FRILLS FADS & FOIBLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 382, 16 June 1928, Page 21

FRILLS FADS & FOIBLES

London Seasons Splendour

Most Brilliant Programme Since Wat

Five Royal Courts

THE London “Season,” which has just begun, promises to be the most brilliant since the war. A long- list of important social functions have already been arranged. At Covent Garden the Grand Opera Season opened before a distinguished house. Five Royal Courts will be held at Buckingham Palace during the season —instead of the customary four—among notable debutantes being Mr. and Mrs. Winston Churchill’s daughter. Miss Diana Churchill.

Hyde Park recently showed that many society folk had returned to town, while dressmakers, caterers, florists and others are arranging for possible overtime work to meet the needs of the long list of social functions. “Das Rheingold” was done for the initial performance at Covent Garden, when a notable audience included ex-King Manoel of Portugal and his wife, who are great devotees of music. Private View Day at the Royal Academy will, as usual, mark the official opening of the season. The earlier days of this week, crowded though they are with events, are actually a prelude to the great day at Burlington House. Dress Revival During the last few years Private View Day has become much less of a dress occasion than it was in the Edwardian days, when people went more to see the fashions than to see either the people or the pictures. This year it is expected to show something of a dress revival. Dressmakers have a much larger number of “Private View” orders than has been the case for some years. By the end of the week, when the King and Queen will be back at Buckingham Palace from Windsor, Mayfair will be itself again. The Larger “Mayfair” Not quite the Mayfair of old, for this season finds “Mayfair” more elastic than ever, and the Society' residential quarter strfetches from Westminster to Knightsbridge, out to Regent’s Park, and all along the north of Hy'de Park. It is not nearly so easy for people to “go on” from one social event to another as it w'as in the days when everybody' who was “in” society liv/J within a certain narrow area still labelled Mayfair on the maps. It is significant of the importance of the season that their Majesties are holding five Royal Courts at Buckingham Palace, instead of the customary quartet. There was such an unusually long “supplementary list” of names of ladies desiring to be “commanded,” after the first four courts had been filled in, that the King and Queen decided to hold an extra court, so that there should be fewer disappointments. There will be two courts on Tuesday and Wednesday week, one on May 23, while the last'two will be on June 12 and 13. Many attractive dresses are being planned for wearing at Buckingham Palace, and there is a great “return to simplicty” about Court fashions this year, dressmakers say. Most debutantes are wearing white, cream, or palest rose-flushed frocks. Effects are gained by clever “lines” rather than elaboration of detail. Much lace is being used on new court gowns. Notable Debutantes Among the notable debutantes to be presented at court are Mr. and Mrs. Winston Churchil’s daughter, Miss Diana Churchill; Lady Honor Guinness, daughter of Lady Iveagh, M.P.; and Miss Phyllis Astor, Lady Astor's daughter. Lady Mary Lygon, daughter of Earl and Countess Beauchamp, and the Viceroy of India, and Lady Irwin’s daughter, Miss Anee Wood, are other girls of special importance. Although there is no State visit from an important foreign Power y'et arranged, London will have many visiting Royalties during the season. The Queen of Spain, with her daughters, will be coming; so is Princess Ingrid of Sweden, who is such a favourite with the King and Queen. The Crown Prince of Belgium and Princess Astrid are others expected. For the first time for two or three years ail the Royal Princes will be in England for the season. The Duke and Duchess of York wil lentertain at No. 145 Piccadilly, and Lord Laseelles and Princess Mary hope to give some parties at Chesterfield House. An unusual number of important brides have been added to the list of hostesses since last season, and most of these will be entertaining, including Mrs. Cunnigham Reid, Lady Louis Mountbatten’s sister, who has a new

house which admirably lends itself to entertaining. The number of dances and parties already arranged is far in excess of such functions held during the last two or three seasons. There is at least one dance for every night up to the eve of Goodwood week, which opens on July 31. Perhaps the most socially outstanding dance of the season, yet arranged, is the Duchess of Devonshire’s ball for Lady Anne Cavendish on June 26. The Duchess of Devonshire is, of Mistress of the Robes, and it is expected that Royalty will be present. The Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Henry and Prince George, have all promised to be present at various charity dances being arranged in great numbers during the season. All society, from their Majesties downwards, will go to the Chelsea Flower Show, and to the Ascot meeting; while other events of the season include polo at Ranelagh, tennis at Wimbledon, cricket at Lord’s, and the Horse Show at Richmond.

A number of pretty society weddings have been arranged for May and June, but at present the important brides of the year are fewer than was the case last season. “Probable engagements” are among the excitements of the season, a season full of brilliant promise, promise which affects trade as much as it makes gaiety.