Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1943)

How to know a nip from a tuck — and how to have clothes on a wartime budget that will have the boys nip-and-tuck trying to date you \wC &MV&U (Mj ftouJL dPothM BY SARA HAMILTON HOW'S your spring morale? Are you balefully eyeing your purse, particularly the hole in it left by having paid the first quarter of your income tax? And are you wondering how you're going to give your wardrobe that spring lift? Or how, indeed, you're going to be some A small — and smart — new cape over a good old dress saves pennies, makes time in springtime budget tune thing more than a blank in the Easter Parade, with nothing but last year's clothes? Then take heart. For here are some style-saving tips that will not only make you a banner bearer for Easter and early summer, but will make your Uncle Sam love you. Because the girl who makes last year's clothes do can buy this year's War Bonds. And who would kick at being able to support the boys abroad and delight the men at home, all in one fell swoop? They're Edward Stevenson's ideas, really. Eddie is one of Hollywood's youngest and most modern designers. He has designed for practically all the cinema glamour gals, who are, re 58 member, working girls like the rest of us. He knows a nip from a tuck and when to nip and when to tuck, Eddie does. He knows how to achieve the chic it takes to cheek-to-cheek with a second looey. Eddie has lots of wonderful, straightfrom-Hollywood suggestions about getting sex into your clothes and salvaging last year's little numbers to boot. He says: "Get out the little blue or black number that's hanging in your closet and strip off all gee-gaws. On its bare foundation fashion a yard or two of the best looking, attention-compelling print you can find, in a smart apron style — just like Grandma's old fashioned gingham ones — and tie it around your waist. Take the leftovers and wrap them around your head as a turban. Wear black or blue shoes and carry a black or blue bag — and walk down To make you a girl who looks different: A print turban, gloves, purse as a new fillup for an old outfit An apron that works double quick to make last year's "just a dress" into this chic 1943 outfit: Ann Miller the avenue like a queen of the May! "If the apron-turban idea proves the success it should be, have another apron and another turban in striped or checkered taffeta for evening wear." Stevenson contends too much attention is paid to plain sophisticated smartness, both in dress and coiffure — even when it's unbecoming or unflattering. "Forget it," he says. "Be pretty as well as smart. Remember — after a man looks at your legs he looks at your face. And a glad-mad hat, a soft coiffure, a rounded bosom, all make for prettiness." (_JE goes on: "If your last year's ' ' frock or even a new one is smart enough without the apron, carry out the print turban effect with print gloves and purse. There are dozens of little glove makers or even dressmakers scattered about who can whip up a pair of gloves and cover an old shabby purse with your bright print material in no time — to make you the envy of every girl in the office. "Linen is smart, too," Eddie says. "But everyone has a linen dress. So how about a gingham dress with a linen cape, linen gloves and a straw hat the color of the gloves and cape. Or — to wear with last year's linen dress — a gingham cape and gingham gloves. "Or why not a blue linen cape and accessories to wear with a white linen dress, thereby killing two sergeants on leave with one stone? Or, if you live in a large city such as New York or Chicago where light street clothes are impracticable, why not the same effect with black and white or black and chartreuse linen?" Speaking of the old black dress — and speak of it reverently, for it may be your best friend for the next couple of years — Eddie suggested taking out the worn sleeves and replacing them with glamorous new full sleeves of striped (Continued on page 73) photoplay combined u>ith movie mirror1