Accessories important

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32705, 7 September 1971, Page 7

Accessories important

(By

NORMAN HARTNELL)

LONDON. I You can wear a $2OO ( dress and look ghastly, or you can slip into a $6 dress and look marvellous. I am not, let me hasten to add, triyng to do myself out of a job by advocating that everyone from now on should give couturiers a miss and shop only at the chain stores. Rather I am pointing out just how much difference the right accessories can make. Choose the wrong ones and, no matter how expensive and exclusive the dress, it will look a shambles. But select the right ones and you will look stunning—even if the dress has been massproduced. This is what one of my I salon models does, and I must say she always looks most attractive. She chooses linen or cotton for summer and picks colours such as navy, white, black, chocolate, dark green, or stone. She selects the same colours for winter as well—except she then goes for jersey, synthetics or wool. The dress styles themselves are always very simple—sleeveless, straight up and down sheath dresses, chemise lines, trouser suits, and demi length dresses with long sleeves. But all have one thing in common. They are bought in chain stores and none costs her more than $9. This leaves her money to spend on accessories. And here she does not stint herself. She lashes out on crocodile shoes, belts and handbags, real silk scarves, first-class costume I jewellery, and expensive tights. FAR NEATER She does not choose tights, embellished with diamonds or hearts, birds, bees, flowers and whatnot down the sides. Tights like these would scarcely go with her already striking handbag, shoes, belt, scarf, or ring. Come to think of it, the only place for such monstrosities is under maxis,, where they can not be seen. Jewellery, hair ornaments and hats, if chosen unwisely, can also ruin your appearance. A nice hairstyle looks far neater than wearing a load of rubbish in your hair. And don’t make your hat too frilly or flowery. A chic creation is the wiser choice. If you are worried about the sort of hat you should wear, you can afford to visit a reputable milliner. True, the hat will probably set you back more than you imagined, but then the dress was cheap, wasn’t it? Handbags? Remember, real crocodile or patent leather always looks elegant and lasts for years. , It is part of today’s togetherness theme to choose shoes to match your bag, but I would never advise anything too fancy of stylish. It has a habit of dating very quickly. Classic, simple lines, in contrast, tend to retain their elegance. As far as costume jewellery is concerned your motto should be to stick to. one good piece at a time. Good pieces cost quite enough. Enormous fake ruby cocktail rings, bold pendants, and chunky bracelets look most attractive on a simple dress that is acting as the background. But have a care if your dress is boldly patterned, for then the results can be disastrous.

In the photograph a model wears a black and white patterned dress, large white earrings, big black hat, black shoes and handbag. Any more accessories with such a bold-patterned fabric would be superflous.