TEACHING DEPORTMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1930, Page 2

TEACHING DEPORTMENT

“Schools which teach poise and deportment to girls and women from 15 to 50 are becoming increasingly popular throughout the country,” states a London writer. “I visited one of these in the West End. it is a mannequin training school, but women who have no intention of ever becoming mannequins are paying as

auch'as £lO Ids to learn, how to wai and wear clothes, To the smooth rhythm of a waltz, played by gramophone, they learn the difficult art of graceful movement. <Lrls who have just left school are sent to learn what to do with their hands and how to sit." stand, and walk. To many these esetaolishments are their finishing schools, Debutants, before being presented at Court, here learn to curtesy gracefully, Well-to-do women by the dozens' are to be seen at the establishment I visited.

“For an hour each day they do exercises to correct any faults in their figures. They are told what is wrong with their clothes, what colours are best for them, and, if necessary, their hairdressing is criticised. Several women, I was told, are taking lessons because they are about to make good marriages, and they want their deportment to he in keeping with their more advanced position in life. A country woman who is marrying a wealthy city merchant has been transformed, in 3 weeks, from a somewhat nervous and ungraceful woman into a well-poised, self-possessed and infinitely better dressed woman. But many of the women beteen 35 and 50 are going to become mannequins. At the moment there is a great demand by fashion houses for models with matronly figures, and an even greater demand for white-haired mannequins.”