Mrs. Charles Sweeney Pouring Tea for Lady Bridgett Poulett

During the Beau Geste party at Claridges in London, England, nine famous beauties are grouped upon a stage in a "Bouquet Final", wearing jewels worth 500,000 pounds. Dresses specially designed by Mr. Norman Hartnell form a backdrop for the gems. Lady Bridgett Poulett (l) and Mrs. Charles Sweeney (r) take tea together during a rehearsal for the party. Lady Poulett wears a black velvet crinoline held up by straps of pearls and black velvet gloves embroidered in pearls. Margaret Sweeney wears one of the finest collections of rubies, of which the stones are wonderfully matched in color and size. (Photo by Hulton-Deutsch/Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images)