THE BUSINESS GIRL

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 13

THE BUSINESS GIRL

WHAT SHOULD SHE WEAR ? IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT CLOTHES There is more truth than wordslinging in the old phrase that “ your job is what you make it ” —and incidentally, whether it seems absurd or wise at first thought, the clothes a woman wears have quite a little to do with tho whole affair. For instance, just pretend that you are calling upon a business man, and in his outer office sits a woman before a typewriter at a desk. Her hair is the sort that was ouco given a permanent wave and thereafter left wild with nothing but a mistaken sense of values to explain its dishevelled length. The girl chews sweets with a vindictive violence and wears a red satin dress with romantically, if not over-enthusiastically, puffed sleeves and a lace collar. Even more could be said, but that is enough. At once your intuition tells you that this young woman is a small-salaried stenographer of none too much importance or value to tho office. And if her answer to your question at all ties up with your opinions launched by her appearance, her impression is not an enviable one.

And then you walk auto a second office. There, behind a tidy desk, with perhaps a flower in a vase, sits a neatly-groomed, alert young woman. Her hair is punctiliously neat and precisely dressed in the manner of the time. Her frock is fitted and simple and chic. Immediately comes an impression of respect. Here is a woman who is aware of things—clever, capable. Perhaps she is a secretary, and certainly she will be moro as time goes on. For the civilised world has its own code, and tho costumes that women wear are fearfully loud indications of just how aware women really are of all this. SMART AND EFFICIENT.

That is why there is more reason than extravagance or vanity or any such petty thing for the business woman of to-day to know her frocks. What, then, makes a really smart office costume? First of all, a dress. Whether that frock is silk or wool depends upon the temperature of the office and of the woman. Whether it be a slightly feminised frock or one severely tailored depends upon the kind of an office and the type of work being done. With things feminine so frankly allowed, good taste is admitting to a limited degree certain things which did not find acceptance before. Of course, a discreetly-puffed sleeve or a softly-draped neckline, a dash of bright colour, and even a capricious bit of white collar and cuffing of the most delicate sort—providing it is at all times immaculately clean. Just as long as these discreet innovations in no way cause the frock to suggest an afternoon tea, they are really allowable. But the moment trimness and efficient simplicity of effect disappear, simultaneously does the frock lose caste. A cleverly-cut one-pioco dress of novelty woollen or wool crepe or some sheer and interesting jersey or knitted weave is difficult to beat. The alert modem forging her own way ahead in the fascinating, if terrifying, great world of business to-day, puts a higher value upon her costume for hours of work than upon any other part of her wardrobe. And clever she is to do this—for to the most important hours should bo given the most important clothes. No—not by any means a groat variety nor a perpetual change—but by all means the exactly right thing at all times.