MY CHIEF TROUBLE

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4228, 14 February 1921, Page 4

MY CHIEF TROUBLE

(By Violet Hopson, Broadwest Film Star.) My life would be one long dream if 1 did not have to worry about clothes. In ordinary life "what one is to wear" is sufficient trouble, but when one is a. film star it is ton times worse. No member of the public can possibly realise the time, care and money which a screen actress is compelled to devote to this, oi.e of the most import ant items in film production. Not only must one take into consideration the style of clothes suitable to the character one is to portray, but 'before the motion-picture camera an actlress is obliged to learn the respective values For instance, it would be useless to wear a pale blue sash on a pale pink frock, because, although the two colours would blend beautifully in the original, both colours are the samo in a photograph MUST THINK OF FUTURE FASHIONS. Then, again, every gown or costume must be faultless in cut and make. The camera magnifies every detail, especially the faults and failings of clothes. My friends often remaik, <: Oh, how lovely it must be to have such heaps of beautiful clothes." But little do they realise the hours of worry my clothes cause me. When-1 see the rush members of my own sex make for the big stores during sale times, I wish some of them could change places with Violet Hopson for a few weeks. I feel sure it would cure them of the "dress fever." What J. should do if my modiste did not thoroughly understand the type of frock which is suited to studio wear I do not know. A film actress must also select her clothes so carefully that they do not look old-fashioned in, say, three years' time. Take, for instance, the film in which I first played for Broadwest threo years ago. It was first exhibited about six months after completion, but so groat was its success that this year it was released for the second time. But tho frocks I wore for the part of Lady Ware three years ago do not look frumpish to day. GIVE ME A DESERT ISLAND. Then there are all the puzzles which arise with the dressing of a costume character part. For months past many well-known London costumiers have been at. work collecting data which will. assist in tho attiring of Mary Queen of Scots, which part I am shortly to plan foi the screen. In creating an historical character of this description, it is surprising the numerous dress problems which occur. Not alone have the dresses to be perfect in every respect, but jewels, footwear and "hair dressing rill have to r-t? taken into consideration. Sketches galore have been made from pictures of the ill-fated Que«n wearing various costumes of the period, and still tho wardrobe is not nearly complete. Yes, certainly, dress is my chief trouble, and if only I could be permitted to escape to some South Sea Island where modes are unknown quantities, I should be content.