LONDON NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 March 1927, Page 17

LONDON NOTES.

DANCING AND DRESSES

The King and Queen, are back at rfanuringnam - the.ir mist Christmas there ( writes the ijondon correspondent of the Sydney -Morning Hera-u, under „;uu oi January Jdj. it has been renovated, reiurnisned, more or less, ana tuo Queen spent a good part or tne eany autumn getting trie old house into order.

it is -supposed that York Cottage- wi- .1 be the country home- of the Duke and Duchess of fork on their return m J une.

The Prince of Wales -seems to be content with Jus hunting box at Melton -Uowbrav. \\ itether iie eventually will reside at Marlborough. House is yet to be decided. It may ne too large- an establishment for his tastes. They say London was never gayer than during the New Year. Dancing clubs seem -to- open one after the other, and -in inverse ratio they are raided and closed. It seems a difficult game. D

moderate prices are charged ends '•'ill nob meet, a-s the frequenters of these “halls of delight”, are not always weii off, or of sober age. Co-lie are the charming private dances when everyone knew everybody, and one’s partners wove “assorted.” I can never forget the beautiful “Hines Suppers” that were our lot in Adelaide I’ve never seen them surpassed. Now dances have to be paid for. Girl? buy tickets, and, more or less, take a dancing partner. -Refreshments are meagre, -and the price for -drinks fabulous. If it is found that -people are. still sitting round -tables and unfinished bottles are -by them (after midnight, there is the possibility of a police raid. Names are taken, and an unpleasant sequel in the Police Court next day. Dancing, per -se, is, of course, quite a different convention. The “Charleston” -lias Jong since knocked out the tango, Valencia, and others, /and I’m told- the kicking of shins is one o-f the penalties. It is very “nigger,’’ and •so much -so that America -has discarded it, -and ns looking about for some fresh “jazz.”

We are in the voile. After winter sales—and the bargains offered by the best houses-—I -say the “best houses ' advisedly, for only in this way can one get clothes worth having. Here ant’ there are some smart models. You would notice a great difference in sleeves. -They a-re all long, and make a great feature in contradistinction tc the sleeveless gown, which, though worn at night is comfortless in clay time.

I see some charming evening frocks, much embroidered as to the skirt, oi rather, that deep frill which does duty for a -skirt. Jt’is an evolution of the kilt, -a-nd there’s an end of it-. 1 still rebel at the length of girls’ dresses-. Tlhey would be -more graceful and .Mil short enough for dancing purposes, if they came some six inches below the knee. The long-waist /effect with end short skirts is wanting in proportion However, they are, as far ias they go, very bright, for the embroidery is

carried out- in natural colours, and heightened with diamante touches. They flash- in the mazes of the jazz like butterflies. Yoii -never see gloves. 1 found myself at a large gathering one night the only woman wearing them.