Mannequins of Empire

The monocle-wearing 1st Marquess of Willingdon, super-dignified Governor General of Canada (1926-31) and Viceroy of India (1931-36), is just about the last Briton anyone would expect to organize a fashion show. But the Marquess recently returned from an exploratory trade mission in South America and it so happens that beauteous, tawny-toned Miss Rosemary Chance, who models clothes for swishy London photographers, is the Marquess' niece. Last week under his august sponsorship, and with the active cooperation of Their Majesties, Miss Chance and 17 other 100% British mannequins prepared to sail on a fashion tour of South America, where they must meet and beat stiff Nazi competition.

Already groups of short, swarthy French mannequins, whose figures and complexions resemble those of swank Latin women, are touring South America under Nazi auspices, showing models flown in German and Italian planes from conquered Paris. The tall, slender, pink-&-white-complexioned Willingdon mannequins will show models just created by the London branches of Worth, Paquin, Molyneux and Lachasse, plus others by Norman Hartnell, Victor Stiebel, Digby Morton, Peter Russell and tweedy Creed.

The girls this week are being specially coached on what to say about Britain's war while on tour. Before going to Buckingham Palace for a private royal preview they were super-coached in court etiquette.

At the last moment, high-strung Stylist Norman Hartnell decided that one of his mannequins, delightful Miss Ricki Richardson, who is expected to be a riot in South America, simply would not do for presentation to Their Majesties. Abruptly Mr. Hartnell substituted for Ricki Richardson a mannequin who has often modeled for Queen Elizabeth, majestic Daphne Osborn Jenkyn. Miss Jenkyn was introduced to Her Majesty as Miss Richardson. But The Queen called her "Jenkyn."

Chaperon of the 18 mannequins will be not regal Lady Willingdon but vivacious Mrs. Phoebe Tatton Brown, who was born in Argentina, has been released from a British Civil Service job. She explained that the gowns and hats her girls will wear are not for sale. South American women's-wear houses will be licensed to copy them, providing they agree to do so exclusively in British-made materials. One new British dress fabric the Empire mannequins will show is printed all over with ringing World War II phrases struck off by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

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