Evening star., 1939-06-08
BY MARGARET HART.

BY MARGARET HART.
Fashion history is being made this
afternoon at the imposing British
Embassy on Massachusetts avenue
as guests are arriving for the gar
den party given by King George VI
and Queen Elizabeth of England.
This, the first social event in the
Capital of the United States given
by reigning sovereign, has caused
much controversy in this demo-
cratic country as to proper costumes
in which to meet royalty.
Years hence, perhaps, when other
royal visitors come to Washington,
and the question of proper attire is
raised. many of today's guests will
remark (no doubt in superior tones),
We'll, when King George vi and
Queen Elizabeth were here, wore
:" and then will follow a detailed
description of the costume, and.
probably, an account of the argu-
ments, pro and con, as to whether
the gowns should be long or short.
Eltner is correct.
Today, the decision is-either is
correct! For, while long and flowing
chiffons and delicate garden gowns
are the choice of a great number,
simple dresses of street length are
being worn by equally as many
guests, and equally as prominent
ones.
Wives of officials, as we'll as the
members of the residential circles
of Washington who were among the
favored l,400 scheduled to attend
this afternoons party, settled the
question of clothes-whether for rain
or sun-in variety of ways, some
choices being based on the wear
ers' own opinion of how to dress for
royalty, and others being based on
what the women thought their hus-
bands constituents would like them
to wear.
The four acre tract of British ter
ritory with its natural wooded border
gives fitting setting for the array
of beautiful gowns and accessories
chosen by the selected group of
women representing all sections of
the United States.
Mrs. John Nance Garner, wife of
the Vice President, who has been in
favor of street-length dresses for the
royal function from the very first
chose a dress of black chiffon with a
flowered design in Copenhagen blue
Her broad-brim black hat was trim
med in blue, carrying the flower
design of her dress, which, of course
was street length.
Mrs. Bankhead's Choice.
| Mrs. William B. Bankhead, who
with the Speaker of the House was
invited to be on the portico to be
presented to the King and Queen
was another of the official hostesses
planning to wear a street-length
gown. The dress was black chiffon
worn with a jacket of organZe and
a hat of black Milan straw with
white accessories.
| The cabinet hostesses almost in a
body are wearing long gowns, but
even here two of them chose short
dresses.
Mrs. Cordell Hull, who with the
Secretary of State was included in
the group to be presented to their
majesties on the portico, selected
for the royal function lovely gown
of white marquisette, the full skirt
just escaping the floor having bands
of black lace. The sleeves were
made short and puffed and the cab
met hostess hat was of black straw
the wide brim having three large
white gardenias at the front. Long
black gloves and other accessories in
black complete the ensemble.
Mrs. Claude A. Swanson, wife OF
the Secretary of the Navy, has Sc
lected true garden party gown for
the occasion. The dress is of blue
chiffon with flowers in red and blue
and wide brimmed hat to match the
blue design.
Mrs. Henry Morgenthau, jr, wife
of the Secretary of the Treasury
chose a ch ffon gown with pastel
shades of rose and green against a
black back. ound to set off her
brunette colo1ing. The dress, cut or
flowing limo and just escaping the
ground, matched large black hat
trimmed with velvet and fine net.
Mrs. Woodring in Cotton Wolfe.
Mrs. Harry H. Woodring, wife o1
the Secretary of War, chose her gowr
of white cotton voile with the heir.
loom lace collar and the natura
straw hat and accessories with the
navy trimming almost as soon as the
invitations to the party were mailed
Mrs. Henry A. Wallace, accom-.
panying her husband, the Secretary
of Agriculture, is wearing a street.
length blue and white print dress
and a large white hat trimmed ir
blue. and white accessories.
Mrs. Harold L. Ickes, attendira 2
with ho~ hueho~S the Secretary ol
the Interior, picked a gown with q
f1owered Liberty print against a
white background and white acces-
Sories.
The Secretary of Labor, Miss
Frances Perkins. chose a plain white
silk damask suit with a white straw
hat.
The ladies of the diplomatic corps
are to be as varied as their tastes
for garden party apparel as those
in other walks of society. There are
short dresses and long, light colored
and dark, but nearly all are OF
thinest material, with a hope that
the thunderstorm predicted will