Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Socialists protest Archduchess' dressmaking business

May 8, 1932

Socialists in Vienna have filed a "curious complaint" with a magistrate to complain about "one more proud Habsburg" who has gone to work,  this time as a dressmaker.

The Chicago Daily Tribune reports that the "story leaked out after formal objection" had been made against Archduchess Franziska, who was selling dresses in the Mayr-Melnhof Palace, located on the "fashionable Argentinierstrasse."

Officials were sent to investigate why Archduchess Franziska was able to hold a fashion show and sell dresses "without a state license."  But by the time the police arrived, they "found everybody out," and after snooping around the palace, they also were unable to locate any dresses.  All of the dresses had been sold.

Investigators soon learned that the Archduchess, who lives in Munich with her husband, Archduke Max, had brought into Austria "scores of dresses from a Munich couturier. She had told Austrian customs officials that the dresses belonged to her.  Her real intention, however, was to hold a fashion show, where distaff members of Viennese society were able to buy the dresses.

Archduchess Franziska was born a Princess of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst.  She married Archduke Maximilian, second son of Archduke Otto and Princess Maria Josefa of Saxony.  They have two sons, Archduke Ferdinand, 13, and six-year-old Archduke Heinrich.

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