DANCED A GAVOTTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 19

DANCED A GAVOTTE

18 DEBUTANTES

LARGE BALL AT MAYFAIR

People in evening dress standing in a queue which stretched some distance down Cuba Street, and a constant stream of traffic drawing up at the same juncture, drew quite a number of spectators to the vicinity of the Mayfair Cabaret last night The occasion was the debutantes' ball given by the Parents' Association of Queen Margaret College. Eighteen young women made their debut before one of the largest crowds the Mayfair has seen in years.

,The guests were received by Mr. O. C. Mazengarb, president of the Parents' Association, and Mrs. Mazengarb, the latter wearing a nandsome gown of heavy floral celanese and a matching coatee. Miss Wilson, headmistress of Queen Margaret College, wore a frock of deep blue cobweb lace over gold tissue. Others in Mr. and Mrs. Mazengarb's party were Mr. and Mrs. J S. Martin (the latter being a vicepresident of the Parents' Association) Mr, G. N. Pottinger (secretary) and Mrs Pottinger, Miss Joreen Kersley (president of the Old Girls' Association), Mr. T. B. Heath (chairman of the Board of Governors) and Mrs. Heath. Mr. Glasgow (principal of Scots College) and Mrs. Glasgow, Colonel Rowlands (president of Marsden School Parents' Association) and Mrs. Rowlands, and Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Cooke (the latter having trained the debutantes in their gavotte). A FULL PROGRAMME. All the conventions were observed at the dance, programmes being given to the guests by uniformed commissionaires. The programme was scheduled to begin at 8.30, but up till 9 o'clock the corners of the ballroom were congested with people who were still booking up dances After an extra, which was extended in answer to repeated encores, the ball was opened up by the debutantes themselves, who were partnered by their fathers in a graceful old-fashioned waltz. Even the young men were heard to murmur "How pretty" when the eighteen gjrls, their lovely gowns showing snow white under the bright electric lights, picked up their skirts and danced the steps of the graceful old world gavotte to its accompanying stately music. This was the official "coming-out" ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Mazengarb, Miss Wilson, Mrs Martin. Mr, Heath, and Mrs. Cooke watched the dance from immediately in front of the girls, and received their bows at its conclusion. The gavotte was repeated on the other side- of the cabaret, after which the supper dance was held, the debutantes this time dancing with their escorts. A long table in the supper room was specially decorated for the guests of honour. Tall blue candles in brass candlesticks, and large blue bows pinned on the white cloth incoroprated J the colours of thes chool —blue and j gold, and elsewhere, throughout the cabaret, there were charming decorations of flowers and streamers. THE DEBUTANTES. The debutantes and their frocks were as follows:— Miss Rache.l Ben lett, who wore a crinoline of soft white Valenciennes lace over net, the diamante shoulder straps matching the clustered brilliants jn the skirt. She swathed her shoulders in matching white tulle, and carried a posy in pink tonings, which matched the pink flowers in her hair. Miss Mary MacMorran was in a period gown of white embroidered sheer mounted on taffeta and cut m Louis Quatorze style. Her posy was of white and blue cornflowers. A classical, frock of parchment tapestried broche was worn by Miss Beatrice Hutchison, who carried a posy of peach-c loured flowers. Miss Shirley Carson was in white self-striped chiffon threaded with a faint line of silver, and mounted on taffeta. T;he gown featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and a very full j sldrt. She wore a white rose in her haii and carried a posy of white and pastel-shaded roses. Miss Jean Sewell wore a frock of white faconne chiffon embroidered in gold. Made in Victorian style, the gown featured a bodice finished in the front with small buttons. She wore a pendant which had belonged to her great-great-great grandmother, and carried a posy of white freesias shading to gold. Miss Joyce Corkill's .model gown was of ivory taffeta, embossed with gold, having a full, slightly-trained skirt, and a high, boned Edwardian bodice finished with gold kid shoulder straps. Her short cape was of marabou, and her flowers were in white and gold. Miss Maureen Shoosmith wore an unusual frock of white tulle and velvet. Velvet roses were appliqued on to the very full tulle skirt, which was gathered into the velvet bodice. She ••arried a posy of freesias and spindler berries. A full-skirted gown of white chiffon over silk net was chosen by Miss Marion Webster. A plain white belt was worn at the waistline of the full [ bodice which featured a heart-shaped neckline. Her accessories were gold and h •:• flowers were in white and -jld. Miss Judith Ffitch wore a dainty picture frock of white Swiss embroidered lawn, the very full skirt being fitted into a tight waistband. Her only ornament was a string of pearls, her posy being in white and pastel shades. Miss Margaret Heath was in white net over satin. The gown was appliqued with lace on the bodice and across the puff sleeves, and lace was also appliqued in wreaths on the full, circular skirt. She wore pink flowers in her hair and carried a posy of pink carnations. Stiffened lace and net formed Miss Lois Wilson's gown. The two materials formed panels in the skirt, tha bodice being entirely oi; lace and featuring a heart-shaped neckline. Her belt was of stitched lace. She carried a bouquet of pink flowers and wore a suigle flower to match in her hair. Miss Alice Hutchinson chose a gown of white georgette over satin, made with a full skirt and a shirred bodice Her velvet belt matched her velvet shoulder cape. Her posy was of pink carnations, freesias, and roses. Miss Pat Brown wore a full-skirted frock of cream chiffon. The ruched bodice was made with a square neckline and small, hooded sleeves. • Her narrow belt was in self material. She carried carnations and pink roses. j Miss Margaret Hoby was in an unusual frock of white striped taffeta, the skirt being fully flared, and the bodice tight-fitting and featuring large-shapedl sleeves. Miss Dawn Mazengarb, daughter of the host and hostess, chose white tulle for her gown. The material fell in soft folds to form a full skirt, and the neckline and unusual hooded sleeves were corded in self material. She wore a gold locket at her throat, and the pink

flowers in her hair were similar to those in her Victorian posy.

A crinolined gown of white broche chiffon over stiffened net was the. choice of Miss Joan Watson; the off-the-shoulder neckline of the bodice being finished with small ribbon bows. Her light Victorian posy was of pink carnations, mignonette, and love-in-the-mist pods, and was tied with matching pink and blue ribbons.

Miss Faye Usher's Victorian frock was of stiffened net over satin, the frilled net circles on the skirt being centred by small rosettes in pink and lavender. Silver ribbon straps were tied at the shoulders, which had a dropped effect. She carried a posy of pink and lavender flowers tied with silver ribbon, t

Miss Dorothy Edwards wore a flowing, full-skirted frock of white^, net over taffeta, her bouquet being arranged in a tight cluster of pastelshaded flowers.