SPARKLING BEAUTY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 7

SPARKLING BEAUTY

The Use of Brilliants There is no end to the way in which the hair can be dressed and decorated this new season. It seems that there is always a cry for individuality, ami whether it has been expressed fully or not during past seasons it certainly is the keynote of dressing this year, states the “Sydney Morning Herald.” Particularly does the vogue for individuality extend to the hair. Fashion makes certain indications, ami there it stops. It says that the most important thing, and a rule this year, is that hair sweeps upward from the nape of the neck to the crown; but just in what manner it sweeps is a matter for personal taste. Wellshaped heads can afford to sweep the hair straight up the back of the head, terminating in a bunch of curls at the crown, while the severity of the hair swept back from the forehead in a corresponding manner is relieved by curls bunched at either side of the head. Such a coiffure would be incomplete this year without its complimentary brilliants. The car-clip, which is just like a hinged ring, is fastened comfortably on to the ear lobe, and is matched for evening wear only with a star brilliant clipped on to the hair. Clips of all types are used to decorate coiffures —butterflies, dragonflies, bows, bars, circles, and funs are made of brilliants, some combining dull gold with chromium to good effect. The placement of clips is a matter for personal taste. Some follow the hair parting with tiny clips of diainente; a single button clip in the centre front is effective on hair that is taken straight off the forehead. Combs studded with brilliants can secure unruly hair at the back of the head, while the brilliants show prettily below the last layer of curls.

A pretty notion is a line of single diainente clips at the base of the cluster of crown curls with a treatment after Hepburn, with bang fringe in a profusion of curls in front. For the same head silhouette for long hair, the hair is taken straight off the face and the long ends are coiled on to the crown, while a posy of pastel flowers is perched right tn front of the hair. Flowers, both natural and artificial, are used extensively, and swathe the head in high coronets or narrow dainty garlands. Single flowers, too, are coming into vogue and a rose tucked into a coil of hair at finback of the head will send many a mind back to pre-war days. The ear-clip is suspended by a wire coiled right around the ear for security. Others worn with shorter coiffures cover the entire ear or part of it.

Big slave bracelets shaped to fit the arin( such as a plain band of dull gold or intricately designed and studded with colourful gems, are considered part and parcel of hair ornaments, as they match clips and slides and frequently are displayed close to the head. Brilliants are so much in favour in London that they are often used in combination with diamonds. Of the precious stones, diamonds are still unquestionably first favourites, and, despite the fact that Lady Alice Scott's engagement ring was a sapphire set in platinum, with a baguette diamond at each side, sapphires are oniy fourth favourite. Of the coloured stones, rubies are much in demand, aud emeralds come next. A semi-precious stone which has come to the fore is the acquainarine. Enormous limpid specimens make beautiful rings mounted in large platinum settings studded with small brilliants. Black opals from Australia are in great demand, but it is hard to get really good specimens with the right amount of lire. Pearls, both black and white, retain their place; there are many occasions when nothing but pearls seem to be precisely the right jewels. The modern jewel settings combine a massive effect with extreme lightness. Platinum and gold are given a conspicuous role to play in much of the new jewellery, being treated to form a chic background to the stones they support. Hings are large and generally of symmetrical design, preferably in some unexpected and noticeable shape. The clip is still a craze. It may start as a brooch which can be snapped apart, making two or four clips for the dress, the hair, or fastenings for gloves of soft antelope. There is also a great vogue for tiny brooches made as models of aeroplanes, motor-cars, and similar novelties in snakewood, studded with diamonds. The bracelet with a set of miniature charms dangling from it (much favoured by the Duchess of Kent( is having a tremendous run, both in London and Paris.