THE SOCIAL SIDE OF PUNCHESTOWN

 

 

 

In the month of showers and sunshine, and in the country known as the land of the smile and the tear, it is difficult to understand why people should feel aggrieved if that almost impossible combination, fine weather and Punchestown Races, do not come off, and yet of grumblers there are a goodly throng, who do not seem to realise that even bad weather, much less a few showers, cannot dim the prestige of our greatest racing event, or rob it of its prerogative to be dubbed “Glorious Punchestown.” On Tuesday typical April weather prevailed, and yet the crowds were greater than usual on both sides of the course, while the Kildare Hunt stand accommodated a very distinguished gathering. With the barometer in such an uncertain vein, it goes without saying that tailor-made toilettes were the most popular, and, indeed, the most becoming and suitable wear. Lady Aberdeen was attired in a handsome gown of fawn face cloth, with a long paletot of a lighter shade of cloth, beautifully trimmed with silk braid to match; her brown crinoline hat was adorned with brown and pale blue ostrich plumes, and a stole and muff of Russian sables completed her costume. Lady Cadogan, who was greeted by scores of friends, wore a gown and basqued coat of dark moss green cloth, with sable boa, and a toque of mauve primulas, with cluster of pink roses and maiden hair ferns; the Countess of Mayo had a very smart black costume, with white vest, and a cluster of Malmaison carnations, and a large black crinoline hat, with feathers; the Countess of Fingall wore a grey ribbed panne costume, with a brown chip hat, wreathed with shaded roses; the Countess of Rosse wore a Royal blue toilette with handsome sable cape and a black toque; the Countess of Limerick wore a mauve tweed costume, with a black hat and handsome furs; the Countess of Listowel had a dark costume; the Countess of Clonmell had a pleated gown of very dark purple cloth; Lady Weldon looked remarkably well in a Princess gown of pale grey cloth, with silver embroidery on the bolero, and a black picture hat, with long black tulle scarf; Lady Milbanke wore dark blue, with a lovely cluster of pink carnations fastened on her vest; Lady Annette La Touche was dressed in black crepe de chine, with tiny white plisses on the bodice, and a black toque; Hon. Georgina O’Brien was in black and white and handsome furs; Mrs. St. Leger Moore wore cresson green cloth, with embroideries of paler green on the bolero; Mrs. De Burgh wore dark violet, with black braiding and embroidery; Mrs. Warren wore a black costume; Mrs. Rimington had a black costume with a mauve toque; Miss de Burgh was in pale blue; Mrs. Eustace Borrowes in a stylish green dress and hat; Miss Royse wore deep purple, and Miss Clare Royse a green and white gown. On Wednesday the colours were a little more decided, and the materials a little more substantial. Navy blue face cloth, navy blue serge, and navy blue tweed, in its infinite varieties, were the most favoured fabrics, and gave scope for many flights of imagination in the creation of hats and toques. That French modes in headgear have caught on here was very evident, and the right angle at which he chapeau should (or should not) be posed on the elaborate coiffure, offered much food for study and reflection. The threatened invasion of the mushroom hat has stopped half-way, and the shapes, though originally designed to shade the face, are now turned and twisted, and flared up in the most fantastic manner, those of fine crinoline being the most effective. A charming novelty was to be found in the chiffon scarves, hemmed with sable and chinchilla, which will doubtless become very popular. Lady Aberdeen wore a toilette of dark moss green, with dainty white guipure and pink silk embroidery on the collar and vest, a long paletot of paler green panne, with magnificent gold embroidery forming the yoke, and a wide gold and black gallon bordering the whole; her green toque of the same shade, with wreath of shaded yellow and pink roses. The Countess Cadogan favoured a tailor-made costume of very dark blue cloth, and her small straw hat had high black ostrich plumes at the back and black and white ribbon; the Countess of Wicklow had a panne velvet coat and skirt, with a blue scarf, and twists of the same uncommon shade in her hat; the Countess of Fingall wore heavy beaver face cloth, stylishly cut; the Countess of Mayo was in black, with slight relief of white, and a picture black hat; Lady Powerscourt wore dark green chiffon velvet, trimmed with chinchilla; Hon. Mrs. Lindsay wore black, relieved with mauve; Lady Weldon had a Princess robe of turquoise suede cloth, trimmed with white satin and embroidery; Lady Annette La Touche was in black and white; Mrs. St. Leger Moore had a dark purple and black costume, and toque with pansies; Mrs. Rimington wore the deepest purple cloth, and purple hat; Mrs. Eustace Borrowes wore pale mushroom cloth; Mrs. Hamilton-Stubber wore a costume of tabac tweed, and hat with yellow roses.