THE DEBUTANTES' DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 25

THE DEBUTANTES' DAY

AIDS JO YOUTHFUL CHARM DEVELOPING HER ASSETS BY BARBARA Every day in the life of a debutante is an adventure—or should be if she keeps lier wits about her. For one thing she has left school, books and examinations blessedly behind and so is free to concentrate on each separate grown-up event as it comes. Every morning she awakens to a world that is brimful of possibilities, vital with promise—a day to treat as sho pleases. One by one sho is initiated into the delights of adult life—luncheon and dinners parties; golf, tennis, bridge and cocktails; then, most important of all. her first ball. Gradually she acquires self-assurance and sophistication, till one day she wakes up to find herself really and truly "out." It is, therefore, of the utmost importance during this period of her life, when she is in the act of self discovery and when the impression she makes will be a lasting one, that she should pay the most particular care to her personal appearance. This is going to count a lot, to make all the difference between the success and failure of her first season. It is a fallacy to believe that it is the privilege of the older woman alone to maintain meticulous grooming and to fuss over clothes and face. The debutante will not carry all before her by virtue of her youthful I charm. This is a help, it is true, but she, just as much as her elder sister, must pay strict attention to detail. She owes it to herself to develop every asset —too often has a charming ensemble I been ruined by an untidy head, badly kept hands, or an ungracious carriage. There is no end to the fun she will have shopping expeditions, hairdressers' appointments, and dressmakers' fittings—until; with a feeling that is tinged with self-satisfaction, she finds herself emerge from the schoolgirl chrysalis—a finished product. The debutante is in the enviable position of having no grown-up clothes that have to be worn out. She may begin afresh on an entirely new wardrobe. But before she does this, it is absolutely essential that she should study her type in relation to the prevailing fashion and buy her clothes accordingly. Also it is better to acquire them gradually after careful thought than to rush ahead and buy a lot of things that may afterward prove useless. In order to illustrate my meaning I propose to take a sample young girl. We will call her Susan, and provide her with a complete wardrobe. Being of medium colouring and of medium height, Susan should prove a good model. She is able to wear almost any colour and any style. Let us follow her through a typical day and see what she chooses to wear. At 8.30 we find her slipping from bed clad in a delectable pair of orchid pink satin pyjamas which she, herself, has made. In contrast to the luxurious

material, tlio cut is severely masculine and the only trimming the pink silk frogs which fasten the front of the jacket. Donning a tailored dressing gown of navy blue tie silk spotted in pink she hurries to the bathroom to emerge 15 minutes later refreshed in body and spirit. The morning promises a round of golf with the local professional, who is polishing up her play, and she gets out her three-piece tweed suit, for the weather is chilly. Her suit is made from a soft blue Harris tweed and consists of a skirt cut with inverted box-pleat back and front, a Norfolk jacket with a box-pleat for fullness in the centre back, and a liaglan-sleeved overcoat of threo-qunrter length with wide collar. Under this she wears a navy blue Angora sweater with a " crew " neck, a navy blue beret, bag and shoes, navy pig-skin gloves, and she is ready. Rushing home at 12.30 she changes into a soft jersey frock, pearly grey in colour. The stylo is simple—a high, draped neckline; long, tight sleeves and a iitting skirt made with two narrow gores in centre front anil back. A black antelope beret, a black antelope belt embroidered in gold, black shoes, gloves •and black antelope bag are her accessories. She slips into a Persian lamb swagger coat made with one of the new ruff collars, and at 1.15, a smart and youthful figure, she meets an attentive escort for luncheon. After luncheon she has a manicure, while the hairdresser touches up her back curls, and then home again at four o'clock for tea with her mother beforo changing yet again for a cocktail party. This time she puts on an afternoon dress of cloque crepe in an exquisite wine shade. This frock is even more simple than her grey one. Tt also has a high neck and slightly draped, Raglan sleeves which end in a tight wrist, where they are fastened by a row of covered buttons. The dress itself is cut on the cross and relies for its chic on the row of covered buttons down the centre back and the heavily encrusted jewelled belt. Black accessories again, but this .time A

" halo " hat in keeping with the Renaissance flavour of he» frock, and again her Persian lamb swagger coat. Home to change for dinner, she bathes with her favourite bath salts and has a rub down with eau-de-Cologne. A fifteen minutes' relaxation on her bed and she is ready to get into the taffetas dinner frock, which I nave sketched for you. With bouffant sleeves which make her waist look even smaller, it has confetti spots in brilliant colours scattered over it; a flower in her hair, and the enchanting black velvet wrap also sketched give her confidence for the exciting dinner dance to follow. Notice her white ermine muff and the " jehne fille " white ermine collar tied and threaded with the velvet. Here we will leave Susan having the time of her life and with her presentation ball planned for the following week. For this she has ready a frock of frothy white tulle, which has rliinestones glinting from its ethereal folds. Worn over a taffetas slip it is cut tight over the hips, and then falls in two swirling flounces to the ground. A ruff of the tulle outlines the low decolletage of the dress, and a pair of silver sandals peep from its hemline. White gloves, white flowers in her hair, a silver evening bag, and she is ready to face the world.