THE ART OF DRESSING

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12354, 26 January 1926, Page 5

THE ART OF DRESSING

FILM STAR’S VIEW BRITISH WOMEN SUPREME. In dressing for sport and for travelling British women are supreme. The French try to copy you, we do in America, hut when 1 want to dress for travel (and, naturally I desire to look as little like n film star as possible) I come to Britain to learn, writes Miss Betty Blythe in a London journal. But there are many women who could improve themselves if they would only study dress and their own requirements Let them study style and at least be-fashionable. It is not money that makes all the difference. There have been tines when I have had one frock only to my name. .It has been cheap, it has been terribly shiny, but it has been smart and of the right length. The film actresses in America to-day are mostly from humble homes—no inherited taste, no money to exploit it if they had. Yet these girls by making style part of their art, have produced excellent results, and daily do themselves justice: It is proof that by studying yourself and by knowing the value of line and lenglli you can progress, tor these girls have to design their owu cloth is—producers will not I

pay shop prices. VALUE OF DEPORTMENT. Another important point is earn • age. - Bad carriage and general deportment can mar the most attracti /o woman, yet how few consider it worth their while to improve their general bearing ? There can be nothing more effective and more within reach of the ordinary worn in for this purpose than dancing. Lit women learn dancing, not just pick it up, and it will improve their poise, their presence, and their attractiveness. Character is. an essential in any woman. but it is. of course a province into which I cannot 6tray now; but there is another important point not altogether removed fiom it. I refer to intellectual and social expansion. I am a keen supporter of women’? clubs—perhaps they would correspond to some of your hostels and social centos here. I am trying to establish them in Hollywood, because I believe the corporate club life, the team work, and the educational values of such movements to be invaluable, i would have lectures as well as sports, and the principal throughout would be one of mutual improvement _ and expansion of gifts and inclinations. ARTIFICIAL AIDS. But perhaps no word on possible improvement would be complete without reference to artificial aids. No doubt there are more women seeking to augment nature’s beauty by Cosmetics than by any otheT aid. In my position I can' speak with experience on the subject of make-up. ,1 know* its power and its limitations. To the woman who would make the best of herself I would say this beauty never came from a Tui kish # bath or through the agency of a lipstick. The beauty I oount is the freshness of health and happy activity—the clear complexion and ihe blush of radiant life. Do justice to youreelf by dressing after studying yourself and profiting by it. Dress for men, not for women —irrespective of individuals or circumstances. Do justice to your speech and diction as it is taught, perfect your carriage, increase your sociability, and taKe steps to augment nature’s beauty by nature’s methods. Do these things, be healthy and happy, and yon British women will be even more wonderfjl than you are.