DRESS DESIGNERS ON THEIR METTLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 281, 27 November 1936, Page 2

DRESS DESIGNERS ON THEIR METTLE

I CORONATION SECKKTS | "The dress for the Coronation must be specially designed to suit the oc- , casion of heraldry, tradition, nobility, and stateliness, allied skilfully to a touch of a Hans Andersen’s fairy tale,” said Peter Russel, prominent English designer, when interviewed recently. He considers he will not have a moment to spare from now on until his Coronation collection is completed in the early English spring. "It is an occasion when only the Englishman with his imbibed appreciation of all the above mediums can portray the harmony of elegant simplicity for such a stupendous event,” he added. "Not an inch of superfluous fripperies will be tolerated to detract from the supehb jewels that will be worn Special shades must be used that will blend with the colours of the uniforms and the royal purple. The carpets of the throne room also must be considered. “My thoughts and visions caper ahead of me, and I am already awaiting the arrival of specimen colours that are being experimented with by French and German dyers. , "Two secret colours of mine, nowever, I can disclose. They are applejuice white, and quince-pink—two most delicate shades which have never before been introduced as colour schemes. The former is a perfect background for emeralds, and the latter harmonises with the royal purple and the red of uniforms. "For these ceremonial gowns I am creating, I have such intricate details as white-gold to be woven into embossed gossamer lames, satins and brocades. The blue-white of duchess satin, embroidered with white-gold, will be used as a complement to diamonds, while the paiest drencned sapphire brocade will tone with the deep blue of those stones. "The exact length of trains has not yet been discussed, but they will not be shorter than 118 inches. A decision is to be reached also regarding the correct number or ermine tails for the court robes of the ladies taking part in the ceremony. "Each British designer will take great, pride and spare no pains in the creation of the Coronation models in the hope that the prestige of England may be further enriched by her creators of fashion.”