Simplicity is Youth

Southland Times, Issue 20618, 17 October 1928, Page 13

Simplicity is Youth

(From Our Correspondent.) London. There’s 8 transition period in woman’s appearance. I’m not going to be led into defining its exact limits, because they vary with each individual, but I mean the time somewhere between thirty-five and fifty; let us say, when we begin to lok no longer quite young, and yet are far from looking definitely old. It’s at this time that we need to take special thought in choosing our clothes. Naturally, we all want to preserve as long as possible the appearance of youth, but we want to do it without any effect of straining after it. If a single person says “She does try hard to look young, doesn’t she?” that spells failure, of course. But by care and thought you can “youthify” your appearance tremendously without ever calling forth a comment. Remember, first of all, that simplicity always gives a youthful look. It mustn’t be the trying sort oi simplicity of hard lines and a flat, bare effect, but the simplicity which comes from avoiding meaningless complication and ornament. Heavy trimming of fur or other material, on the lower part of a dress or coat is particularly ageing Large sleeves and heavy cuffs also are inclined to add yeirs to one's appearance—big collars on the other hand, when not carried to extremes, are very softening to the face.

Next in importance to your outline is your choice of colour. Unless it is specially becoming to you, this is not the time to go in for wearing a great deal of black. It is undoubtedly smart and fashionable, but other colours can look just as smart, and black always tends to make one look older. Don’t, however, go to the other extreme and wear very bright colours. Only really young complexions can stand them—in the daytime. at all events. The not-quite-so-young woman will look her beet in neutral colours for daytime— beige is a great stand-by, if you take the trouole to find just the shade that suits you—and soft, rich colours at night. If you specially want to wear black, don’t let it be unrelieved. It can be combined with beige, grey, or a very soft shade of pink with a most becoming result. Black and white, however, should only be attempted by those with a very fair complexion. In general, years can be taken off one’s age by wearing soft, light shades in the daytime, Th*' expense of constant cleaning can be minimized by choosing materials with broken-up surfaces or tiny unobtrusive patterns. Hats, of course, are very important. Never, never choose a hat without any brim at all, unless you are going to concentrate on looking smart at the expense of looking young. These hats are the most merciless things you can put on! Even a tiny brim makes an enormous difference. A large, heavy crown is ageing, but be war a of a too narrow or pointed one, as this will add to the apparent width of your face. If you wear a black straw hat, it will generally prove more “younging” to have the brim lined with a soft, light colour.