BECOMING COLOURS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 179, 1 August 1932, Page 2

BECOMING COLOURS

« ART OF DRESSING WELL To bo becomingly dressed, as far as colours are concerned, a woman must consider her own colour type, not the prevailing mode of the season. This prevailing mode should never decide the colours to be worn by the individual. Although each season brings its fashionable shades it is rare that one may not have their own particular choice of colours, for there is usually a good variety to choose from. Everything depends on the complexion. A fresh clear skin allows its owner to wear practically any colour. Charm is increased, however, if it harmonises with her hair and eyes. Most often the hair determines the choice of becoming shades, but certain complexions limit the choice of colour and make hair a secondary consideration.

Whether the hair is curly or straight may at times wisely effect the choice of ' materials. Straight hair may be made to seem less straight if figured materials are worn, while wavy hair may be emphasised by plain materials. The following advice on “How to be becomingly dressed,” in an article written by an authority on the art of good dressing will be of interest. A woman should wear blue-greens and yellows if she has red hair. They emphasise and bring out tlj,e lights in the hair. Soft browns harmonise well, but tend to make the hair dull. The blonde should wear blues and lavenders, but these pale colours should be avoided by the black-haired woman, unless she has a strikingly white skin. White and bright, strong colours bring out the strength of the blackness in the hair. Tans and browns should be avoided by the gray or white-haired woman. Sho may wez-ir any of the bright colours, softened. Rose and garnet are soft reds that are possible for her. Blue makes the hair whiter. Yellowed white hair appears more yellow if one wears yellow and yellow-green. > The necessity of wearing dark colours during the winter and for business need not cause the elimination of pale and bright colours, when these are becoming, for touches of white, and of light, or bright hues may be introduced, in collars and cuffs, belts, and bindings, and they often serve the purpose of bringing out the best in hair and eyes. Pale colours and dull tones should be avoided by those with pale complexions and bright reds and greens should not be worn by women with a florid complexion. Olive complexions are badly served by purple, brilliant blue and olive greens. The eyes are unimportant as a guide to becoming colour unless they are the very best feature. For instance, if a woman has beautiful blue eyes, and her other features are rather nondescript, she would emphasise her eyes by wearing a similar blue, even if the colour of her hair does not call for such a colour. Colour-choice based upon blue eyes should be of the same shade as the eyes, but of loss intensity.

The figure is also an important consideration. A woman who might otherwise wear bright colours successfully should not do so if her figure is large. White, light gray, or any of the bright colours, such as red, orange, or bright blue, tend to make the figure appear larger. It is obvious that the use of colour to harmonise with hair and eyes is more important than the use of colour to maintain the prevailing fickle mode of the season.