Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

Friendly Advice on P Girls' roblems GONE are the concealing lines of yester-year, when we could slouch to our hearts' content and the complete demoralization of our figures. Is there a "spare tire" of fat where your waistline should be? Are there hollows where curves should grow? Have you resorted to an old-fashioned, heavily boned corset that feels like a ramrod down your back, instead of the modern type that molds but does not pinch? Are you endangering your health with a starvation diet? Don't do it. There's a better way. Frieda Hempel A FAMOUS opera singer was giving a concert in Carnegie Hall, New York. Her voice, lilting and lovely, was not the thing that impressed me most, however. I had expected that. The beauty of her voice has been praised by more competent judges than I. What I noted with appreciation was her graceful, flowing walk. After each group of songs, with what ease she turned from her audience and left the stage, with what light steps she came back to the platform. Hers was not the studied queenliness of the prima donna. Her figure had the proportions of the mature singer, yet her step was that of a lithe young girl. This singer, Frieda Hempel, sponsors a line of beauty preparations, and I thought what a boon to women it would be if she could work out a formula for that exquisite walk and put it in bottles! I would certainly order the first case that was ready! A whimsical idea — but not a useful one. Yet I did want to make it useful — to myself, and to all of you who write to me for help and advice. So I asked Miss Hempel if she would tell me some of the things the stage had taught her about graceful movement and poise. Not only did she give me advice on these points, but she described some of the simple exercises she practices daily to keep fit and supple. These hints will be appreciated by busy girls to whom, like myself, figure-revealing clothes have proved that they need corrective exercise, rather than old-fashioned, heavily boned corsets or starvation diets. The modern corset molds the figure, instead of pinching it. More than any other thing, Miss Hempel stresses correct breathing as the basis of correct 18 Write to Me posture, and proper posture as the first essential of a figure that is beautiful and flowing in line. She says: "TF you train yourself to breathe deeply, you are bound to -Lhoid your head correctly, your chin well up but not thrust forward, your chest leading. But do not make the mistake of lifting your shoulders. "In the morning, practice near an open window. Raise your arms slowly sideward and upward, breathing in deeply. Touch your hands together above your head, and relaxing, slowly breathe out, bringing the hands down to the sides. "Holding the head up and the chest out pulls the whole body into line. The age lines which settle in the throat would not develop so rapidly if the muscles of the neck were not allowed to sag and deteriorate. Even short women can give the impression of height if they carry their heads well. "This is an exercise I have found good for the neck muscles: "Stand in front of a mirror, and lift your head up as high as you can get it. Then turn your head left and right slowly, about ten times in each direction, without relaxing. "A right mental outlook and a happy spirit do much to keep the head high and the step light and firm. Before I walk out on the stage, I take a deep breath and forget everything but the song 1 am going to give to the audience, and I feel so buoyant and unconscious of my body that walking is more like floating." Is it any wonder that this quality is reflected to her audience? She recommends these exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles: "Stand with shoulders erect and heels together. Balance by looking at some mark directly ahead of you and level with the eyes. Raise one leg, bent at the knee until it is pressed against the abdomen; straighten it out in front of you and back to place. Follow with the other leg. "Springwith legs astride. Keep legs rigid, and bend your body completely forward, relaxing like a rag doll, swinging it slowly at first and then gaining in momentum, round and round, like a [ PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 118 ] 1W ANT to help you. Has your skin kept some of its winter dryness? Is your hair hard to manage? Are you undecided about the shades of rouge and powder which will best become you? Are your fingernails brittle? Your hands rough and red? My reducing booklet, containing simple corrective exercises and suggestions for menus, is free. So is my leaflet on the general care of the skin and the specific treatments for blackheads and acne. Address me care of PHOTOPLAY, 221 West 57th Street, New York, N. Y. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want a reply by mail. Otherwise your letters will be answered in turn in the magazine. CAROLYN VAN WYCK