. “Cinemas are immensely popular in England; in Southampton alone there are about 2-1 picture, theatres. Amateur reperlory societies are numerous and the standard of acting and production high.” 1 / Tlie Duchess of Westminster is essentially an open-air person. Her country house is in Hampshire, not far from the New Forest, and about 80 miles from London. “Of course I have my horses and dogs there,”, she continued. “And Alsatians, the most beautiful thiflgs, but definitely not animals for a sheep country. "Fashion has called a compromise between, side saddle and ‘straddle’ riders, among the women. Jodhpurs are never worn in the hunting field, but they are worn a great deal for hacking. Hunters, in England, are probably heavier than they are in New Zea-, land ; the country is stickier, more difficult and the runs are harder. Some of the most ideal hunting country in the world is to be found in Ireland, where stone' fences and clear runs combine to provide the perfect hunt. .“So much has been said against hunting; its cruelty, but there is a sporting chance for the fox in every chase, and" he often gets away. In Germany, where they drag hunt, it Is amusing to ride at 15-minute intervals between halts to breathe the horses and rest their riders.

"In Germany,” her Grace continued, “where I often go to visit my sister, it seems rather quaint, to see even the very small boys dressed in Nazi uniform, ‘be-swatikaed’ and giving the ‘Hail Hitler’ in much earnestness and all good faith. Socialism lias taken a tremendous hold on Germany and is spreading its grip over the world ” First Impressions. “It is early yet to ask you about New Zealand, but what do you think of it, so far?” her interviewer asked. “Well, that enormous new pink building is really impressive, and 1 found a delightful shop which owned a dear old man and the most wonderful gladioli. 1 believe that Lord Bledisioe is a great gardener. What a pity he is leaving New Zealand. "Of course the« streets seem very dully dressed after the smart frocking id’ London. .The girls there dress beautifully. • They paint a great dealcosmetics perhaps play too great a part in the modern toilette —but their smart, ness makes up for everything. They have learnt that quiet value and simplicity are chic. “Girls in London find that they have to work tremendously hard. Mannequin positions are eagerly sought after; fashion drawing and dress designing jobs are in great demand and the stage holds out its irresistible lure. One girl that 1 know well is extremely clever nt drawing horses. She studied for a short lime on the Continent and then came over to England. She earned £BO in two months, so you see there is decidedly scope for original talent.” The conversation swung back to ■Wellington again. “You know. I find the tratlie here amazingly pleasant. In London it takes hours to do one's shopping. And then the safety zones are so disconcerting. They are heralded by big orange-globed lamps, which have been described as the ‘orange groves of London.’ “English girls are very good motor-

ists. They often enter for driving tests which necessitate ‘keeping going’ all night, 280 miles perhaps, at a stretch, to be done in exact time, no more, no less. So you can see what a very hard and determined test it is.” Time Constance, Duchess of Westminster, smiled. .“That is really all, isn’t it, that you want to know? Goodbye,” she said as her interviewer rose. “Don’t make me seenr a horrid, prosey person, will you?” And the door closed on a last glimpse of her: fresh ' and cool in her light brown figured frock, already deep in a book.