in 1973, gregory took the top award for high fashion daywear in the new zealand benson and hedges fashion design awards with her design 'flappers'. it was reported that gregory's entry "showed the signature of a really creative designer who has what the americans call 'class'". gregory was described as producing “creative design that has all the smooth professionalism of an international couturier” and that her entry “was unmistakably a winner [...] she has produced a design that, if it were commercially exploited, could well be a trend-setter”.