The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-06
Bakst Talks On
Colors For
Parasols
Nv JULIA HoYT

At LUNCHEON the other day
"a had delightful conversation with
Leon Bakst. Mr.. Bakst, whq@
we all know as a great designer Of cos
tunes and scenery, as well as very
fine portrait painter, is q man who has
made d study of women. There IS
probably no one today better, qualified
I, than he to speak on the effects pro-
lused BY colors when worn BY different
types Of women.
Dow the subject came up / cannot
quite remember, but in some way II
turned to psrasols. their great charm
and beauty almost forgotten at this
present day. Mr.. Bakst said 1t was q
4 rfe4t pity that women of the present
\ generation used them 80 little inasmuch
rs they unquestionably give q finishing
touch in the summer-ar added spice
TO 4 delightful costume, IL they are well
chosen both with regard to the costume
and the type ant coloring OF the carrier.
Before 20 into the language OF the
I parasol, which. in the old days was as
distinct language as the language OF
the fan, must set down some Of the H.
Eliminating, remarks made BY Mr..
\ Bakst on the question of color and the
effect produced by different colors.
Naturally these remarks were all made
with the idea of the sun shining
through the parasol, and the effect pro-
duced by this. But think some OF
his words apply to the question of cos
tunes generally.
Deep rose, he said, would probably
be easily the most popular with the
greatest number of women, owing to
the fact that deep rose with the sun
shining through gives to ones skin q
charming glow of color and a rather
elusive tint which hides and camouflages
many defects. However, women who
are not looking for the natural effects
in life, but the different" and rather
more intriguing effects, will turn to
other coIors. Amber will lend to the
skin rather oriental effect. We know
that In the last year or two there was a
great craze for brown powders-really
brown powders, which give the skin an
almost East Indian coloring. They
were charming on some people, though,
a8 they of necessity had a dye in them,
they were extremely bad for the skin.
The amber parasol will give this effect
even without the use of the powder. A
deep blue will give rather mysterious
iook, such as is given by the blue shad.
owing fps the use of makeup. We have
many women in Latin countries. A
green with the sun reflected through it
accentuates ali the shadows in the face,
and consequently gives rather tragic
aspect.
Many of these ideas are well known
to those Of us who are on the stage,
OWN gto the use of makeup. We have
to learn quickly the effects produced by
different colors on the audience. Green
is both sinister and tragic, depending on
how it is used. George Arliss, for in
stance, in his makeup in 1.-THE Green
Goddess" used much green, not on &C.
count Of the name as it might seem, but
because it gave him a mysterious and
sinister appearance.
Yellow, on the other hand, tends to
destroy all shadows and causes ones
face and the outlines of ones face to
become rather flat, and consequently
rather paysanne, to use the French
word-peasant-like. 1t is a color full
of charm and youthfulness, but not
one of mystery or character. In other
words, it is a delightful color for chill
dren but not one for women who wish
\ to gain an effect of depth. White, &C.
Il cording to Mr.. Bakst, If very thick
white material, gives one an extreme
freshness of appearance. This, / must
confess, was a surprise to me, as
have always thought a white parasol
was a rather difficult one to carry. II
naturally would give freshness, pro.
vided one started with youthful skin
and appearance, but I should almost
doubt that it would lend freshness to
anyone else, though ! hesitate to argue
with any opinion of Mr.. Leon Bakst.
On Tuesday: Luncheon With Leon
Bakst part III