The Washington times., 1915-07-07
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON.
A ctreSs in Pictures
Knows Real Worry
of Designing
= Costumes

The woman who thinks the choice,
making, and wearing of clothes the
most difficult of lifc's problems
should spend a day in a motion pic
ture studio to be Thoroughly cured.
Compared to the things the average
motion picture actress most con-
slider in the preparation of costumeG
for her plays the difficulties of the
ordinary we'll dressed woman be-
come almost pleasures.
Clothes have greater, value in
the photoplay than anywhere else.
for the reason that they must be
selected with several objects in view
that are totally aside from the mat
ter of style and ft. in the first
place the clothes must be made to
fit the characterize tell something
of the charc cter-that Is to be por-
trayed.
The motion picture actress de-
pends much on her gowns helping
her to portray correctly the char
acter in hand. In this, the silent
drama" where the voice cannot
lend its aid to influence the audi
ence, the dress must bear the heavy
burden of backing up, as it were,
the facial expression. An actress
you. so the task devolves upon her
clothes. which must look rich.
Fur and feather, Jewels and lace,
each speaking a little line of its
own, tell you at once that there Is
money in the family somewhere, If
must be set forth as carefully; a
woman carrying a starving baby
will not wear a ring or q bracelet,
and so on through varying condi-
tions of life and emotions.
Then there is the matter Of color.
Colors for Photographic work must
be chosen with the greatest care.
Some colors photograph we'll and
some do not. The softness of the
lines of costumes in the pictures Is
largely due to a combination of COL
ors, despite the fact that the picture
itself is black and white.
Did you know that red takes black
in a photograph? or course, you
didn't. Did you know that lavender
takes white? or course. you didn't,
unless you are a photographer.
A knowledge Of how a color will
look in the picture Is part Of the
necessary equipment OF motion
too much black might spoil the
whole effect of scene, or produce
a monotony which would be fatal.
The same attention to material Is
necessary.
Some dresses. very beautiful In
themselves. appear dead and char
acterless when photographer; satin
Is the pet material. as 1t looks like
satin in the picture. Chiffon, too,
comes out in its soft, clinging folds.
or course, color as we see 1t Is vast
ed. except for Its value in producing
light or shade. Lace is usually sat
isfactory: the camera seems to bring
out every detail Of the pattern.
which makes real lace so desirable
for good pictures.
Then, of course. there Is the matter
OF style. AS has been pointed out
snce or twice heretofore. the motion
picture is becoming style snow
for a great number OF women. ana
the motion picture actresses, reaiiz-
ing this, are. doing their best 10
keep up with the fashions as tney
change. Anita Stewart. In Ine
Sins of the Mother" shows a NUN. =.
Der OF stunning gowns OF ainerHnt t,n
character and quality. Clara Kim,
hall Young, Ethel Clayton. Mabel
Normand. Alice Joyce. Gertrude Nc
Gov Norma Tallmadge Violet Mer-
cereau, Anna Little. Edna Mayo:
MYRTLE Stedman. and a number OF
other well known actresses make
their clothes as much matter OF
study as any other factor in their
work. The result being that these
women are noted as among the pest
dressed in motion pictures-whlch Is
coming to mean the best dressed
women In the country. u. NJ.