NOTES FROM OVERSEAS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19034, 1 April 1930, Page 12

NOTES FROM OVERSEAS.

Some lingerie which the Duchess of York has chosen for herself was shown to me yesterday, said a correspondent from London. It was in shell-pink silk, and included some dainty dressing jackets with kilted frills and a hem of pale gold lace. The rest of the lingerie, including the nightgowns, was edged with the fashionable deep-tinted lace called “racine.” There were also some fine linen sheets and pillow cases in the same shade of pink. Both the Hon Mrs Reginald Fellowes, and the lovely Marquise de Casa Maury, take their own sheets and pillow cases with them when travelling, and own to. a dislike for sleeping in strange sheets. Most women who go south in sleepers now take their own bed linen. It is all packed away in a bag which makes a comfortable pillow, and besides the linen this sleeper’s bag holds a light silk and wool blanket and dress-ing-gown and pyjamas to match.

Princess Elizabeth is no longer a baby! She has been promoted to a hoop and is simply delighted with it. It had to travel down to Sandringham with her when she went there. She manages it very well, although at first it was always rolling off on to the flower-beds of the bit of fenced-in park in which she plays when she is in London.

An astonishing number of women, who started to let their bobbed or shingled hair grow again when the longhaired fashion was decreed, are abandoning the attempt. The dreadful part of the ordeal is the half-way or “poodle” stage, when not even the smartest or best-looking women can .stand human scrutiny without a tremor. Society dames or ladies of the idle rich class, of course, can manage well enough. They simply disappear for a rest cure, and return clothed and in their right coiffure. No such expedient is feasible, however, for the professional or business woman, who must brazen the hairgrowing adventure through somehow, and as best she may. This opportunity to be in the fashion, without having to look unsightly for several weeks, is perhaps the one thing the woman with a career envies her idle sister. Class hatred begins and ends with a “hair cure.”

When the Queen of Spain dines privately with her old friends in London she prefers a small dinner party rather than a large evening reception. The Hon Mrs “Ronnie” Greville has always been the perfect hostess, and to meet Queen Ena at her house in Charles Street were thirty-six guests. Dinner was served at one long table, and its appointments were of the most simple character. A white damask tablecloth covering the long table, with two rows of tall silver candlesticks, white crested china, and dark red single chrysanthemums, combined to make a charming effect. The Queen of Spain, wearing diamonds with her black seqinned gown, sat in the centre of the long harrow table facing her hostess, the Infanta Beatrice sitting at the head and her sister at the end. Most of the women guests wore black, in compliment to the Queen’s half-mourning for the Queen-Mother of Spain. The old masters in the dining-room had a background of deep crimson carpet and brocade. and the white satin dresses of the Infantas had a perfect setting. Both the Queen and her daughters have taken to the long skirt fashion for evening wear, and with the double trainends touching the ground the Infantas wore large bows of the satin on their dresses almost like bustles.

Most women of maturer years can remember how surprised they were when short dresses became fashionable, and the prices of frocks and costumes did not correspondingly decline. They were gravely told the reason for this was that the material played a small part in the total cost of a dress, and there was just as much labour to be paid for in making a short frock. This being so, it is rather a shock to discover how longer skirts have put up the prices of dresses at once. Many of the new picture hats are made of brocades costing 25s to 30s a yard to the trade, and between seven and eight yards are required. The woman who used to pay lOgs for an evening dress is now asked at least 15gs for a dress of the same standard.

Lady Noble has always been a very artistic person, and loves beautiful home surroundings' more than anything else. Especially does she insist upon beautiful walls, since they form a background for one’s every-day life. Her bathroom ha? just been entirely redecorated. It has textured walls of Mediterranean-blue shading upwards into a duck’s egg green, which spreads across the ceiling. On the walls one sees tropical deep sea fish in relief.

Poppy Day. The executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association is continuing its activities in connection with the forthcoming Poppy Day appeal, by getting women’s committees appointed in the suburbs of Christchurch, with a view this year to selling poppies in the suburbs as well as in the city. Ob F'riday a meeting of women was held at the residence of BrigadierGeneral Andrew, Cashmere Hills, when a strong committee was set up and complete arrangements made for the selling of poppies in the Cashmere district. A meeting of women was held at the residence of Mrs G. A. Hayden, Beckenham, when similar arrangements were made with regard to Beckenham. At this meeting it was very pleasing to note that all the women present were the wives of ex-service men. A deputation consisting of the president, vice-president and secretary of the association visited Sefton on Saturday evening and addressed a meeting of returned soldiers and others interested. At the conclusion of the meeting it was unanimously decided to make arrangements for the sale of poppies at the annual sports to be held at Sefton on Easter Monday, when it was anticipated that the local women would be able to dispose of a large number. Meetings are to be held this week at Addington, Spreydon, Springston, Shirley and other centres. It is expected that 30,000 poppies will be delivered to the association this week from England.

He forgot to ask her if she could cook before he married her. “Anyway,” he thought, “in these days of tinned foods, restaurants, and frying-pan cooks, I won’t starve.” Their first meal consisted of fried chops, toast, a little burnt, and Pioneer Sauce. “Delicious,” he said. Yes. she .knew Pioneer Sauce makes all the difference to simple, everyday meals. 6