SARTORIAL MONUMENTS TO MOVIE STARS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17865, 5 June 1926, Page 20 (Supplement)

SARTORIAL MONUMENTS TO MOVIE STARS.

Travis Banton, fashion creator at j the Paramount studios, tells how he planned the Peacock Parade, which is a startling feature of the Paramount picture, “ Miss Brewster’s Millions,” starring Bebe Daniels. Living replicas of ten famous stars were to be featured, and how this was accomplished is told in Banton’s own words: “ First of all,” he said, “ I decided to avoid trying to paint an exact portrait of any of the stars. I merely made an effort to design gowns which, in some particular way, symbolised the spirit of these ten personalities of the screen. “ So I began to search around in my mind for symbolistic characteristics of the stars. “First of all, Pola Negri! “ That was easy. To me Pola Negri suggests the glamour of the old world coupled with an extravagance that is quite modern. “Allure —that would be the -basic note. Therefore gleaming silver, revealed through cobwebs of black lace, pearls, precious stones, chinchilla— Pola. “ Betty Bronson—always our little Cinderella. All the romance of our childish imagination goes into the fairy tale frock of silver lace and pink roses. “ Florence Vidor—Patrician of the screen! Beneath an exterior of charm and poise are found the breeding and innate refinement of the true aristocrat. Nothing suggests, to my mind, these qualities better than the priceless .combination of black velvet, pearls and ermine, with their smart dignity. “Mae Murray—Merry Widow! The sophistication of champagne bubbles. Slim powdered ankles emerge from a midnight melange of black tulle, black spangles and shiny black' feathers. White arms and throat are revealed through glittering cascades of dia

her country people would call her “gamine.” Her pertness and sweet sauciness are expressed in fluttering short chiffon skirts of periwinkle and mauve, her youthful femininity by the clusters and sprays of violets. “ Gloria Swanson-—The envy of all women! The cynosure of all eyes. Spectacular but smart—-bizarre yet elegant—extravagant but supremely chic! Dazzling white satin with myriad mirrors catching and reflecting the light of applause. Diamonds—* paradise—Gloria Swanson ! Mary Pickford—The world’s sweetheart! Banal appellation perhaps, but how true. The very spirit of sweetness and eternal youth. Happiness embodied in a froth of pink tulle and shimmering ribbon—youth in the tender green of tiny satin leaves. “Smartness! Flow much that word implies—chic self-assurance poise and abundant charm. Now we have three stars who definitely typify the smart woman. They are Norma Talmadge, Corinne Griffith and Norma Shearer. Smartness shows itself, in the first analysis, in the white ’ satin, silver sequins, silver cloth and ermine. This elegance is combined with graceful silver fringe which so well typifies the grace and flexibility of its wearer. Smartness and beauty come clad in the softest of shimmering white velvet, lavishly embroidered in gold, coral and diamonds under a gorgeous glitter of metal cloth, jewels and snowy white fox.”