HOW ACTRESSES SET FASHIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 23, 22 October 1907, Page 3

HOW ACTRESSES SET FASHIONS.

A very interesting study in the.art of dross' design is to bo found in tiie "Strand Magazine: '•' ] A number, of 'the; most popular actresses have revealed tho ', fact that 'certain fasmons havefirst.omanatod from'them.' Actresses,'of course, have the advantage that thpy can insist on having things iiiado for them, and mado according: to their'pwii ideas. The expense of carrying out a special design which might trquble the 'private, individual is of no'consequence wheri'tho success'of a stage performance is in question.- Moreover,, tho. actress is bound,to mako a most careful study of what really, suits her and looks Troll'from all point's 6f view..' This- last, consideration does not alway scorn apparent'to'the. woman in the,' stalls,- who thinks that a .certain' acttr.css is simply wearing some nbveltv becausb it is the latest fashion, and forthwithJgoes homo arid orders, thq duplicate of tho 'noV gown or. 'hat without', pausing- to think whether:it will homecoming to'.h'er own'style*. But anyone 'who studies'what various gifted .players say for themselves on' the point in ''thc'roagaziiipwohavc named will sc.o at 'once, that tho actress, thinks undoubtedly of what she'can woaij- before' she'' vbntur'cs on any startling.innovation. Wo. learn from the:-con'-. ■fcss;6'n's"-of-'tbeso. ladies, that Miss Lilian' Braithwaitc has. set the fashion of 'bugletrimmed: gowns;' that Miss Carnillc Clifford'insisted on having a, close-fitting Princesse gown made for'lifer when the' fashion was opposed to her, and'immediately fashion came .round to the charing of the' garment. Also' that Miss' Billio Burke had a'new shoo: designed for her,' which is now . the " Billie Burlco shoe"—and a very sensible, pretty little shoe -too,'for an ill-fitting shoe is'intolerable on: the stage; and that Miss Mario Tempest gave a charming introduction'.to'-tho. dainty little coat with short- distended sleeves that she aired in '." Tho Freedoni of Suzanne." ' Miss ■Isabel Jay.'is responsible for.a pseudo-Dutch cap'; Miss Julia Iveilson, for the Nell Gwynno hat, which makes sofjnp a frame to hcr'prdfile; Miss Zona Dare, for. a now clqak; iuiss Ellaljriq Ter'riss', for., those gold heart, lbckots which werb so/.done'to-death about seven years' '-.ago;; Miss" Violet' Vaiibrugh,; of course', for gipsyi'earrings- 'arid turquoise necklet's ; and Mrs. Langtry, for the'Eangtry shoe, arid (once upon a* time), for'a smart I .little black velvet toque with "a: gold quill'stuck through tho'front. The conclusion''of this matter°is that it is'a nico'thing'to start a.'fashiori, but a poor thing to fqllow/onb, unloss.it be with maiiy 'skilful; 'modifications , that introduce their own' measure of -'novelty.