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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1961-03-30, Page 22A Queen's Wardrobe For A Royal Tour The blaze of publicity turned ell Queen Elizabeth II and what OW wears is probably brighter than that focused on any other woman in the world. Only Mrs, $ohn F, • Kennedy, wife of the President of the United States, as her public engagements owl- tiply in number, seems likely to ettrget such a spotlight. Queen Elizabeth II, since she left the schoolroom, has had to wear clothes influenced to some extent by the circumstances of her public engagements, First she must consider those ubiquitous cameras. Her clothes must show up well against a crowd in black and white pho- tographs. For this reason the Queen often chooses light colors, People who wait hours to see the Queen pass by want to see her face and catch a glimpse of " her smile. Her hats, therefore, must be either small or have off - the -face brims, Since her wedding, the Queen has been more adventurous in her styling and many here credit the good dress sense of her hus- band, the Duks of Edinburgh for this. For her current tour to India, Pakistan, Tibet, and Iran, the Queen had more than 90 outfits, with special dresses for each big function, and a variety of cli- mates had to be considered, too. Queen Elizabeth's chief dress- maker is the usually cheerful, smiling Norman Hartnell. As soon as the itinerary of a royal tour is fixed, Mr. Hartnell is summoned from his Bruton Street salon to Buckingham F '- - --S°zes PRINNTED PATTERN A SIZES L4704 121/2-21t A. deep - descending collar ames you in softest flattery eve a slimming skirt. Smart in time cottons - elegant in sill{ br faille for gala evenings. Printed Pattern 4704 Half $lazes 121, 141/2, 161/2, 18%, 201/2,'• 021/2, Size 161/2 requires 32/4 yards - 88 -inch fabric. Send. FIFTY CENTS (500) (stamps cannot be accepted, use postal note for safety,) for this pattern. Please print plainly SIZE, NAME, ADDRESS, STYLE NUMBER. Send order to ANNE ADAMS, Box 1, 123 Eighteenth St., New Toronto, Ont. ANNOUNCING the biggest fa- shion show of Spring -Summer, 1961 pages, pages, pages of patterns. inour new Color Cata- log - just out! Hurry, send 350 now! ISSUE 12 - 1961 '.Palace for a preliminary con- ferenee, On the next visit to the Palace Mr. Hartnell take' samples of new and suitable ,fabrics, At this point the experi- enced "Madaeoe Vera," one of Mr, I•Iartnells chief vendeuses, comes into the picture, Her psi- vete name is Madame Penchi, a charming Englishwoman, widow - of .a Frenchman, who has the entire charge, from this moment, of shepherding the royal ward- robe through to completion. The Queen likes, whenever possible, to experiment with color and texture, She is keenly interested in the "feel" of fab- rics. She presses theist with her fingers and tests them. She loved the soft silks, chalk -white satins, gold shantungs, the di- aphanous' organzas, and the corded grosgrains, from which. day and evening dresses were made for the Indian visit. As soon as the Queen has. chosen the materials, Mr. Hart- nell retires, usually to his coun- try house not far from Windsor Castle, to make delicate water- color sketches of the suggested models, Much discussion goes on when the Queen sees these. . Each design is conned in detail and visualized against the back- ground in which it is likely to be worn. For the Indian visit there were gorgeous settings, and eastern trappings, for which the Queen chose dresses mostly in plain colors -pastels for day, and white with gold or silver for evening to show up well against the strong reds, greens, and blues worn by British and Indian guests. For her first State banquet in Pakistan the Queen chose a white satin evening gown with a dramatic folded train of em- erald satin flowing from the deep neckline, writes Ruth Jor- dan in the Christian Science Monitor. Another evening dress was a slender sheath, white crepe em- broidered in crystal brilliants and emeralds . to match the Queen's emerald and diamond tiara. For day wear the Queen chose loose, collarless coats over cool - looking dresses, one in gold shantung and anoder in peri- winkle blue. Once the Queen' has decided on the styles, there is bubtling -activity in Mr. Hartneli's work- rooms, behind the gray and sil- ver salon with its crystal chan- deliers. Madame Vera is linchpin of this activity. Skilful fitters go from the salon to the Palace at intervals- where fittings are carried - out under the watchful, eye of Mr. Hartnell and Madame Vera. Although there is a dummy of -. the Queen's figure, she has the. usual number of fittings as ma- terials do not respond to an in- animate shape as they do to a moving figure. Only those who have seen the Queen at close range realize how petite she is and how small her waist, As many of those thousands of people who flock to see the. Queen only see her head even when she stands.up in the limou- sine as she has been doing in her Indian tour her hats are most • important. The Queen chose quite frivo- lous,models of petals and flowers In pale:celors, These sat high on • her head ; and held their own against, a .,background of mag- nificeht bright turbans worn by 'the'Indtans. Many of the Queen's hat's are made by Claude St. Cyr, of Paris, who has a London salon on the ground floor of Mr.. Hart- nell's' house. Queen Elizabeth's relaxed and simple manner makes a fitting at Becliinghara Palace an enjoy- -able session. Often she keeps the company laughing at her amus- ing 'remarks, She herself clear- ly enjoys every minute of plan- ning and fitting. Those who serve her experience a charming relaxed gaiety and are warmed by a sweet smile which is neces- sarily missing from solemn pub- lic appearances. Highway planning somehow devises new and wider highways. funneling into cities that had too much automobile traffic ten years ago, • DAWKIN•S SCORES WITH CUPID - Peter Dawkins, West 'Point All American who won fame os rugby player in England, an- nounced his engagement .to Judi Wright, with whom he is shown here. THE GOVERNOR'S GIRLS' - Janet, left, and Kay` Welsh are twin daughters of Matthew Welsh, Democratic governor of Indiana. The 18 -year -cad girls acre freshmen at Indiana Uni- versity. That's the family Bible they're cradling. HRONICLES 11146R.FAR144F d C n inw. D.Cta[k¢ Friday, March 3, was a record day in Ontario insofar as warm air and bright sunshine were concerned. Partner was out, for a walk late that afternoon and stopped to talk to a neighbour. Fred remarked on the lovely spring-like day. "Yes," agreed Partner, "but there's rough wea- ther ahead." "Rough weather!" repeated Fred incredulously. "Yes," answered Partner - and added "Ever heard of sun - dogs, Fred?" "I've heard of them but I can't say I really know what they are." "Look over towards the west and you'll see them." Fred looked, and there on either side of the setting •sun were two perpendicular bars of red -gold light. "Those are sun - dogs," explained Partner. "When- ever you see them you may look for rough weather within about twenty-four hours." And we got it - snow and wind during the night, followed by rain with the promise of freezing rain later oh ... and Chicago got its tornado. We don't often see sun -dogs in Ontario. Out west we used to watch for them,. After they ap- peared many a farmer would make a hurried trip to town to get supplies before the• weather changed. Sometimes the change might be delayed forty-eight hours, but it always came. Well, I'm glad the weather stayed fine here until I had my special little chore accomplished. That is, getting my new licence plates for the car. Yes, I was one of the late -getters, not from choice but necessity. I couldn't very well get them while I was confined to bed. I got to our local office about ten o'clock on the morning of March 1. The parking lot ac- commodates about 100 oars. I drove in and around three times but never a space could I find. Finally I double-parked while I went to speak to a traffic officer. "Isn't there ever any let-up around here?" I asked, Cars were still rolling In. "No, ma'am!" "Then when is the best time to come - can you tell me that?" "Eight -thirty in the morning - that's when we open." So I came away and went hack next morning, arriving at eight - twenty -five. Even so there were nine men ahead of me waiting on the steps for the doors to open. I got in the line-up. In about twenty minutees I was out again, my precious plates clutch- ed jealousy in my. arms, By that time the office. and lobby were full and all the parking space taken up again. While waiting around I noticed the required proof of insurance often proved to be a stumbling block, One man said he was insured but couldn't find the voucher, "Then you must pay the extra $5 or come back with your voucher." "If I pay now and find the voucher later willthe money be refunded?" "Sorry - no refund." The man paid his extra ,t5, Two women were tilling out forms for renewal. One said - "Heck, I don't know if 1 have liability insurance!" The other girl took over the form and fill- ed in the answers without ask- ing any questions! I had my in- surance policy with me as well as the voucher because last year our agent hadn't given 'enough information and I had to go back for the policy. This year I came prepared and sure enough it Was needed., Our agent is going to hear about that, . believe inc. Another thing, next year I'll be getting my plates the first week in January as I have done other years - that is, D.V. and wea- ther permitting. What's the sense of putting it off? One might just as well pay first as last. Money is just as hard to find one time as another. Well, here we go, back to farm topics. You know, sometimes when I watch "Country Time" on TV it almost scares me. The progress that has taken place since •we were actively engaged in farming is astounding. Eggs never touched by human hands except when taken from the hens -; even that wouldn't be neces- sary with trap -nests. Suction cups pick up eggs; conveyor belts take them from one opera- tion to another; eggs moved from hens to peeking plants in 48 hours. It would take a wise hen these- days to,know her own eggs. Efficiency . . wonderful, but I wouldn't want it. For the sheer joy of farming give me the days when we worked with ver biddies like buddies, with nmats for those with unusual characteristics, And they were never scared when we walked among them. Thirty years ago most small flocks had the run of the farm, laying somewhat strong flavoured eggs. But oh, the joy of it when we found a motherly President's Wife Digs Up Treasures Little has been seen of Mrs. Kennedy during her first month or more as a resident of the White House, but her presence has been fait in. k yer'l' positive way, • ' For she is obviously a rather positive woman, with a strong feeling for -the artistic fitnessof things. . This was apparent al- mbst immediately, Like any wife coming into a, new home, .she looked it over and saw, things to be done, First of all she was struck by the lack of authentic, period furniture in the downstairs public rooms, A quick tour of the White House brought to light hidden "treasures" in downstairs rooms and, tucked away in looked cab inets. As a result sonic of these have been brought forward for use as public display. She saw paintings which she 'felt could be more prominently displayed to advantage in other parts of the house, Soon the American public began to realize that this young woman with her quiet, almost shy appearance is a person with a mind of 'her own and not afraid to express it. Indeed, of all the nation's First Ladies, it is doubtful if any has come into the White House and given it the imprint of her own personality in so short a time. Each First Lady has, in some way, left her signature there in some contribution to its historic mosaic, bet this has generally cone over the course of years, not weeks. Mrs. Eisenhower, for instance, made it her project to complete the china collection so that there are now• pieces rep- resenting all first families., Jacqueline Kennedy plunged into White House housekeeping like an art collector into an an- tique shop. Sheimmediately came upon a historic desk made from the timbers of the British shin Resolute. The desk was one given to President Hayes in 1878, and used by many Presidents since. But during the remodelling of • the White House in the Truman administration it was moved downstairs to what is known as the "broadcast room." . Mrs. Kennedy saw it not only as appropriate for the President's office because of its historic value, but also because of its connection? with the sea, The President, as a Navy man, had recuested her to secure some Paintings of naval battle scenes for his office. These she found among White House art, but the dell: was an unexpected dis- covery. Many tourists have long ad- mired the lovely Howard Chan- dler Christie portrait of Mrs. Calvin Coolidge on the ground floor corridor.eSo did Mrs. Ken- nedy, and promptly had it hung in Il -c more elegant setting of the Red Room. Most significant et all, per- haps, is her conclusion that something should be done to remedy the lack of authentic 'period furniture in the first floor rooms -that is, the East Roemt, the Red, Blue, and Green Rooms, and the State Dining Room, Mrs. Kennedy was by no means the first to note the un- fortunate contrast between the beauty of these rooms and the hen venturing forth with a clutch of fluffy chicks hatched in a nest she had stolen away in a dark corner of the barn. Those were the days when, even if farming methods lacked efficiency, there was colour and charm that pro- vided a tremendously satisfying way of life. rather. nuts:'. ;:rim ,1:.r:::w «e itS t, °�i'iai b(Inv dlored b visitorsheiranisalh•41. rioueps adminy-. Istratiwns, Writes Josephine Ripe ley in the Christian Science Monitor, Now the present First Laxly' has taken tine initiative toward remedying this deficiency,'. 'She has been in close touch with the Fine Arts Commission in all of, her thinking about White House changes, and out of this develop- ed the appointment of a com- mittee of the Fine Arts Commis, skin which had just been given the task of locating authentic furniture . of the period - and then more important -of raising the funds to purchase these items. Modern Etiquette By Anne Ashley Q. Is a hostess obligated to risen and greet each newcomer to her home? A. Most certainly. A, hostess wino does not do' so is rude and inhospitable. Q. What do you do when you bare accidentally taken some "foreign , matter" 'into your mouth at the dinner table - stones, fish bones, and such? Are these removed with the fork? A. No, do not use the fork. These foreign bodies are remov- ed with the thumb and fore- finger, and placed on the edge of the plate. For Year 'Round rAIYLA`-NRlI- Daughter ln:,.s so pretty is this whirl -skirted dress. Colorful embroidery trims neck. A practical juniper! Can be worn with blouse without, it's a summer . dress. Pattern 866s only the jumper pattern; sizes 2. 4, 6, 8 included; transfer. Send THIRTY-FIVE CENTS (stamps cannot be accepted, use postal note for safety) for this pattern to Laura Wheeler, Box' 1, 123 Eighteenth St, New Toronto, Ont. Print plainly rA,TTERN NUMBER, your• NAME and AD- DRESS,• JUST OFF THE PRESS! Send now for our exciting, new 1961 Needlecraft Catalog. Over" 126 designs to crochet, knit, sew, em- broider, quilt, weave - fashions, homefurnishings, toys, gifts, ba- zaar, hits. Plus FREE - instruc- tions for six ssnert veil caps. Hur- ry, send 250 now! DOINGS IN THE ART WORLD Come international cries, economic recession and cold war teniions the art world continues to spin at Its own pace. In Copenhagen, Danish authoress Isak Denesen, left, examines a statue of herself completed by U.S. sculptor Emile Norman. At an artists' ba -ll in St. Louis, Lee Pope, center, shows up as a living mosaic. And In Paris, P,•ce e, the re•••mb'ence is noted between Annabel Buffet and the painting of her created by her celebrated husband, OP. nkard,