Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1927)

Friendly Advice from Carolyn Van Wyck on Girls' Problems Dear Miss Van \Yyck: I am writing to you for advice upon a subject that has puzzled and distressed me — my personal appearance. I am one of those unfortunates who have been cursed with straight red hair — not auburn, but red! And brick red, into the bargain. I wear it long — it is too straight to look well bobbed. My skin is a pasty white — it seems impossible for me to have a healthy flush; even rouge refuses to stay upon my cheeks, apparently. And my lashes and eyebrows are sandy and my mouth is large and quite colorless. Perhaps it is the shade of my hair that makes the rest of me seem so drab — I don't know. I only know that I am desperate in regard to myself. I want to be attractive — doesn't every woman? And my handicap seems too great to overcome. I hardly expect that you will be able to help me, but — as they say — "hope springs eternal." And so I will anxiously wait for your answer. Kate D. XT ATE D. is not facing so great a problem ■^-as she may suppose. From her letter I can see no reason why she should not be an extremely attractive girl. Not attractive, perhaps, in the conventional sense. But in a striking, bizarre manner. Of course, Kate will never be pretty. She does not belong in the curled, long eyelashed class that looks well in a ruffled organdie frock. Kate must realize that her one great chance lies in her ability to attain distinction. Which she may do if she uses her imagination — and is clever with cosmetics. I know Kate's type of red hair — straight, uncompromising. It should be brushed hard, very hard, until it shines with the burnished shine of copper. And then it should be drawn back simply from the white face, and fastened close in a knot at the nape of the neck. Kate should never wear rouge. But she should darken her lashes and her eyebrows. And she should use a lipstick very liberally, a lipstick in a shade that is slightly more vivid than brunette. The contrast of the red lips and the dark lashes below the flaming hair and above the white skin will be amazingly lovely. Making Defects into Assets Is This Month's Problem WE all have defects. But they need not be barriers to our attractiveness or our popularity. The clever woman can consider her defects— and make them into real assets. I will be glad to help in this transformation by endeavoring to answer letters on any subject relating to beauty, health or happiness. The letters with stamped envelopes enclosed will be answered by return mail; those without return postage, in the columns of the magazine. Pamphlets on the care of the skin will also be yours for the sending of a stamped, self-addressed envelope — and a booklet on weight reduction may be had for ten cents. CAROLYN VAN WYCK. Kate — by capitalizing on her faults, by transforming her defects into assets — can make herself into the sort of a girl at whom people turn and stare. She must dress simply — going in for good fabrics and lines rather than elaborate things. Greens, browns, tawny oranges, glorious violets, will be her best shades. And, of course, black for evening. Many a girl is faced with Kate's problem. And does not know quite how to meet it. I wish that I might talk with each one of these young women who is worried about her appearance — that I might advise her personally. But, since I can not, I must make my suggestion a general one. If you feel that you are not attractive stand seriously and soberly in front of your mirror and consider the points that seem, to you, your most insurmountable obstacles to beauty. And then analyze them, one by one, until they have been brought down to their bare essentials. And then ask yourself how they can be made into factors that will be more favorable — that will work for you. You'll be surprised to find how often your defects may be used to your advantage. Red hair, a large nose, too full lips, wide shoulders, an over-slender body. The lack of complexion, or too much tinting of the cheeks. Why worry over these things? Make them into the most interesting features that you possess. Capitalize on them. Many a famous actress has built her whole personality about some feature that the world, unknowing, would have called unattractive. One of the younger stars of the stage, with a sallow skin and a large, shapeless mouth, has become known as a great beauty because of the way in which she has applied face powder and the warmth of the artificial color that she uses upon her lips. No one, looking at her, thinks of these defects of hers as defects. They are more apt to say: "She has a curious charm, that one! She is unique." I myself had rather be interesting than pretty. I would rather own poise and distinction than surface handsomeness. I would rather be the sort of a woman who fascinates one unwittingly than the sort whose regularity of feature is unchangingly sweet. Da not hesitate to use make-up to accentuate your good points, or to cover your bad ones. Artificial aids to beauty are not harmful or wrong. It is every woman's privilege — no, every woman's duty! — to be beautiful. And cosmetics, so long as they are of a good quality and are used with skill, are invaluable aids to feminine loveliness. It seems to me that they are often as necessary as clothing. Nola: You should weigh about one hundred and twenty-five pounds. [ CONTINUED ON PAGE 136 ] 81