FEMININE INTERESTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18636, 4 August 1930, Page 4

FEMININE INTERESTS.

PERSONAL AND FASHION NOTES. Tribute to Airwoman: Inspired by Miss Amy Johnson s flying feat, Mr Victor H. Wager, a young artist from Western Australia, now settled in Melbourne, has modelled in bronze a unique ornament which he intends to present to the intrepid airwoman. In the collection of gifts she has taken back to England, surely none will please more than this piece of creative work by an Australian. The story of the flight is woven into a bronze vase shaped like the top of a geographical globe, with the slim, boyish figure of Miss Johnson garbed in flying costume, rising from the centre and supporting a pair of outstretched wings, symbolical of the spirit of the flight. The modelling of the wings is a faultless bit of craftsmanship. Pictorial embossing on the base indicates some of the obstacles encountered on the flight—fog, heat, sandstorms, rain, head winds, angry seas, and jungle—the picture story finishing with the quotation, “Call me Johnnie,” worked in embossed design. Embossed lettering has also been used for the following inscription:— After nineteen days sth. to 24th. May, 1930. The device is about 12 inches high, but to make the packing of it easier, the designer has fashioned it so that the figure and base can be detached. Modelling is only a hobby with this young craftsman. He earns his living as a commercial artist, and has never had a lesson in modelling. Mr Wager is a member of the Victorian Artists’ Society, and is studying the higher branches of painting at the National Gallery. All on Board: The Bright Young People had not been providing much entertainment recently, but the whole of Chelsea turned out to see the start of Miss Ruth Baldwin’s and Mrs Howland Spencer’s much-discussed river party. For half a mile, the embankment was crowded with spectators, and there were as many people on Albert Bridge as if the boat race had been in progress. Certainly the little steamer was a sight worth watching as it left Cadogan Pier. Most of the guests had taken the instructions on the invitations to come dressed as first or second class or steerage very literally indeed, and some weird and wonderful costumes were to be seen. Mrs Dennis Pelly, for instance, appeared as a steerage passenger in the loudest blazer anyone has ever seen, and the Hon. Mrs David Tennant solved the dress problem by appearing in a bathing dress. One must certainly congratulate the hostesses on their powers of organisation, for they kept a hundred people amused for six hours. The boat did not stop once it had left Chelsea at 9 p.m., except to pick up a few late arrivals at Westminster, so everyone had to remain on board until they arrived back in Chelsea once more at 3 a.m. There were plenty of things to do. On the deck there was both a concertina band and a jazz band to which to dance. Below there was a choice of cold supper, shrimps, peanuts, or all sorts of special drinks Miss Cynthia Hume was mixing. Beautiful Wedding Presents: A beautiful Georgian silver teapot was presented to Lady Lettice Lygon and Mr Richard Cotterell in honour of their marriage, at a luncheon to which Sir John Cotterell, Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, entertained Hereford County Council. The luncheon took place at Garnons, Sir John’s home near Hereford, and was followed later by a second function, at which the Weobley Rural District Council were received so that they might present the bridegroom-to-be with a cartridge magazine. Mr Cotterell, who was accompanied by Lady Lettice, acknowledged the gifts. Among other presents, Lady Lettice received some beautiful jewellery. Her father-in-law gave her a magnificent string of pearls, which was the only ornament she wore at the wedding. A coronet of diamonds was her father’s gift, and from her bridegroom came his regimental badge in diamonds, and a brooch in the design of a racehorse and jockey—the horse in diamonds and the jockey in enamel, wearing Mr Cotterell’s colours of white, red and green. An exquisite diamond bracelet was the gift of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster. Princess Beatrice gave a blue china parrot, and the gift of Princess Helena Victoria and Princess Marie Louise was also a lamp—one of the latest designs, like a large yellow china bowl with a parchment shade painted in a floral pattern. Men’s Ingenuity Displayed in Women’s Dress: Although men are the severest critics of women’s fashions and consequently make us feel a little inclined to snort at the stronger sex, we women do owe a lot to men’s ingenuity both in designing our clothes and in producing the materials of which they are made. Some particularly attractive painted fabrics have been produced by ex-Ser-vice men on the Sasma Estate in Meadowhead. These fabrics are made into frocks, lingerie, dressing-gowns and evening clothes, bridge coats, shawls and other garments by the wives and daughters of the men, who are also resident on the estate. Lingerie sets in crepe de chine, washing satin or any other material desired, are ornamented with handpainted decoration which will stand the rigours of the laundry and emerge as fresh in colour as ever. Several of the hand-painted georgette and silk frocks were to be seen in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot last year and others will be/ probably seen there again shortly, for many wellknown women have been among recent purchasers. A useful cape shawl for wear at summer evening functions when the average opera cloak seems too heavy is made of georgette and gathered into a collar so that the whole does not slip off the shoulders at the wrong moment, as sometimes a shawl tends to slip. This can be made in any shade and can be decorated with a painted design in any chosen colour scheme. The bridge coats—one of which has been bought by Princess Mary—are made in velvet or tussore, painted with floral or conventional designs. Painted linen tennis coats are also attractive and Lady Bective purchased one of these. They are three-quarter length and make a colourful addition to a seaside or sports dress. Sunshades are included among the fashion accessories made by the ex-Service- I men and one in black silk decorated with a silver painted design has been ordered by Lady Bute. All kinds of items for the house, such as bedspreads, curtain, lampshades, table mats and runners are also among the excellent work produced by these exService craftsmen. Wedding in Mayfair: Christ Church, Down street, Mayfair, was selected for the wedding 6f Dr Hugh Scobie Hamilton Gilmer, son of Dr and Mrs Hamilton Gilmer, of Wellington, to Miss Rewa Mary Weston ■

daughter of Captain and Mrs T. Shailer Weston, of Southsea, Hampshire (formerly of New Zealand). The ceremony—a choral one—took place on 25th June, the Rev. G. E. Farran, D.D., M.8.E., officiating. The chancel was beautifully decorated with cream roses, tall palms, and choice flowers in shades of pink. A number of relatives and English and New Zealand friends were present at the church.

The bride wore a graceful trained dress of ivory satin, the bodice having long and close-fitting sleeves. The tulle veil, arranged over a slender wreath of orange blossoms, developed into a long train. The bridal bouquet was a large sheaf of damask roses. Mr E. H. B. Neill, Seaforth Highlanders, was best man, and the groomsmen were Messrs. E. F. O. Lloyd. J. St. B. Barclay, and Dr W. E. Tucker. The only bridesmaid was little Susan Pawle, dressed in a Kate Greenaway frock of cream satin carrying a posy of crimson roses and wearing a wreath of the same Mrs Weston held a reception at the Washington Hotel Curzon street. Later, Dr and Mrs Gilmer left for their honeymoon, which is being spent in the South of France, the journey thither being made partly by rail and partly by aeroplane. The bride’s going-away costume was of delphinium blue chiffon tweed, with hat to match. She wore a stone marten stole. Mrs Weston, the bride's mother, wore a beautiful gown of black charmeuse, having a loose cape lined with shell pink, with which shade her bouquet of roses prettily toned. Her hat —a becoming one—was of black straws The bridegroom’s mother wore a dress of black and white, with hat of shiny black straw, and carried a bouquet of yellow roses. Among those present at the reception one noticed the following New Zealanders:—Mr and Mrs C. J. Wray, Mrs J. M’Naughtan Christie, Mr S. Gilmer (uncle of the bridegroom), Miss Bayley, Lieut. T. B. R. Woodrooffe, R.N., and Mrs Woodrooffe, Mr and Mrs Vere Arnold, Mr and Mrs Guy Stratton, Mrs Tully, Miss Marjorie Morice, Mr M. C. Barnett, Mrs Bowie. There was also a large number of English friends of both familes. On their return Dr and Mrs Gilmer will settle down in Hertford, where the former will practise his profession.

Ascot Models: The wife of Commander Holbrook has chosen for Ascot a Blanche Ambrose model in chiffon and chene taffeta. The sleeveless chiffon frock, cut with a closely-moulded bodice and long, graceful skirt, would be charming also for evening wear. The material is patterned with a large tulip design in soft, harmonising shades of cyclamen, green and yellow. Taffeta in an exactly matching design is used for the accompanying coat, which is cut three-quarter length. It is shaped to the waist and flares gently at the back—something like the stiff silk coats worn by men at the court of King Charles. The sleeves have a matching flare inserted from elbow to wrist, and a large bow placed just at the back of the left shoulder softens the rather severe neckline. Mrs Holbrook will wear with this ensemble a pale blonde hat of open work horsehair straw, cut with a wide brim and Madonna bandeau, round which cyclamen and green ribbon velvet is twisted.

Another Ascot ensemble made by this house is in dragonfly blue chiffon —a lovely colour that looks particularly beautiful under the blazing sun that one always hopes for at this important event in the social world. The Queen’s Wedgwood: Various celebrations were held in London recently to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Josiah Wedgwood, “the father of English pottery,” says an English writer. These included two important exhibitions of Wedgwood ware, one at the Victoria and Albert Museum the other at the Mansard Gallery. Many rare examples were collected at the two exhibitions, of which the seven pieces lent to the Mansard Gallery by the Queen from her private collection at Windsor Castle were of particular interest. The Queen’s pieces comprised an ivory box bearing one cameo, a framed portrait of the younger William Pitt in fine dark blue and white, a plaque of a Medusa head, a delicate scent bottle with Zephyrs, a snuff-box with cameo of George 111. modelled by Birch, a cream jug with the figures of Cupids eating apples, and a portrait of Charles James Fox. Jewellery Fashions: A revolution is in progress in the world of fashion Frocks are lengthening, hats are becoming larger, and jewel accessories are being modified to suit the transformation. Among the many lovely pieces Mayfair jewellers have designed, earrings are not the least attractive. They are carried out in precious and semi-precious stones. For day wear, some of the most beautiful are of chalcedony, cornelian, coral or jade. They are ususually of the very long drop variety, and have a charm of their own when worn with one of the new large hats which turn uf the face. For evening wear many elaborate designs have been evolved. Gloves for Children: Cnildren’s gloves are just as important nowadays as those of grown-up people, and are identical in cut and material. The Prince of Wales recognises this important fact, and a little while ago included in a parcel of leather gloves which he sent to the Duchess of York a tiny pair to match for Princess Elizabeth—an attention which, no doubt, hugely delighted that small person. That the little Princess is not th« only child who likes to have gloves “just like mummie's” is proved by the rows of minute gloves seen by the writer in a Court glover’s recently, in doeskin, suede, kid and even the fashionable hogskin for country wear. A Thoughtful Hostess: Dominion visitors invited to Lord and Lady Clarendon’s garden party at Pitt House, were able to see the rhododendrons at their best in the gardens and to inspect the famous Vandycks and Lelys in tijg house. Lady Clarendon had most sVs>ghtfully placed a label on each i,. , ; -ve, with the name of the painter .‘‘he subject clearly printed on it—•. ‘"'Admirable plan, commented on gratefully by the guests. The hostess looked delightfully cool in a chiffon frock and coat patterned with red and yellow cottage flowers, her black hat being worked with the same blooms. Dowager Lady Raglan’s Daughter as Milliner: The Hon. Ivy Somerset, youngest daughter of the Dowager Lady Raglan has taken up a new career—hat-mak-mg. For some time she has been making her own hats of tweed, and stitched ribbon, felt or straw, and she made them so attractively that her friends used to ask her where she got her hats. Modestly she had to confess that she made them herself. Now she has left the Park Lane doctor's establishment where she was working, to build up her hat-making business.