Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1939)

Vera West, designer for Universal Studios, who creates all of Deanna Durbin's screen clothes and advises Deanna on personal wardrobe problems as well. Read about the exciting vacation ward robe pictured here which she planned for Deanna ^::" Mm LETTER BY GWENN WALTERS YOUTH loves to play. The inclination to make a career of playing is aided and abetted in California with its everlasting sunshine and blue skies and the dozens of its unmatched outdoor play spots. "What shall I wear?" gets a very definite answer. Time was when just about anything would do for knocking about on beaches, climbing over boat sides, the country club golf course, or wherever "having fun" is the chief order of the day. But it is all different now, particularly this year. If a girl doesn't expend as much care in the choice of a play wardrobe as she gives to her dress-up for that swanky party, she will be sorry indeed. For all around her will be worn the best-looking play clothes you can imagine, smartly designed both as to fabric and cut and precisely planned for the whole dizzying round of intensive playing from sunrise to sundown. Because Deanna Durbin, Universal's sixteenyear-old singing star, is one of the screen's hardest -working players, her play hours are all the more precious. Her vacations, which come only between pictures, are planned so that she derives the maximum of fun and relaxation from them and her playtime wardrobe is selected with special attention to what is young, cool, pleasant to wear and good to look at. Vera West, Universal Studio designer, knows Deanna, her tastes, the colors and styles suit Joncs able to her age and figure, as perhaps no other woman does, not excluding her mother. From the time when Deanna, at thirteen, came to Universal to make her first picture, "Three Smart Girls" — which was an instantaneous hit— until today, when that charming youngster has registered her fifth hit in a straight row with "Three Smart Girls Grow Up," Vera West has designed and created everything which Deanna wears on the screen. In addition she puts the stamp of approval on Deanna's personal wardrobe. It is no uncommon sight to see the star of what has been called the most amazing series of hits in box-office history and Miss West, their heads together, poring over sketches, surrounded by bolts of fabrics and knee-deep in feminine gadgets. You can be sure some holiday jaunt or party or what-have-you is in the wind. MlSS WEST has just planned a play wardrobe for Deanna which she will put to good use the instant her sixth and current picture for Universal, "After School Days," is finished. Miss West started with a slacks suit, because no holiday can be thoroughly enjoyable without one. The ease and comfort with which that type of garment is worn makes it a "must" in any play wardrobe. This year slacks suits take on an added importance by virtue of the fact that they are no longer limited to just blouse and trousers. There must be the accompanying jacket, whether of the same fabric or a contrast. Deanna's slacks suit, shown in the upper lefthand corner, is of apple-green crepe, the tailored trousers wider this year than last, in keeping with the feminine trend in all clothes. A cuff trims the trouser leg at the hem. The tailored blouse has a convertible collar, worn open at the neck. To wear over this suit Deanna has selected a beige camel's-hair jacket for cool days, and they do come, even in California. In length, the jacket comes well over the hip, with two huge, saddle-bag pockets. These are a joy for caching a hanky, powder puff, or anything (Continued on page 79) 76 PHOTOPLAY