POWDER AND PAINT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1925, Page 4

POWDER AND PAINT

THE TYRANNY OF FASHION. , (John Blunt in. ‘‘Daily Mail.”) According to a report from Paris “powder and paint are falling out of favour with fashionable Pnrisiennes.” M. Fernaii Vandcrem, the writer on feminine fashions, declares that women arc abandoning powder-puffs, lip-salves, and other artificial methods for adorning themselves in favour of their natural complexions. 1 must confess that I have not, up to now, noticed any sign of the new fashion having spread to London—but then. 1 understand that nearly all feminine fashions start in Paris, and 1 am expecting every day to sec signs of the change. 1. for one, shall he delighted. It is certainly rather intriguing to watch the mysterious manoeuvres ol women m front of their pocket mirrors, hut I can’t say that I think the effects justifv the efforts. WHAT IS THE USE?

And if; as T maintain, women really look hqtter without powder and paint, them what, in heaven’s name, is Hie use of powder and paint? Adornment that disfigures rather than adorns is a contradiction in terms and is less than useless. We tire not all blessed with the complexion of milkmaids, hut even when Nature has not been very kind it is usually better to remain as we arc than to attempt to disguise our defects Vy a bad imitation of Nature.

But what is one to say to those many women who really have nice complexions and rosy lips, hut "ho insist on emphasising them artificially to H>o great detriment of their looks and to the pained bewilderment of their friends? . Surely fashion could go to no absuritor lengths! The savage who stick* a piece of wool through his nose with the idea of heightening his attractions is no more fantastic than the woman who creates an obviously I also <• implex 10.1 on the top of a charming real one. SLAVES OF FASHION. Put It are the slaves of fashion, and 1 am very glad to hear that European women are likely to abandon the fetish. T like fashions that show off good looks, hut 1 don’t like fashions that spoil good looks. AA hat sensible person would? When fashions reach the stage of merely startling other people, instead of pleasing (hem, it is time that Hie fashions were altered. But. indeed, fashion nowadays is 100 rigid in its scope. AVluit it decrees for line woman it seems to decree lor ill women, whereas the really sensible thing would he that there should t xist a dozen equally fashionable modes to .suit the different types of women.

Recause one woman is pale and Imi rouge with a certain amount of impunity that is 110 reason whv her more fortunate sisters should follow in her looLstens; because one cut of skirt suits slender women that is no reason "ip stout women should he compelled to patronise the same cut. And yet we find that it is so. ILc average woman would yathcr loin; a fright' than look unfashionable end that is to upset the basic philosophy of fashion. For the basis of fashion ;■ adornment . and if it docs not adorn it , Id,.- all that has to; I its -avo ;v.