WOMEN IN THEIR GLORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20976, 12 September 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

WOMEN IN THEIR GLORY.

PALACE SPLENDOUR.

FOREIGN VISITORS.

Parasols of curled ostrich plumes, 10,000 guests, the four Princes, all in grey, a mother and daughter, both ex-Queens, the Duchess' blue " bowler," and the footlong feather hem on her coat— These were some of the things one saw at the Royal garden party that closed the London season in a blaze of sunshine, women and flowers, says a Londoner. Fashions wore amazingly diverse. Very few wore the little Victorian " bowler " that has flaunted such a gay feather at most functions. One of tho few there was worn by tho Duchess of York—a forget-me-not blue one, curled all over with ostrich feathers.

Her blue crepe de chine coat had a border of floating ostrich feathers 12in. deep and she carried a tiny parasol.

Everyone who came near her remarked the amazing blueness of the Duchess' eyes; she looked pink-cheeked and well after visit to Paris and seemed exceedingly merry. The Queen carried a tinv parasol, too. So did Princess Mary. The Queen's Jewels. The Queen's was of ivory moire, matching her gown of beautiful old English lace, finely embroidered with seed-pearls in a festooning pattern of flowers. She wore a gold and ivory toque and a neck lace of sparkling diamonds. Princess Mary had decided against the new hat; she wore a mushroom-shaped pink straw, and her dress and parasol were the colour of a strawberry ice. v Strolling together came the two exQueens—a mother and her daughter—in flowing chiffons. They were ex-Queen Sophie of Greece and her tragic daughter. Princess Helene of Rumania. Round and about them moved the 10,000, laughing, talking and listening to the band. The King and Queen moved and chatted with their friends -and foreign visitors. In the long marquee near the Palace bishops and foreign Ministers stood together eating raspberries and cream; their wives and daughters sat on little chairs, spreading their crinoline skirts on the lawn, and- juggled with parasols and iced coffee., The young people clustered near the ornamental lake listening to the band playing Viennese waltzes It was all very informal and gay, and yet one of the most brilliant pageants of the year.

The Royal garden party is said to close the London season . . . but in yesterday's glorious sunshine it opened the English summer.