BEING "FINISHED"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 13

BEING "FINISHED"

DEBUTANTES' GROOMING

During tlie three weeks before the first court oh ISth. May many a debutante lately emerged from school had to complete another education almost as strenuous —-her preparations for her first London season (states the "Daily Mail"). She might have had the advantage of a little preliminary entertaining at informal parties; havo been "finished"'at a, very chic school in Paris; or she'might-bo just-a shy and rather gauche girl who had lived entirely in the country. On the whole, however, tho present-day debutante is much more sophisticated than the girl

of, say, ten years ago. But even the most poised and unselfeonscious ones had a groat deal to learn, especially this year. The transition from krice-longtli "schoolgirl" dresses to ankle-length frocks is a tremendous; one, quite beyond the unskilful manipulation of a girl already too aware of feet, hands, and elbows. Tho long frocks of 1931 mean that the length of her stride has to be reduced by half, while the high waistline involves hours and hours of "figure-moulding" exercises to achieve the right contours. DEPORTMENT. Tho changing of the schoolgirl chrysalis into the society butterfly takes many days of concentrated effort by experts, augmented by many more days of "homework"—the following! of exercises and treatments dictated by the beauty expert. The sturdy stance of the athletic schoolgirl has to be completely altered to suit ft the . new! "grown-up" frocks and the all-import-ant court gown. Three times a week, the debutante spends a couple of hours in taking rhythmic exercises set to music. She is taught to correct .her sloping shoulders, faulty carriage, and the thrust-forward head which is often characteristic of the girl, fresh from the schoolroom. To enable her to forget her hands and feet she is taught to copy movements based on classical Greek poses.If her neck is hollow and angular she is taught special "puffing" exercises, a most intricate business. If she is too plump she has, after the exercises, to face a fearsome-looking instrument, with 50 rollers, which rotate around her body as sho stands within their grip. Finally, she has the choice of a bath, lasting from thirty to fortyfive minutes, in hot wax, or* one taken in a box encased in wood and lined with powerful electric lamps. STUDY OP COMPLEXION. While she is in the bath she is given a "debutante grooming." Her skin is massaged and toned up and given a muscle strapping treatment in which a special, oil mixed with eggs is. used. Hard portions of skin on the- hands^ — '■ honourable trophies of the hockeyfield—are removed, and her hands massaged ; ,and .whitened. : Her. rather characteristic,' ""''shaggy "brows are" plucked into ■ the supercilious looking line that goes for chic. Little wonder that many mothers fail to reeogniso their daughters when eventually they emerge from the beauty specialist's hands! ■,-••; • A- study is then made of the youthful client's type, and a make-up chart drawn up for her futuro guidance. She .also receives a full and comprehensive practical lesson iii, the art of, subtleft make-hp, '' verj^, ; .-very. slight,' especially ' "on the ' night .at court;" the specialist adds, warjiiijgly. ft Then there is .the business of learn-, ing the actual .curtsey, and hours and hours'at the dressmaker's being fitted for the- most important frock, next to her Redding dress,:,of her life. On the day of her presentation the debutante is visited at her home by the beauty specialist,-the hairdresser, and a fitter.with her frock.' The dressing, making'up, and hairdrcssing ft. take several hours. When-all is ready there stands a. graceful girl, orchid-like in hor cultivated good looks, slim aiid selfconfident—a complete metamorphosis from tlie gauche schoolgirl of a few weeks ago, already sorcnoly confident of becoming "a social success.'.'