BORROWED PLUMES

Southland Times, Issue 18827, 21 May 1920, Page 2

BORROWED PLUMES

WOMEN WHO HIRE CLOAKS AND JEWELS. According to Mr Willie Clarkson, th* famous London theatrical costumier, it is a growing habit of the new poor to deck themselves in borrowed finery. “For about five guineas a woman may look like a princess for one glorious evening,” Mr Clarkson said to a Daily Chronicle representative. “Although my chief business is to attend to the needs of the theatrical people, I get many requests from men and women who want to hire ordinary evening attire. “We keep a few ordinary evening dresses for women and various opera cloaks. The cost of hiring a frock coat is about two guineas, a cloak comes to another guinea, and a tiara and jewels account for another couple of guineas. So the Woman who does not go out much, but who wants to look very nice on some special occasion, can wear pretty things without the heavy cost of buying them. “As a matter of fact,” continued Mr Clarkson, “sham jewels are often worn by women who have valuable ornaments. A little while ago a famous French actress visited America.. It was said that she had taken her pearls of fabulous price with her, and when she appeared in public wearing her jewels they were written up by every paper. “Actually, these pearls were imitation. And the only people who knew this were the Customs authorities. Sham jewels were taken in order to avoid the heavy duty which is payable on pearls imported into the States. “Another instance of my own experience. Jewels were wanted for a Royal function to be held in London—l will not say by whom they were to be worn. There was some difficulty in bringing them up from Windsor. On the night, however, the jewels appeared, and everyone commented on their beauty. They were not the real jewels, but gems which I myself had supplied.” Mr Clarkson showed the Daily Chronicle representative examples of the jewels commonly borrowed by women who want to create an impression. They varied in importance from a pearl hatpin to a diamond tiara. There were ropes of pearls and brilliant "pendants, rings set with gorgeous stones and many bracelets. There were also jewels for men—mostly tie pins and rings.