Radio stars (Oct 1938)

RADIO STARS MRS. WIGGS GOES TO TOWN (Continued jrom page 50) working and pleasure time in the city. She wouldn't want to live even in the suburbs because, she says, she couldn't bear commuting to the studio every day. Her only resemblance to Mrs. Wiggs, aside from her friendly personality, lies in the fact that she, too, has a Mr. Wiggs to worry over. Only in Betty's case, Mr. Wiggs happens to be an ingratiating black cocker spaniel with an appetite for slippers and new novels ! Betty has had wide experience as an actress on stage, screen and radio. She started out at fifteen in stock in Philadelphia, where she was born, and her versatile talents soon won her many roles on Broadway. She appeared on the screen, in several films when talkies were new, but returned to the stage before making her radio debut in 1933. She has been playing Mrs. Wiggs for four years now, and feels that she knows every phase of her character. The amazing costume she has assembled to show you her idea of what Mrs. Wiggs would look like, were she fact instead of fiction, is an excellent interpretation of the character, you'll certainly agree. Clever at make-up and costuming for character parts, she's every bit as smart when it comes to dressing herself to express the personality of Betty Garde. We knew she'd have lots of fashion hints for you, and indeed she gave them so willingly and imparted so much useful information that we've had a hard time boiling it all down to fit the length of the article. When we interviewed her one warm summer's day over luncheon in Radio City, she was looking fresh and lovely in a black crepe dress, with gay flowered blouse and short-sleeved bolero. Her red-brown hair curled softly under a wide-brimmed hat of deep wine linen. She had just come back from Bermuda, and a warm golden tan brought out the deep blue of her eyes and the whiteness of her friendly smile. She's crazy about Bermuda and hopes some day to have a house there, and as we were about to depart for those enchanted shores, we had a hard time sticking to the subject of fashion. However, we put our mind to it, and were able to glean lots of helpful advice for you. Betty Garde is a tall, well-built young woman who knows just what lines to follow in her clothes to complement her figure and personality. Her advice, therefore, is mostly for girls above average height, like herself, but she also has some good tips for half-pints. Her answer to the question : "What general type of fashion do you prefer in general?" was that given by all women who must and do look smart at all times. "Most of all, I like black, or black and white, for both daytime and evening. The busy woman will find that a plain, simply-made black dress in a good fabric is not only always good-looking, but is also easiest to care for. You can change it about in so many ways by the addition of interesting costume jewelry. That's one reason I'm grateful for my height. The petite woman must be so careful that she is not overpowered by heavy, massive jewelry, but the tall girl can pile it on pretty thick without overstepping the bounds of good taste. I'm just a fool for "junk" jewelry, and have a terrible time getting past the counter in the stores these days. I like the massive, antique gold pieces set with semi-precious stones, the heavy silver bracelets and pins set with turquoise, the cameo pendants, the coin jewelry they're showing for fall." If you must follow fads, and every woman does to some extent, then take it out in a new matching necklace and earrings, a pair of bracelets, a tricky lapel gadget, interesting "conversation pieces''. Your "public" will be so fascinated by your new choker, or the long chain laden with little dangling charms which you've wound round and round your arm as a bracelet, that they'll not even notice that the same black crepe or light-weight wool dress serves as a flattering background. That's still another point for black — it makes a perfect foil for glittering or colorful costume jewelry. Except for her yen for costume jewelry, Betty doesn't go in for the things that are "the last word in fashion", "the newest novelty". Too often, she finds, they are just fads that die almost as soon as they come out, and are useless after a few wearings. Some women, of course, make a practice of getting the very latest styles as soon as they are launched, but they are the exceptions. For every one 'S fvniJi/ NEW GLAMOUR topum**/ MARCHAND'S GOLDEN HAIR WASH ★ 6 0% OF ALL WOMEN WERE BORN BLONDE *