BEAUTY NOTES FROM PARIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 58 (Supplement)

BEAUTY NOTES FROM PARIS.

PARIS, August 1. Grace. What is grace? Grace. I think we may eny. is a? much a question of subordinating one"s less attractive points, as it is of accentuating those that are good. If one has pretty features but a poor figure, or if one's neck is too long, or too thick, or the feet are too big—then all the attention paid to other things will not bring about the attributo of grace. Because grace is a question of one's whole appearance, and the possession of it gives a charm, a finish, a poise, that beauty alone cannot offer to her handmaidens. Of the two, grace, which can be acquired is more to be desired than beauty. A graceful woman is along the road to being a well-bred one. If you have an evident defect, no one knows it better than you do, and probably, in secret, you have, worked to overcome it. Only you know your limitations, your aim and ambitions, and your strivings. If you are doing the best you can to overcome a hahit, that very habit may call down the most cutting criticisms from another person, who does not know in the least of the work you have already done t" eliminate it, and, you, discouraged, are more apt to give, up all trying, than to be spurred to greater effort. It is not fair to yourself to accept another's opinion of your faults and defects, nor ia it fair to yourself to take another's opinion as a goal. You must build your own character (which includes beauty and grace as well as intelligence), according to the thinge you hope to l>o, and nobody else can set that particular standard for you. Having decided, then, that this study of grace is to be a solitary one, let us find some means of measuring our possibilities. A Body Measurement. The span of one's hand is a measuring rod for all body measurements, the span of the hand from the tip of thi thumb to the tip of the middle finger. Measure your face first. The breadth at the eyes, should be exactly the hand's span, from the hair lino to the hair line. If your faco is too wide, try bringing your hair forward on both sides, to the proper distance. Soft, wavy hair can be coaxed or pinned in place, and straight hair can be softened into the proper curves. The proper length of the face, from the hair line to the chin, is one span. If this lino is too short, push your hair back from your face, softening the hair line with a few short hairs. Don't cut a bang! If it ie much too short, lift your chin, so that the shadows underneath arc not rtvMent. Having oalanco'l your face properly by your hair, let us discover what the proper portions in your body are. Other Measurements for Beauty. V.our arm measures one span from inside of wrist to inside of arm wiicre cllmw turns; from mus'it at inside, of bent elbow to muscle just in front of armpit, one span. Your body measures three spans, two spans measure the sides from armpit to hips. The leg measurements correspond to the arm, two spans from inside of tn ■ rook of knee, two from crock of knee to heel, and one from heel to toe. Hints — Should you not be Properly Proportioned? If your head is too big, or too lons, or too little, or too short, you must learn to carry it proudly, well set on your shoulders, your chin slightly lifted, ati.l your hair arranged to modify the lack of proportion. If your body is too long from neck to waist, or too short from waist to hip, you must learn to consider your head as part of your body. Never make quick, abrupt gestures that break the body at the neck, or nt the waist, and in your dresses, carry all trimming-lines below tho waist. If your arms are too long, do not let them leave the body unnecessarily. Hug the body with the elbows. Do not hang your arms across the back of chairs, and keep your hands together m your lap, for that foreshortens the line from elbows t) hand. On '.he other ha r id, if your irras n;c. too srort,' keep them loose and free from the body. . Bo not put your >ands together and do not hold thinsrs in them, but let the fingers lie full length. The Finishing Line of your Body. Speaking in a general way, your head must be the finishing line of your body, and the continuous lino from the chin to the waist, that comes when the head is slightly turned, is very becoming, particularly if you aro inclined t-.i be square-shouldered. T'io question of grace is, nft?r al!, mm:") a matter of making the best of yoj-so.lf, and that, with a good impersonal sense of line and curve, whicii comes with thought and study, is all you need. Careful Dressing Helps. Some people can be helped in their search for grace by careful dressing. Short wnists can be lengthened by dropped ■waistlines. There are ways of dressing for those who, being stout, wish to appear thin, and there are specialists who will help to make any unusual fisrure, face or foot, more nearly normal, if the matter can be remedied by clothing. But suppose it is not a. question of clothing. Awkward movements will 'nullify the effect of the most carefully! selected garment. If you doubt this, you have only to watch the first fifty women walking down your main street. Fully half of them are clothed in garments which, if worn by a wellpoised woman, would be attractive. A fourth of them are wearing clothes to be envied, the entire list there will be no more than two graceful women. There is a ray of hope in this If, by a. little study and practice, you can acquire something which will enable you to wear the clothes you can afford, with such an air, that they look better than the most expensive clothes of the season —why neglect the opportunity?