FOR WOMEN A Bridal Gown For Princess Elizabeth

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1947, Page 10

FOR WOMEN A Bridal Gown For Princess Elizabeth

One of the most closely guarded secrets in London at the moment has nothing to do with the crisis. By Royal command, no details of Princess Elizabeth’s bridal gown, designed by Norman Hhrtnell, are to be released until a few days before the wedding. In this article, written for the Greymouth Evening Star, a prominent London fashion writer discusses the Princess’s tastes in clothes.

. As the bridal gown of the century, it will be copied slavishly by women all over the world—and big /dress houses are anxious to know what fashion trend she has favoured. American . women, are especially anxious to have some indication of the style chosen. One widely-read United States magazine has instructed its correspondents here to “pay any sum” for advance news. But the six - people in Hartnell’s establishment who know details,. and will carry out the couturier’s design, are sworn to absolute secrecy. Hartnell, famous for the glamour and opulence of his evening gowns, is. a lover of long frocks “in the grand manner.” His favourite theme is the fitted-. bodice atop graceful flowing skirts-which often train romantically. So it is ..expected that the Princess has probably favoured a somewhat traditional design with long-sleeved tight-fitting bodice, and trained full skirt.

Chubby-faced Mr Hartnell is also noted for the. elaborate jewel, pearl, or bead embroidery on his evening gowns, and it is considered almost certain that ■ Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown will be embroidered in this fashion. His fabulous em-broidery-T—and its rich beauty, has to be seen to be believed—is much favoured by Her Majesty the Queen, for some of her State gowns. The fabric will probably be a specially-woven pure silk satin. Conversion to Evening Gown One austerity custom that Princess Elizabeth is sure to share with other brides in this country is the practice of converting her wedding gown into an evening frock afterwards, for the Princess loves wearing pretty dance frocks, and, like most young girls of her age, enjoys admiration of her clothes. A Hartnell-designed bridal frock can undoubtedly be switched to a glamorous evening gown later with some remodelling, and this may have been one of the points that weighed with Elizabeth when she and her future husband, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, studied the sketches. It is only lately that she has had a really free hand in choosing her own clothes. During the war, when the Royal Family cut theii* wardrobe to a minimum, 'Elizabeth was guided by her mother in the choice of her wardrobe. Her clothes were practical first —they had to wear and wear, but still remain smart for all public engagements. Also, in the war years, some of the Queen’s extensive Canadian wardrobe was cut up to clothe both Elizabeth and Mar-

garet, in the spirit of Britain’s “make-do-and-mend” campaign. Her careful budget of clothes, ' however, has for some time now been an. example to many young girls of her own age, and older women as well.’. Fox’ the Princess chooses nothing extreme. Like most young girls, she went through a “bits-and-pieces” stage, when she demanded —and was often allowed —too many bows, frills, and other trimmings. But now, simple elegance for day clothes is her rule—and - many of her coats and frocks are interchangeable to give the impression of a far bigger wardrobe than she does in fact possess. She thinks high-heeled shoes are feminine and attractive. But hours of standing during public engagements have made her realise that they are not the most practical, as it is impossible to look poised and happy with aching feet. So for day wear she chooses smart wedgies or neat : cuban-heeled models (but with sling-backs ahd -peeper-toes for summer). Hats Are Favourite The Princess loves hats: big hats, little hats, feathered or flowered toques, halos, hats with dramatic sweeping brims, flowered, beribboned feminine bits of nonsense. But here again she buys mostly- models that can be switched among many of her outfits. It was Hartnell who made her white accordion-pleated satin evening frock with gold sequins between pleats, a heavy white crepe twopiece, both dinner frock and jacket being embroidered .in lustrous acquamarine jewels; and a young girl’s dream is her rose pink satin frock with its bands of honeycomb smocking and voluminous skirt. Two of her favourite long frocks last season were a bright red dinner gown With long sleeves and glittering sequins outlining the heart-shaped neckline, and a black dress trimmed with bands of cherry red velvet. Her usual evening wrap is a white fox cape, though she sometimes switches this with her daytime fur coat. Britain's Leading Designer Princess Elizabeth does not patronise one dressmaker exclusively. Molyneux makes a fair part of her clothes now. The Princess first went to him last year because she had such a keen admiration for her chic aunt, the Duchess of Kent, and the Duchess has entrusted Captain Molyneux, with most-of her wardrobe since he made her trousseau in 1934. As Elizabeth has finally selected 42-year-old Mr Hartnell to make her wedding gown, he can now ™ C ) IS “ putedly claim the title of Britain... No. 1 designer.