The Washington times., 1921-02-03
FIRST LADY'S'
GOWNS SECRET
Wife OF President ELECT Orders
Silence on Description Of
Costumes.

NEW YORK, Feb. 3.-Mrs. War
rem q. Harding sat all day Yesterday
In her suite at the Ritz-Carlton while
the men who will furnish her White
House wardrobe brought their wares
TO her and spread them before her.
CoNsULTs ON STYLES.
Fittings began today. Yesterday
was devoted to consultation ON ma
teriaIs and styles. Mrs. E. B. Mclean
10 constantly with Mrs. Harding. as IL
would be impossible for one person
to cope with the stream OF candidates
which wends IL way In ana out or the
hotel all day seeking appointments.
Mrs. Harry :. New goes out when .
personal visit to the shops Is thought
desirable.
Mrs. Harding's arrival In New York
did not mark the first of the designers
overtures. As a matter OF fact. sew
sral big firms sent representatives
hot foot TO Marion In the wake OF the
election. None OF the candidates Is
allowed entry TO the suite on the
twelfth floor except by special ap-
pointment The general assumption
Is that the entire wardrobe Will be
furnished by half a dozen OF the
Oldest firms.
NO ADVANCE DESCRIPTIONS.
IL seems as II those women whose
eyes are turned expectantly In Mrs.
Harding's direction before they order
their own gowns for the inaugural
ceremonies will have to go ahead irre-
spective of the choice OF the Presi-
dent-elect's wife. Mrs. New admitted
yesterday that Mrs. Harding had posi-
lively announced that no description
OF the gowns was 10 be given out now
or prior to the actual ceremony. She
added that no pictures could be taken
Of the gowns or materials. The color
at least is known, and gendarme blue
In likely 10 be the vogue inmsdiateiy.
Her wrap will be Of the Same blue and
her hat will be small. Her outht VIII
be simple, compared with the famous
dove-patterned Triangular gown OF
previous reign or the bun velvet and
white satin costume Of the beautiful
Dolly Madison.
MRS. Harding has no intention
whatsoever Of allowing a description
OF her wardrobe to get into print"
said Mrs. New. "And when she says
mo- she means IL. Definite orders
have been given to the various cos
tuners to reveal nothing that has
transpired upstairs. while Mrs. Hard
ing realizes that people are interested
in her clothes, she shrinks from pub
licity. This is a great ordeal to her
and she Is thoroughly tired. There Is
one thing ] can tell you definitely and
that Is that she will make no social
engagements at all during her stay
here"
One Of the nrst things Mrs. Harding
bought and later wore to the theater
was a beautiful black brocade even
ing cloak, topped with a long white
fox fur. Her gown, conservately cut,
was Of black satin and net, heavily
trimmed with sequins.
EVERY NIGHT AT THEATER.
"Mrs. Harding knows just what she
wants" one designer declared. after
leaving her. ''She has a keen reali-
cation Of what is becoming and suit
able. She is perfectly conscious that
as First Lady Of the Land II Is neces-
sary for her to exercise particular
care I'm the selection of her wardrobe.
She wants her outfit to be dignified,
distinctive and suitable to her posi-
tion, and she will have nothing else
Theater boxes have been taken for
every night this week. Mrs. Hard
ing's taste is said to run to the
lighter sort of entertainment. She
| Is slated for "The Greenwich Village
Follies" and the Hippodrome. and her
first public appearance since coming
to New York was at sally" where
she passed unrecognized, although
seated in the front Of the most prom
inent box. This will be her only form
Of entertainment. The theater parties
consist only of Mrs. Harding and her
two companions, Mrs. Mclean and
Mrs. New.
A wreath Of old-fashioned flowers
was presented yesterday afternoon to
Mrs. Harding by the Girl Scouts Of
America. She Is honorary chairman
of the organization.
Lanan's chief eXports are raw silk