QUEEN MARY AND DRESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3348, 14 October 1911, Page 4

QUEEN MARY AND DRESS.

— SIMPLE TASTES A CHARACTERISTIC. GOWNS WORN MANY TIMES. It is impossible to imagine Mary of England setting.tiue style the feminine world. iving Ld\w • personal tastes in dress were watched bv the tailors of at least two continents, and hia personal likes arid dislike., in the matter of colors and cuts were reflected ru all the capitals pt Europe, 'i'o a slightly less degree King Geoigo affects the modes of the male halt civilisation But not even her cl friends would accuse Queen Mary being fashionable. In fact, her ta. in matters of dress are those o -cnnfty housewife with little to spar on personal adornment. . To copy the modes of a King is more or less of a compliment to his good taste; to follow too slavishly the modes of a Queen is the worst of bad form, in tlie Queen’s entourage it is an unwritten law that the dresses of the ladies must not too closely resemble those of her majesty, and the same rule applies to all those who come into touch socially with the Queen. In other words, common consent accords Queen Mary that pleasure dear to every woman's heart of exclusiveness in dress.

it would be hard even for a woman of limited income to follow the pace set by Queen Mary in her expenditure on dress. % It will be a surprise to many to learn that some of the more simple dresses in her majesty’s wardrobe cost not more than 30-dol. In fact she has a numberl of plain walking and yachting costumes that cost exactly £6 os-, about 30dol. That is not to say that they are made of cheap material; on the contrary, the Queen always insists that no matter how low priced the dress supplied to her, it must contain no imitation material whatever: everything must be of the best kind. Usually Queen Mary orders several gowns at the same time in order that she may not waste too many of her valuable hours. Word is sent to the establishment she intends to patronise, .eiling the manager that the Queen will call at such and such a time on such and such a day. A general description of the kind of gowns she would like to purchase accompanies the notification. The manager must provide a private room in which to receive her majesty, and a number or gowns such as he thinks will meet with her favor are paraded before her on a living model. Queen Mary has decided tastes of her own in matters of dress, and she seh dom orders an exact copy of any of the models shown to her. There is always some modification required, and she gives the most- minute directions which are taken down and submitted in writing for her approval, so that there will be no mistake. In some cases dressmakers are commanded to call at Buckingham Palace with a selection of model gowns, but as a rule Queen Mary prefers to call ac the shops. The “fittings” are always done at Buckingham Palace, and the Queen makes it very plain that she does nob want to give more than one fitting for each gown. That means chat the modiste must use every care that little or no alteration is necessary. Frequently the dresses made for the Queen are trimmed with priceless lace and embroideries supplied from the collection at Buckingham Palace. In such cases, after the gowns have served their purpose the trimmings are removed to do service again. In no case are these trimmings sold with the dresses. There are some women in the world who refuse to wear the same dress twice. Queen Mary is not one of them. She has been known to wear the same dress as many as twenty-five times. On an average dresses remain in the royal wardrobe about six months, and during that time they are worn probably eighteen times each, although the frequency of their use varies a great deal according to the nature of their material and style, and thus a walking dress would be worn more often than an evening gown. Although the Duchess of Devonshire holds the proud title of Mistress of the Robes, it is a mistake to suppose tnat she has anything to do witn the dressing of the Queen. Her title is largely an honorary one. So also largely are those of the ladies of the bedchamber, although they are constantly in attendance in succession upon Per majesty. The clothes of the Queen are in charge.of a dressing-maid and two assistants, called dressers, and are kept in a great apartment, known as the roboroom. The walls are lined with enormous wardrobes, some containing the state robes and others her majesty’s ordinary gowns and dresses. One of the ladies of the bedchamber sends a card in the evening to the dressing-maid, giving particulars of the dresses that will be worn by the Queen on the following day. After each dress is entered the hour at which it must be ready aud laid out in the dressingroom. The system is simplified by the numbering of every costume in her majesty’s extensive wardrobe, and any reference to them is made by number Twice a year Queen Mary' personally goes over her wardrobe and throws out Oie dresses she no longer wishes to retain. Those discarded are disposed of in two ways; a small number are given to the dressing mistress and her ssistants, but the great majority are sold to a dress agency. The selling of the Queen’s old dresses is conducted by the dressing mistress, who ■is given the widest discretion in the matter. There is one condition, however, that is always insisted upon'' Under no circumstances are the dresses of the Queen to be resold in England by tlie agency buying them. Abroad it. can do what it likes with them.