Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1920)

Playtime Clothes By NORMA TALMADGE 111 uftration* by John Barbour This is the second of Miss Talmadgc's fashion articles. She is now Photoplay's Fashion Editor and will write each month on some subject pertaining to good dressing. IHA\'E a bathing suit at home that's guaranteed to raise a laugh no matter what's gone wrong. It's a very lovely bathing suit — or, at least, it was. It was made by a jewel of a French dressmaker, one of those women who can just take one look at you and then go away and create a dress that makes you want to spend the rest of your life in front of the mirror — you know what I mean. Well, I went to Madame last spring and told her I wanted a new bathing suit. Oh, yes, of a certainty Madame would make one. And of a certainty she did. It was a beauty; a lovely glowing red dress with the cunningcst shoes to match and a red cap with perky bows — the sort of bathing suit that every girl dreams about when she's getting ready for her vacation. I put it on the first time I went to the beach and was soon out beyond the breakers having a glorious swim. I didn't notice anything wrong until I came ashore, and then I saw c|uecr red streaks running down my legs and arms. When I got to a looking glass I saw the same kind of streaks adorning my face — the colors in my new bathing suit had run! It took two days' hard work to discourage those streaks and get my face back to normal. Then I went to Madame and in cold tones told her what had happened. Madame threw both hands toward heaven. She exclaimed! She wanted to know why I had gone in the water! I told her that was my usual custom when I went swimming. "But did Mademoiselle not realize that it was a beach costume? In the water! Ah. heaven!" You see. it was another case of a difference of opinion in the French and American idea of athletics. I believe that "hang your clothes on a hickory limb but don't go near the water'' was written to a little French miss — and she took it to heart. Lovely costumes, yes. to sit on the beach. But to wear in the water — iioii, lion! So I hope that when you start away this summer to the woods or the mountains or the seaside you will remember my experience and take along the sort of clothes you are not afraid to wear when you swim or ride or walk or play tennis. T\\\:\ are so beautiful this summer and so diversified that you will be sure to find just the sort of thing that suits you best. Personally, I adore swimming above all other sports and whenever possible I make for the water. There are bathing suits this year that will make you feel quite as dressed up as if you were promenading on the board walk — and they are guaranteed not to run. The craze for taffeta dresses has reached thimakers of bathing suits, and there are ever so many rubberized taffeta bathing costumes that are as pretty as they can be. And if you like embroider}', there are plenty of embroidered suits, with shoes and cape to match. But the cleverest thing I have seen yet is the black velvet bathing suit. It was new last year, but even better this, and makes you look like a nice frisky shiny seal when you come out of the water. If you don't swim — well, the only thing I can say is that I'm sorry for you. That reminds me that I was talking the other day with a woman who was lamenting over the "old fashioned girl" and saying how much nicer she was than the modern product. Don't you ever let anyone tell you that and get away with it. I showed my visitor some old prints I happened to have of 1870 costumes. \qu know the kind, an eighteen-inch waist and a bustle. And then I reminded her of the habits of the young lady in question, who ate next to nothing — when there were spectators — and fainted whenever there was a man around to catch her, and who always had that mysterious disease, the "megrims.'' .\nd I contrasted the healthy modern girl, with her good appetite and her normal waistline, with those strange females who u«ed to meander through the pages of Godev's Ladv's Book. Yes. don't make any mistake about it, we have it on those Early Yictorian maidens, considerably. \\'henever I have the time I don a middy blouse and a serviceable skirt and walk from my home to the studio. Try it some day and you will find out how many miles I cover in that tramp. Of course, I had rather walk in the country, but that chance doesn't come to busy girls every day and if you can't walk in the country you had much better walk in io\\n than not at all. If there is one girl I am sorry for it is the girl with a dull complexion who hasn't found out the fun ol walking. It's a cood plan to walk at least jwrt way to your place of business. Thi wool embroidered jZint^Kain Irock co.<t> $80. You can reproduce it for $8. Cover a ten cent hat frame with the .■tame material and your coritumc is complete. 48