Fashions of 1934 (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Hor the Women Bette Davis Tells How To Dress On $25.00 A Month Powell’s Leading Lady in ‘“‘Fashions of 1934”’’ Says Girls Can do it on $20.00 Salary NY intelligent American girl can dress smartly on twenty dollars a week—not twenty dollars just for clothes, but as her total income, from which all her living expenses must be paid. That is the firm opinion of Bette Davis, First National star, who has been chosen by stylists the world over for her conservative yet tasteful ability to wear clothes—and whose belief it is that smartness is more often the result of careful planning that it is the result of a bulging pocketbook. Bette, interviewed while at work on “Fashions of 1934,” the picture now showing at the............ Theatre, in which she plays opposite William Powell, made this interesting statement and, becoming interested in the subject, went to some lengths to prove it. Bette had made something of a study of styles and of costs for her role in her current picture, in which she plays the part of a designer of women’s gowns. The result was a budget, designed to show exactly how a girl can live, pay her rent, buy her food, and still have money enough to buy herself a good wardrobe for a whole year. Fearing that the skeptical might say “What does she know about it? She makes a large salary and ecouldn’t possibly understand all the angles of the problem and the obstacles that come up regarding it,” Bette spent many hours with a girl who earns exactly twenty dollars a week — a chic and well-educated girl whose financial reverses had compelled her to work for that salary. Just to Prove It Here is the budget that the two girls worked out together. Monthly Expenses Rent=<..n2s $15.00 Page cctesas ss 23.00 SAVINGS ps. to. gsi 5.00 Insurance ............ 3.50 Gar =f£80@ =~. 5.5: 2 3.00 Incidentals ........ 10.00 Clothes 22. isos: 25.50 $85.00 The $85.00 monthly total is an average salary, whether paid once a month or twice a month, or at a weekly rate of $20.00, in which latter case the additional days in the month make up the surplus. Fifteen dollars for rent is the amount needed for a good room in a private home in many cities. In New York, where rents are higher, the solution is for two or three girls to room together, dividing up the amount. And Bette’s adviser, who has her own furniture, vouchsafed the information that if one hunts carefully for apartments, this sum will pay for a small studio apartment, with gas, lights and water ineluded. She herself pays only twelve dollars as her share of the rent for a small studio with living room, sleeping porch and kitchenette. The food allowance is thirty cents for lunch on each working day, with fifty cent dinners and breakfasts cooked at home. Assuming that some dinners will also be cooked at home, the twenty-three dollars for food is ample, particularly if the girl has several dinner dates a month. Includes Insurance Under incidentals, such necessities as tooth paste, shampoos, cosmetics, manicures, cleaning bills, cigarettes and an occasional movie are included. This allotment of the budget, or part of it, can be used for other things if the girl does her own manicuring and shampooing. A two thousand dollar endowment plan which also takes care of doctor and hospital bills, such as is offered by many large insurance companies, is taken care of by the small monthly payment listed under insurance. The balance is $25.50 a month for clothes, making a year’s total of three hundred and six dollars. On this basis, Bette has carefully made a clothes plan which she outlines with many helpful bits of advice from her own experience. “A good suit is the most essential requirement of a good wardrobe,” she says. “Its cost may appear to be almost an extravagance, but in reality it is an economy, because with a mere change of blouses it adapts itself to business, street, sports or dress wear.” Tailored wash blouses are becoming and practical for all except formal occasions, when a satin or metal cloth blouse is Bette’s choice. She suggests that a beautiful remmant may be purchased on sale and made up into a luxurious garment of the very latest style and suitable for wear to the theatre after working hours, or for tete-a-tete dinners. A tweed swagger or sports suit, with a long coat, and perhaps a short jacket too, is another essential, since the coat may he worn with daytime dresses, and the skirt with sweaters and blouses at the office. Indispensable Items A black erepe dress of silk or wool is another item that is indispensable on Bette’s budget plan. It must be conservative in line so that its entire appearance may be changed with the addi Heavy white satin wrap, border of metaline. The gown is of beaded cloth, herringbone design. Latest In Hollywood Coiffures Bette Davis looks at her new coiffure, which was created for her latest picture, “Fashions of 1934,” starring William Powell and with a supporting cast, including Verree Teasdale, Frank McHugh and Hugh Herbert. It is a Warner Bros.-First National picture. Mat No. 31—10c tion of different collar and cuff sets. Light colored tailored accessories make it suitable for daytime wear, while a collar and euff set of quilted satin or a jabot, drapped softly, of white net, transforms it into a frock appropriately worn to informal parties. Formal evening clothes, Bette says, should always be black or white, and in materials that do not stretch or pull out of shape. She suggests ensembles, with a wrap of some brighter color that is equally flattering to a white or a black gown. Bette makes these further general suggestions: For summer, wear only wash dresses, either of silk or cotton, getting variety with several I changes of belts, collars or scarfs. Have one tailored coat of neutral color for utility wear the year round. Always buy two or three pairs of stockings at a time, of the same color. It is a great saving in the long run. Buy rayon or jersey undies that don’t have to be ironed. Freshen up your own clothes with cleaning solvent—and never buy clothes in colors and materials that spot easily. Never buy freak hats, bags gloves, shoes, or other accessories. Conservative accessories lend themselves to a large variety of uses and are always as smart as they are practical. Here’s a detailed schedule of Colorful Costumes of History Inspire 1934 Fashions Sports costume from the 18th Century. A three-qaurter length coat of Navy blue, set-off by crimson collar. Muffler is red, blue and white. Tyrolean Alps Sports costume. Skirt of rough tweed, plaid design; Cardinal red velvet jacket. Bette’s “Blue-print” wardrobe budget: 1 dressy suit .............. $39.50 1 3-piece swagger suit 19.50 1 black crepe dress .... 10.00 ESC OBbSxcv.c, oe eae ces 16.50 1 winter dress ............ 7.50 2 summer dresses ...... 15.00 1 summer suit. ............ 10.00 2 evening ensembles.. 50.00 Hats, 4 a year ............ 15.00 Shoes, 5 pair yearly.... 25.00 Hosiery (good imperFOCUS) Stiri ach ce 20.00 Gloves, suede and fabric (washable).... 7.50 Shirtwaits, blouses, SwWeaters ..............cc000 30.00 Tim perie= naires 20.50 Bags and miscellaneous accessories ........ 20.00 Total $306.00 Taste More Than Figure “Good taste is much more important than a good figure, and good judgment more effective than a fat checking account, in maintaining a chie appearance,” says Bette. “A girl who never substitutes flash for quality, and who doesn’t buy clothes ‘gold bricks,’ will not only feel well dressed, but will earn the voiced approval of her associates on her wardrobe. “It’s my experience, as well as my opinion, that the well dressed woman is usually limited on her clothes allowance. That’s proof enough that money has very little to do with the problem.” In “Fashions of 1934” Bette makes no pretense of keeping within her own budget, for the studio furnishes her wardrobe, which consists of more than fifty costumes. The picture is an amusing comedy romance in which a high pressure promoter, William Powell, gets a corner on the Paris and New York fashion market. There is a glamorous style show with 25 pretty mannikins displaying the latest creations in fashion in a gorgeous salon. Busby Berkeley has also created a specialty number in which two hundred beautiful girls do a spectacular fan dance. In the supporting cast are such talented players as Frank MceHugh, Verree Teasdale, Reginald Owen, Henry O’Neill, Hugh Herbert, Phillip Reed and Gordon Westcott. William Dieterle directed. Styles created by Orry-Kelly especially for Warner Bros.-First National musical extravaganza, “Fashions of 1934” starring William Pow ell, Bette Davis, Verree Teasdale, and scores of Hollywood beauties. Starts next Pete e meme e eee eemaeeereseeenonee Mat No. 44—20c at the Theatre. Page Seventeen