FOR WOMEN Queen’s Visit To N.Z. 21 Years Ago

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1948, Page 8

FOR WOMEN Queen’s Visit To N.Z. 21 Years Ago

. : News of next year’s visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen to New Zealand recalls their other visit just 21 years ago when they carpe'to the Dominion as Duke and Duchess of York. Known then as ‘‘the little Duchess,” her charm and captivating smile enchanted all ‘who saw and met her.

If next year’s fashion in women’s clothes continue on the same lines as at present, they will be in distinct contrast to what was considered stylish wear in New Zealand in that summer in early March, l'?17, when these Royal visitors reached this country. The shingle was high fashion for women’s hair styles, and clothes followed the boyish lines demanded. There were waistlines lower than any normal waist and skirts finished at the knee. Figures were kept as unfeminine and as boyish as the rest of the dictates laid down by the latest modes. “The shingle will stay, long hair is ‘dead,’ ” London hairdressers were decreeing at the time. “Shingling will last another generation.” The gowns worn by the Duchess of York during her stay were, judging by reports, enchanting, for those days, when women’s clothes could be far from elegant. For the ball given at Government House by the Governor-General and Lady Alice Fergusson, her Royal Highness was in a straight, slim gown of soft pink chiffon and a pink tulle shoulder-scarf, giving “a fairylike effect.” Her silver shoes had jewelled heels. The Duchess danced every dance. It that the ball was the most brilliant to be held there since that given for the Prince of

Wales seven years earlier. I Many of the Wellington women 'who attended the garden party at Government House for the Duke and I Duchess of York wore the then fashionable combination of black lace 'mounted on a pale -pink foundation. ■ Pale beige Alencon lace over pale (pink chiffon made, the gown worn ’by the Duchess. ' After opening Karitane Hospital 'at Wellington and being shown the magnificent view of hills and harbour |by Sir Truby King, the Duchess signed her name “Elizabeth” in the .brand-new visitors’ book. Wellington | reporters credited the Duchess with having “one of the loveliest smiles imaginable” and with “smiling divinely.” ■ i Awaiting her Royal Highness’s arrival at Government House when she reached Wellington was a basket containing more than 100 specimens of New Zealand plants, ferns, flowers, land berries, presented by the Victoria League of Wellington. The plants came from ah over New Zealand. Dr Cockayne compiled a list of all the ■ names of plants to accompany the I gift. , It cost the Duchess many pangs of | sorrow to leave the infant Princess : Elizabeth on the 1927 tour that was ;to last nearly six months. Today the 1 Princess has embarked on a life of her own.