BEADS AND BUCKLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 518, 22 November 1928, Page 4

BEADS AND BUCKLES

MAKING INDIVIDUAL COLOUR SCHEMES One of the most attractive of the minor modes of the moment is the ropes of curiously-shaped, rough-cut beads which dressmakers are using to provide colour-relief on a black, white or neutral-tinted frock. This rope is often accompanied by a metal belt buckle, or sash clasp, set with stones exactly matching the colour of the beads. Printed fabrics do not lend themselves to the vogue, but plain materials form ideal backgrounds for the display of these somewhat barbaric ornaments. Your plain navy blue frock, for instance, will take on! quite a different air if you wear a string of jade green beads round your neck, and fasten the navy suede belt I with a green-stone buckle. It is not : necessary, of course, to purchase real ' jade; most excellent composition beads are obtainable in every con- j ceivable colour, and these serve well enough for a fleeting fashion. The simple dance frock,in neutral toned taffeta or moire is immensely improved by the addition of a vivid necklace and sash clasp. Here fancy has a wide field in which to play. Any colour scheme is possible. 'lt only remains for the dever girl to think one out for herself, and the shops which sell nething but beads of every size, shape and colour, will prove happy hunting-grounds for her! By thus economising, she will be able to afford three or four necklaces, where otherwise she could have but one. Banjo-strings, by the way, are quite the best things on which to fashion long bead ropes. Be careful to make a little knot between each bead when threading; then if the string should break, the whole necklace will not be scattered on the ground. Queer shaped amber beads are delightful on a black or Havana frock; vivid green ones look well on white, beige, lemon, orange, navy blue and dark green, while red beads are excellent on black. But colours and shades are so numerous, and shapes and sizes so varied, that you must needs visit a bead-shop before you can thoroughly appreciate the possibilities of the home-made necklace. If your neck is inclined to be too thin, you should twist a rope of pearls or other beads two or three times round it when you wear a low-cut frock; this will prove very effective in helping to disguise scraggy lines. If. one the other hand, you have a plump neck and wish to make it appear slightly longer than it is, wear a single row, and refuse to be beguiled into twisting it round and round the throat, however fashionable this method may be.