DUCHESS OF YORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 9

DUCHESS OF YORK.

DRESSES FOR THE TOUR. BEAUTY AND SIMPLICITY. LONDON, Dec. 4. if Australian and New Zealand women expect the Duchess of York to set any ultra-modern fashions they will bo disappointed. She will take with her on her. tour many trunks full of dresses,, almost asecond trousseau, but the keynote of them all is simplicity. The Duchess is petite and. dainty. She lacks the inches necessary to exploit successfully any extreme fashions, even if she. wished to do so, which she does not. The Duchess, like other members of the British Royal Family, follows the custom of the. Court, in which there is an unwritten rule that no woman shall wear anything likely to excite comment. The Queen enforces the rule with the utmost rigidity. Her Majesty has even insisted that members of the Royal party attending fashionable race meetings should put on their coats because they were wearing sleeveless dresses But the Queen equally detests dowdmess, and she Ims done much to help the Duchess to select materials and. styles for her visit to Australia and New Zealand next year. The Colours Chosen. Uor wardrobe contains neither very short nor very long skirts. All of he? dresses have the hems falling some inches below the knees, and full enough to permit of perfect freedom in walking. It lias been found impossible to include many delicate fabrics and colourings, owing to the length of time that* the dresses must bo kept in tissue paper wrappings or hung in the Renown's confined wardrobe space. It will bo impossible, to include materials tike gold and silver tissue, latjie and diamante, Owing, to the effect of the sea air on tljem. The Duchess is greatly disappointed at the oUmin.at.ion of diuwiUHe. Q? which she is. very fond for evening gowns, Imt her dressmaker has cleverly substituted, Several gowns of cry.e) a) head embjoideries, and others ato ornamented with n«>w satin sequins. Unlike' Princess Mary, who wtjtars chiefly blue, the Duchess is fond of several shades. There are three colours which appear most frequently in her Dominion trousseau. First, there is a lovely rose tint which is almost pal<( fuchsia or cyclamen pink; tjio second is powder blue; and the third beige, in a w!;qIo range of shades from mushroom pink to deep fa.wn,, Georgette IS: her .favourite material for dresses and costumes. Crepe do chju.e in the newest printed designs is utilised for simple dresses for informal occasions. She will take sevefftl evening gowns of 50ft brocaded satin. Some will carry narrow, loose trains, One gown, richly embroidered with crystal beads, has a panel, of lame draped from the shoulder to the waist, from which it fails to the hem, Another lias narrow trains from ths hips. . ■ »w, • "<' .■'■■■ Sports Costumes. The Duchess has, more than one lovely rest gown of brocade, trimmed with white fur. Others are of soft satm, a,donned, with swans down, The DuclmJW is, also taking, one of the Prince of Wales' wedding- gifts, a" teautifujly worked sable coat, for cold nights. She realises that she may .riot ha ye too much time for sports, but her wardrobe will contain the appropriate frocks for any outdoor function of a sjxorting nature. She will have jjeverof jumper suits of stockingette and ' embroidered silk two-piece costumes for long journeys, Tlie.se include a lovely Crock of ashes of roses georgette, with attractive embroidery, over wlych will he worn a cpat of brocaded georgette of Ihe same tone. Her favourite hat is small, helmetshaped and close-fitting, and just frame.} the face. These have brush oriiamprds or bows of ribhoa drooping to, (he sjhouL ders. Several of these hats exactly match the gowns and coats. For smarter occasions the Duchess will wear hats with brims and with floral or tulle trimmings. Shoes and Accessories!, file Duchess has small und dainty feet. She is taking wur ; ny p&irs tlf honey-colour and beige shoes and stockings, soft kid and polished leather shoes for ordinary occasions, and satin shoes for smart afternoon functions,* §nd brocade slippers matching her dresses for dances and dinner parties, • A .whole trunk will bo needed to cflj'.ry the small accessories, which sometipie's make, or mar a woman's toilette The Duchess recently began to wear a tullo scarf with her evening froclcg. This admirably offsets her dark beauty. She is taking many yards of lulle and several boxes of floral button-holes to harmonise with her different coats v Dainty lingerie. Her lingerie has been specially ordered from her favourite needlework school in London. White linen and lawn are chosen for the hot weather, and lovfjv creations of the palest pink crepo d« chine for ordinary occasions These gar ments are trimmed with Nottingham lace, dyed a soft coffee tint, which is the very latest. Both white and coloured hrmerio are threaded with pink and blue ribbons.