CHILDREN IN MAYFAIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHILDREN IN MAYFAIR.

LONG PARTY FROCKS. It is at the Queen’s direct wish that so many of the little girls of Mayfair are now wearing long frocks, states the London Daily Telegraph, The fashion started with Princess Elizabeth and Lady Mary Cambridge, the Queen’s granddaughter and great-niece. If other small girls could have seen them round the Christmas tree at Sandringham they would have noticed at 'once ’ that their blue velvet party frocks for the Christmas Day party touched their toes.

The Queen had' asked their mothers, the Duchess of York and Lady Cambridge, not to cut the long bridesmaids’ frocks which have been made to do as the two little girls’ only party frocks this season. She told their mothers that she loves long skirts for children, and also the puff sleeves, which are another old-world feature of these frocks, designed for Lady May Cambridge’s wedding. The Queen asked for big puffs when the frocks were made. Other mothers, on hearing of the Queen’s preference, chose anklelength party frocks this season for their small daughters. Little girls who objected to the idea quickly changed their minds when they were told, “Princess Elizabeth wears long skirts.” Hermione Radcliffe, a little schoolmate of Lady Mary’s, is among the children setting the new class frock fashion for the approaching term. This is the cardigan that doesn’t slip off, worn over a blouse on elastic that appears to tuck in, and a kilted skirt. Up till now mothers have found the cardigan an untidy fashion, as it slips off small shoulders, but the new cardigans clip neatly on to the blouses on either side of the neck. Mothers now take their children to be fitted for the Easter holidays before this term begins. This ensures the youngsters having something ready for them, so that they can discard school uniform immediately. Deep turnings are taken in case they grow too fast! All the bright spring tweeds are being chosen now by mothers at one leading children’s dressmaker. Green has been selected for many of the opring term frocks. These are for the evening hour, when many modern schools allow children to wear dresses of their mothers’ choosing. Woollen suits on ‘“buster” lines, and in one with the silk blouse, are being worn by many children. The whole thing can be washed at once, as the colours are fast.