How to be Sweet & Charming - Lesson One Part Three

Section 1
THE SECRETS OF CHARM
Lesson 1
THE LAWS OF ALLURE
Part Three of Three

(the bracketed italic comments are mine - the rest is verbatim, caps and all, as written by Alma Archer from the 10 booklet set, How to Be Sweet & Charming, copyright 1939.
to read the Introduction to the series and the first two parts of lesson one search tag How to Be Sweet and Charming)

(We left off with Alma explaining the Yin Yang theory of dressing for your man - the remainder of this chapter gives examples from the girls of the time. Because I love you, I have added pictures so you can get a visual - and so you young girls can catch up because I bet a lot of these woman will make you say "who?" Though admittedly, even I had not heard of a couple of these girls before so we will learn together)

KATHERINE HEPBURN steps into the Yang picture when she throws her head, hair and face into relief with a long body line which she emphasizes with coats that button to the neck etc. She never confuses herself with too feminine details, but aims her vigor and forcefulness directly at distinctive femininity. Nothing in the Hepburn appearance of manner indicates the boyish-bob-flat-heel, briefcase of non-allure.

(Now if you remember we had left off with Alma basically telling us that you have to dress for who you are, and not try to be who you aren't. But all whilst maintaining that fact that you are a girl through and through. We all know Kate was of course the original girl who dressed entirely for herself and acted that way - however she was still insanely sexy. Its easy to look back and see this but try for a moment to remember that Alma was there and writing it as it happened - pretty astute huh? And for you young things who just said "who is Katherine Hepburn" well, first off - I need your mom's phone number so I can bitch slap her for your lack of proper education and second - because I am a generous soul - here are some pictures. Now go Google her and go rent or download a few of her movies.)

(You can thank me later)






(Now can you honestly tell me that if you are the kind of girl that does not naturally head straight for the dresses that you where not just inspired by those pictures? And most of these are from the 1940s! Let me repeat that - the 1940s - SIXTY years ago. Maybe Alma might just know her stuff after all? Katherine is dressed like the men of her day and yet she is ALL girl - unabashedly, in your face drop dead fabulous girlishness.)

HELEN HAYES goes Yin and dresses the "feminine type" by affecting little girl dressed with soft collars and neck bows and naive hats

(Early pics of Helen Hayes are harder to find - and I am trying to stay within the time line the book was written in but even these give you the general idea.
She was definitely an entirely different type of woman then Kate)




MRS HARRISON WILLIAMS is conspicuous for her exquisite grooming and simplicity of clothes choice (may I have please have that description as my epithet?) She dresses unerringly to "occasion" and is always in possession of charm and poise and good manners - so that she is recognizable as a smart woman at even more then a hundred paces

(Confession - this is the woman I have fantasized about becoming since the first time I picked up Vogue at 16. Unfortunately I am invariably the girl whom you see fall flat on her ass after tripping over a a bit of misplaced air - though I do like to think I have managed over the years to look quite smart even at mid-fall)

You will find nothing to startle you in Mrs. Williamsn costuming - no blazing jewels to overpower her adaptation of the "Yin" Personality.







(Upon Googling Mrs Williams I find that she was an American socialite and fashion icon and in 1933 was named the "best dressed woman of the world by Chanel, Lanvin, Molyneux, Vionnet and Lelong. Not a bad title if you can get it. And in 1936 the great and legendary Cole Porter sang: "What do I care if Mrs. Harrison Williams is the best dressed woman in town?" in his song "Ridin' High". In 1943, Mona's portrait was painted by Salvador Dalí. That's some resume peeps. She also was a devoted couture client - When Cristobal Balenciaga closed his atelier in 1968, Diana Vreeland is said to have whispered that Mona didn't leave her bedroom in the villa at Capri for three days. She also donated many many pieces to various museums, so the next time you see a gorgeous piece of couture on display in a museum, peek at the donation card once you have managed to close you gaping jaws at the beauty before you. Now you will know just who that fabulous woman was that could have worn that beautiful dress. She died on 1983. I wish I could have met her. Take a minute and go read the Wikipedia info on her that is in the link above, then come back - there are more fabulous women to meet still)

BECAUSE OF HER SIMPLICITY, the great Paris Couture placed Mme. Patino in a top groove of the new epoch of smart and alluring women.

(no pictures of her I am afraid - or at least none I could dig up. Though I did find out this interesting tidbit: She owned the Emerald Cross of Queen Victoria Eugenia!)

"Once owned by Isabell II of Spain and Empress Eugenie of France, from Queen Victoria Eugenia sold at the time of King Juan Carlos wedding to Cartier. In exile, Victoria Eugenia sold the carved emerald cross to Cartier who, after setting it into a necklace it designed in 1937 (in a necklace design similar to the one it had created for the Queen in 1931), then sold it to Madame Patiño, wife of the famous “tin king.” It was then inherited by her daughter, Isabel Goldsmith."

Well chosen eccentricity always has been a preference of the winner, Mme Antenor Patino, although she is usually is faithful to classical lines in her costume.

(I have to tell you I am in awe of the descriptions of these women, As I read them I find myself repeating them out loud, the strange, archaic, yet beautiful phrasing rolling off my modern girl tongue. The words alone make me remember in part why I have this absolute love for vintage - there is just something magical and wonderful about those bygone eras. Past that, this is very very very good advice, our dear Alma is saying that this Mme. Patino follows the trends and pushes the fashion envelope but always within the decorum of good taste )

Some woman confuse eccentricity and individuality.
(Some woman confuse eccentricity and individuality.)

Eccentricity WELL-CHOSEN can mean the finest sort of individuality in dress but badly-chosen can be the poorest taste imaginable. If the Paris Couture ever saw the American assortment of fur-trimmed galoshes turned loose on our streets (is this REALLY from 70 years ago - has nothing changed??), they'd probably award the all-time booby prize to this side of the Atlantic.

(I am afraid that this is still the case - and worse its permeated Paris these days too, non?)

Dorothy Lamour's are the only possible ones I've ever discovered, and hers were custom made to harmonize with her mink fur and fox coat.

(Dorothy Lamar was a hottie and it seems a very cool girl in her day)

(See this is the tricky bit about fashion - for all the do's and don'ts that anyone can possibly throw at you - there is always that ONE damn girl out there that can make a don't work - and not only does she make it work but she makes it work to the point that you stay up at night trying to redefine yourself into that type of girl that can also make it work. You can't. Sorry but someone has to tell you the bitter truth. Just be the best Yin or Yang you can be and leave the rule breakers to their own rule breaking course)

I wish women would spend more time in front of the mirror before journeying out in front of the streets. Ask that one question which the French clothes experts used when vetoing the Duchess of Windsor in favor of Mme, Patino - "Am I dressed with individual simplicity?"

(Look I don't need to say anything to that.
Just write that quote on a post it - stick it on every mirror on your house and the world will be a better place within a day or two by this one act alone.)

THERE ARE PLENTY OF TRICKS OF SMARTNESS which come under the flag of simplicity but with individuality thrown in.

MADELEINE CARROLL is individualizing herself with pockets used as decorative details - pockets just large enough for a lace handkerchief and powder puff in nightgowns, in evening frocks, in day clothes. That's a simple note - a pocket.
And individual too, wanting a nose powdered in bed


(are you laughing out loud at that last line like I am? Our Dear Alma has a wicked sense of humour. She also has a good point.)

CLAUDETTE COLBERT, for instance, has lipsticks especially blended to match the deep red of her valuable ruby jewels

wow - I am so NOT a real girl compared to these woman -
why did we let all this go girls?
Could we not have kept these bits of uber-fabulousness
and gone out and conquered the world too?
huh huh?


(don't you wish these pictures where in color so you could see her lipstick color? I do)


GLADYS SWARTHOUT wears a shocking pink crepe evening dress designed to expose flesh under a widely laced bodice, and her Venetian glass neckwear, bracelet and brooch in pastel pink, blue and mauve set off the gown with great individuality and smartness





End of Lesson One

So to me this Lesson says to know yourself and find your own style.
Keep within the realms of good taste and decorum but be an individual.
Don't fight who you are, but rather showcase it.
Find a signature style and then make it you, though and through.
And dress up!
for God's sakes girls put some effort into it.
Even if its just a little bit of extra lipstick that matches your faux jewels.
_____________________

Lesson Two is The Secrets of Charm
How Smart Women Control Their Fate

Join me?

Well Hello There Mr Dryden

In Lesson One Part One of how to be Sweet and Charming, Alma introduces us to "ERNEST DRYDEN, the philosopher Viennese" and his Ten Commandments for "saving the fair sex from the pitfalls of bad taste in dressing"

Stepanie M, a Shrimpton blog reader emailed me that she was quite amused to read this as she just happened to have been reading a book on his life at the same time! She went on the share some basics of our fine Viennese friend:

I was much amused to read your posts on Alma's rules for "dressing for your man," especially her quoting "Viennese philosopher" Ernest Dryden's ten rules. I thought you would be intrigued to know: Ernest (actually Ernst) Dryden was a highly successful graphic and costume designer. Career began in his native Vienna before World War I; he later went to America, dying in Hollywood in 1938. He drew ads for Bugatti autos and Cinzano; also many covers and fashion illustrations for the magazine "Die Dame," the German equivalent of "Vogue." In his Hollywood years, he was a costume designer for the films, designing for Marlene Dietrich among other stars. Has to be the same guy as Alma's "philosopher," right? This seems like the type of man who would make rules for women's fashion and style! It just happened that I was reading a book about his life and work and when I read your blog post the name rang a bell. Cheers.

Sounds like our guy right? Though its odd that Alma refers to him as Ernest in the booklet's and not Ernst - I double checked even to make sure I had not inadvertently slipped in a letter or two. I googled him and found a picture of our guy

No offense to the guy but he does look like a bit of a snot here doesn't he?
Seems to be looking down his nose even here.
It's like his eyes are telling us that even though we woman folk are lost causes,
he may deem to help us.

A list of the films he worked on at IMDB.

Dr. Rhythm (1938)

(this pic is copyrighted by the seller of this poster ((??)) anyway its here so no one gets pissy that I used it )

That was a tough movie to find a picture of
seems the critics did not like it.
_________________

The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) (as Ernst Dryden)

Isn't Douglas Fairbanks absolutely dreamy?
You can see clips of this film here
________________________

Lost Horizon (1937) (costumes) (as Ernst Dryden)...
aka Lost Horizon of Shangri-La (USA: reissue title)

This was the official "Hollywood" poster

This was the first release - wonder if Ernst drew this?
You can also see this movie in clips on line here
__________________

The Devil's Playground (1937)

No movie poster to be found but I did find this on-set shot. Actress Dolores Del Rio is the girl front and center - chances are good that is an outfit designed by Ernst.
_________________________

Lady from Nowhere (1936)

Another tough one to dig up but I did come across this pic of Mary Astor in a scene from the film. Its available here
_______________________

Come Closer, Folks (1936)
sorry - no pic on this one - it seems to have faded somewhat into obscurity though you can pick up a copy on eBay here
and

The Final Hour (1936)
seems to be even more obscure now - just synopsis's of the plot to be found
______________________

The Garden of Allah (1936)

This is the most famous of the films he worked on.
It starred the great Marlene Dietrich.
It was a hit so had multiple posters




Here is a shot from the film

GORGEOUS!

One of the reviews for this films say

"Dietrich sports a new and more stunning gown for every desert occasion, viewers will find no oasis to quench their thirst. Basically, this is a very early version of Hollywood's "sex and sand" films, so popular in the 1950s--lush, unusual, and ultimately silly."

That sounds like reason enough to watch the film to me - you?

If you want to see some of those beautiful gowns click here to see the on-line clips.
They are stills but you get to see a lot of the wardrobe

And I HAD to include this shot of Dietrich and Fairbanks.
This peeps is how movie stars dressed to attend their premieres.


Oh stars and starlets of today take note

go overboard
go glamorous
be a STAR
Please
___________________

The King Steps Out (1936)

There is a KILLER shot of a gown worn by Mary Lou Dix and its directly attributed to Ernst but I can't copy it over - so please take a minute to go see it here and then come right back after you wiped the drool off the keyboard
_____________________________

and finally Remember Last Night? (1935) (gowns)

You can see clips of this one here be warned - this movie has a bunch of white people in black-face masks in it so is tough to watch as a modern girl. You might feel like trying to slap it off them but remember that if you do you are actually whacking your computer and you can potentially do some damage.

The world has moved on since then thankfully, so you will just have to feel sad for their views back in those days, be thankful you felt revolted and then let it go.

However, I do want to take a moment and publicly call dibs on the curly haired girl's pot lid - breast plate costume idea.
Its mine - don't even try to post it as your idea next Halloween
go find your own stolen idea please
________________

He also had a book written about his career called The Divinely Elegant - you can get it here on Amazon if you want to send me a present


"Viennese designer Dryden left his mark on magazines, haute couture, movie costumes, erotica, posters and more; his advertisement for a liqueur made a noble thing of a goblet and a tousled bird, while another for a shoe company exalted a robust icon of a womanly ankle. Born Ernst Deutsch in 1887, the artist, who studied with Gustav Klimt, made his name as a poster designer in Berlin in the years before WW I. After the war, he returned to Vienna to design menswear; in 1926, he joined a Berlin fashion magazine as illustrator. During the '30s, he ventured to the United States, continuing his career as a couturier and ending up in Hollywood. Celebrating a "lost world of elegance," Dryden's graphic work revealed here is enchanting: leggy, fey flappers burst from birdcages; attenuated Olympians stride down boulevards of immaculate white space. In tandem with the illustrations, first-time author Lipmann ably sketches the course of a rich career."

-From Publishers Weekly

This is officially in my must read list now.
Contact me of you want to send me a copy
_________________

Dryden died in 1938 and in the way of the world, people eventually became interested in collecting his work. Which of course is somewhat rare and hard to find

His sketches seem to fetch a pretty penny too. These are a couple of the sketches that went up for auction at Christie's in 2006

Elegant Ladies
pencil, and grey wash heightened with white, framed and glazed image area 11½in. (29.3 cm.)x 10in. (25.3 cm.)
Sold for £336

African Mask
pencil, grey and black wash heightened with white, framed and glazed, image 18¼in (46.3 cm.) x 11¼in. (28.5 cm.); and another watercolour by the same hand depicting a lady stepping out of a car, framed and glazed
image 10in. (25.3 cm) x 12¾in. (32.3 cm) (2)
Sold for £840

And he is famous enough to be included in Find A Grave.
Good Old Ernst is buried
(actually, its more like he is in a jar)
at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery


Feel free to leave him flowers if you are in the neighborhood.
I am sure he would approve of such a lady-like gesture on your part
______________________

There is no saying for sure if this is the actual Dryden that our Alma met back in her day, he died a year before the book was first copyrighted but that does not make it impossible. I would say the odds are about 99.9% in our favor that that he is our guy, whether Alma chose to call him Ernst or not.

I am sort of intrigued now to see if he makes further appearances as we continue on our journey together to become Sweet & Charming. The next installment of the lesson will most likely end up being done tomorrow so come on back to read more with me!

How to be Sweet & Charming - Lesson One Part Two

Section 1

THE SECRETS OF CHARM
Lesson 1
THE LAWS OF ALLURE
Part two of Three

(the bracketed italic comments are mine - the rest is verbatim, caps and all, as written by Alma Archer from the 10 booklet set, How to Be Sweet & Charming, copyright 1939)

LET THEM PUBLISH all the books in the world about the "conformity" theory of dress psychology. I want my students to dress for the man
(I think she means screw the trends - dress sexy)

"MAN DOES NOT WANT A WOMAN to act to look in any manner that makes her sex a matter of doubt even at a hundred paces" said a well known writer.
(NOW we know why the wiggle dress came about!
Ever see a well made 1940s wiggle dress?
There is no mistaking that the girl in them is all girl!)

Womanliness is measured by the way in which the woman of a certain age conduct themselves. It is the rule of life that everything must change or die, and femininity, fortunately, is not excluded from the process.
(OK maybe its early but I had to read that three times. Is it me or do you expect her to say Unfortunately here? I would also like to note that "woman of a certain age" could have just as well applied to anyone over 24 back in those days so settle your panties down all you ancient ones out there *wink*)

WOMAN TODAY may smoke, drink and gamble without losing an ounce of femininity,
(now you're talking sister)
but many of them lose both charm and caste by their lack of subtlety in these customs borrowed from man.
(KNEW the bitch slap was coming - just knew good old Alma would not let us go to Las Vegas and order up those Cubans without at LEAST an raise of the eye and a tsk tsk.
I hate to hear what she has to say about drinking Scotch)

MEN DON'T WANT THEIR WOMEN MANNISH. Smoking while driving a car, smoking while walking down the street or going through a hotel lobby only serves to lessen the difference between the sexes and to diminish the chances for masculine applause.
(Well I can't say I am going to disagree with anything here. This is obviously written far before our no smoking policies that are everywhere now. Walking through a hotel lobby in Canada or the USA with a lit cigarette will not get you a look of disdain but slapped with a big ole fine.
However, I would be remiss to point out that as a non-smoker I have never been openly applauded for that fact by a man. Never. Obviously I am doing something wrong, or maybe men have forgotten a rule or two themselves)

WOMAN'S JOY IN INDEPENDENCE will never replace the love of the right man
(sentimental me just went awwwww,
modern feminist me just gave her a raspberry)
The way to win in the game of love is for woman to use every device of feminine charm and intensify the contrast of the sexes
(Me WOMAN. You MAN)

In Chinese, the two major types are known as Yin and Yang. "Yin" is the female principle standing for delicacy, softness, sweetness, gentleness. The "Yang" symbolizes the masculine qualities of strength, power, vigor and forcefulness. Health, strength, power vigor and forcefulness should and can be emphasized attractively by women with appeal for the opposite sex, without making a masculine type through unsuitable clothes choices.
(Is anyone else in awe that she managed to bring that point around to clothing choices? and did anyone out there actually understand that paragraph?
I think I have to drink far more coffee before starting this every morning.
Methinks women might have changed a LOT since her day or have they?)

Fragile ruffles do not correctly interpret the sports or "Yang" type of personality and temperament anymore then severe tailor-mades flatter the delicate little girl of winsome charms.
(Ahhh I get it - she is saying that even if you are a girl who is not a girlie girl,
you can still make it work and are obliged to. Be a girl but be who you are. Now THAT I like!)

End of Part Two of Lesson One

____________________________________________________

Part Three of Lesson One tomorrow. It seems to use famous woman of the day as examples of her Yin Yang theory. I stopped here because I think I will try to add some pictures of those woman. Feel free to leave comments and discuss.

If you missed the Introduction to the book and my new project, I am tagging all these posts with the tag How To Be Sweet and Charming.

Now go forth and be Charming and Sweet today and try to look like a girl for God's Sake

How to be Sweet & Charming - Lesson One Part One

Section 1

THE SECRETS OF CHARM
Lesson 1
THE LAWS OF ALLURE

(the bracketed italic comments are mine - the rest verbatim as written by Alma Archer from the 10 booklet set, How to Be Sweet & Charming, copyright 1939)

SMART WOMAN ARE USUALLY IN LOVE. (Now THAT is a great first sentence - highly debatable but points for capturing her audience straight off the bat!) Being in love does something for the eyes, the complexion, the carriage, the voice-everything. It makes woman attractive. ALWAYS BE IN LOVE! I tell this to every woman.

(What is interesting is that if we were reading a modern day how to -the author would now proceed to tell you how to love yourself, not literally of course - that is an entirely different kind of book found in a different section of the bookstore. But you know that is what would come next. I suspect Miss Alma is going to bring us down a more "dependent" road to love. If you were to write in a book nowadays that the secret to being smart is to always be in love, you would have the proverbial wrath of the feminist goddesses on your ass within moments. What is funny is that I suspect most woman secretly still believe that being in love equals happiness don't we? Not that it doesn't, because love does makes you happy, its just that we have a few more options these days to keep our complexions in line - like a good dermatologist.)

BEING IN LOVE will crowd out unhappiness, sourness and a lot of mental hazards that pull against a woman's looks. Focus your affections where they will be appreciated. Don't get all tight-lipped and wrinkle-skinned playing the martyr through living without love, thinking that you're going through a life of burdens and grief (Don't worry, be happy..dooo dooo ddoo a looda looo....seriously though this is not such a bad idea - the being in love part or not - feeling positive does make a difference on how your face looks)
___________________________________________

ERNEST DRYDEN, the philosopher Viennese, made these observations to me on his first trip to America:
"The men of America are missing something. They are unaware of the charms of gallantry.
(EEEK GO SHOW YOUR GUY THAT SENTENCE RIGHT NOW - RUN!!)

Therefore, their women are unimpressed with them (giggling) The American man does not know the thrill of having a woman live and dress for him (BIG giggles) The life of a woman is instinctively around the man, and she will live, dress, breathe and die for the man
(outright burst of loud laughter. Followed abruptly with the sad realization that I know a LOT of women that do just that. But they must be doing it wrong cause none seem that happy. Let's forge on to see what the secret must be then, shall we?)

When a woman leads her life around a man, it acts as a spring to both of them (OK back to giggles) Men should give woman more presents (!!!!!) - any time. Its silly to wait for special dates, like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. (Do I even need to tell you to leave the computer open where he will see that sentence? ) Attention is a stimulant" (Not even touching it)

HERE ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS this interesting Viennese taught me for saving the fair sex from the pitfalls of bad taste in dressing:

1. Remember good taste is noiselessness. This applies to colour, design and trim.
(She means don't wear tacky, gaudy shit)

2. Never overestimate or underestimate occasions. American woman overdress
(This is funny if you look back and see that American woman of the time seemed sooo conservative. Personally, in light of the present day tendency to wear sweat pants in public, even if with logos and at the cost of a few hundred dollars. I am all for over dressing - please do so. In fact start today America)

3. Look like today instead of tomorrow. Better to dress in the classic manner than to be 1 hour too early in a new hat. Be new in a nice way.
(This is not going to go over well with a modern girl - we are much more out there and experimental fashion wise. Though we do bash girls that are TOO early - remember Jennifer Connolly and the Balanciaga outfit? Case in point for this rule. She was later admired for it but at the time - bashed)

4. Wear only good quality
(Wear only good quality)

5. Dress for "Him"
(I knew it was coming but the modern sensibility in me still rebels against it.)

6. Avoid glittering things regardless of cost. It is indelicate and bad taste to display wealth, and retracts from "her". A man can't be held with diamonds.
(Well Alma, I hate to break it to you but this rule got SO broken starting at about 1989 that I fear it might never recover. You probably rolled in your grave at the last two Balmain collections too then - sequins, glitter and baubles are firmly "in")

7. Keep your personality.
(Keep your personality)
Dress to keep a man's attention on you
(sigh)
See in his eyes a feeling for you, not what you wear. If you're 40, don't be afraid to dress it.
(She is saying to dress appropriate for you and your age - no crop tops and daisy dukes mixed with Grey locks. Alma and I both beg you)

8. Own the best umbrella you can buy - preferably mannish
(Whoa how did we go from talking rules of dress to an umbrella -
did that just throw you for a loop too?)
You can tell everything there is to tell about a woman from her choice of umbrella
(Seriously?)

9. Because 99 out of 199 woman are dressed in bad taste don't buy the hat you like in the window
(Now these are rules supposedly coming from the Viennese guy remember,
I think this is just a thrown in rule to keep his wife from shopping)

10. Be in Love. Be Happy. Keep in Love and you will avoid that look of "hunting" for something. Women in love, therefore out of general circulation are much more charming.
(Well he is sort of right - have you ever watched a girl desperate to find a guy that VERY NIGHT. God, it makes me want to cross myself and leave the room - imagine the poor guys on her radar screen. In love or not - don't be a desperate stalker type of girl)

MR DRYDEN believes many woman fail to look well in good clothes because they wear a look of "hunting" which means they are not in love, but hunting instinctively for it - unconsciously. He claims the expression changes and becomes casual, contented and amazingly happy the moment a woman is in love-mentally out of circulation

(I think that Mr. DRYDEN probably had a lot of affairs with woman "in love" with other men)

End of Part One
____________________________________________________

Part Two of Lesson One tomorrow. Feel free to leave comments and discuss.

If you missed the Introduction to the book and my new project, I am tagging all these posts with the tag How To Be Sweet and Charming.

Now go forth and be Charming and Sweet today and don't forget to look happy and save your face from tight lips and wrinkles whether you are "in love" or not.

Oh and buy an umbrella why don't you?
A mannish one

How to be Sweet & Charming - The Introduction

I recently received a set of charming "self improvement" books by Alma Archer.

It's a 10 booklet set all enclosed in a little striped box and my set is from a printing in 1946, though they where copyrighted in 1939. Alma was apparently the go to girl in her day for those wishing to become charming and sweet. They seem to cover everything from etiquette to capturing a man to hostessing, love, make-up and marriage. Honestly I have not read any of them yet, even as I write this. What I propose is that we read it together bit by bit. I am going to put a bit of it every day or so all the way through till the end. I want to see how different woman really are since those days and quite frankly I wouldn't mind absorbing a little extra sweetness and charm from a bye gone era. I know some of it will be fascinating and I know some if it will piss me off. Do you think saying that it might piss me off would fall under being sweet & charming? I somehow doubt it!

I hope it turns out to be a good idea. Having not read a word yet I have a little fear it will just all fall down in my face but lets give it a go and see how it turns out. Remember the bits from the book are verbatim - all Caps and quaint language are hers. The book portions are in a different font and my comments are in the same font but italicized. Feel free to comment away - I will join in with any discussion started in the comments. Each Lesson is a few pages so on most days I am going to break it up into parts. I am doing the entire Introduction today so today's will be a tad longer then the norm - settle in an grab a coffee

So with all that being said - let's start!
__________________________________________________________________

How to Be Sweet & Charming
By
Alma Archer

Introduction

YOU HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT DECISION.

You are unwilling to be content with the APOLOGETIC LIFE!

Whether your ambition is success in marriage or success in business, your appearance and personality are constantly appraised (points for mentioning success in business! Remember this was copyrighted in 1939! Go feminism! And how ironic that even then it was all about how you looked?!?!)

SLIGHT MIS-STEPS IN SMARTNESS ARE CONDEMNING. An engagement goes wrong, a position is lost, a husband is bored .....(LOL - god forbid huh?I can already tell I am going to have problems with the whole husband is King idealism of that time period) friends become fewer - if one does not employ the common sense of Smartness and Allure.

The principles in this course are the best insurance you can buy to attain happiness and a successful career. Self-confidence is a fine trait - if justified (hallelujah sister) But too often is is a mere buff- she who thinks she "knows it all" makes many of the most blatant mistakes in smartness and allure. She thinks she is a big-time performer, but actually she is a green hand the moment she encounters the really smart set. (Ouch - just hit us over the head right off the bat why don't cha? We live in a world where you "fake it till you make it" don't we?)

People whisper behind her back with pity or smirks for her apparent incongruities in chic (This only happens in New York during fashion week theses days *wink*)

She betrays herself by missing being smart or charming.

UNCERTAINTY about the rightness of your looks and behavior imposes as much mental cruelty as the certainty you are wrong.

(This is sort of interesting don't you think? We live in a world that is constantly telling us that the social pressure to look good is a cause of our modern day magazines and fashion industries use of tiny models and yet a large part of this lesson set seems to be hinged on how you look - so has it really changed?)

There is no need to be uncertain about your appearance, etiquette and conversation, because it is now simple to discover your faults and correct them. The rules for smartness and charm you will learn in this course are not rules if which are good today and useless tomorrow. THE PRINCIPLES IF SMARTNESS AND CHARM ARE TIMELESS.

(Well girls, we are going to put that theory to the test now aren't we?)

Once learned, they are always known and always applicable. You will learn how to converse, how to walk; how to use your personality; how to be a guest or a hostess; how to be attired smartly and correctly at all times; how to shop to produce the smartest result without exorbitant expense. You will learn that the really only important formula for insulating yourself against the shocks in life is that for being LUREFUL.

(that is so not a word but I have to say I am getting interested)

I have seen the component parts of this formula, given throughout the following pages, revolutionize lives.....I have seen minds transformed through the absorption of just one of the ideas.

There are no easy rewards, but remember, that both beauty and knowledge of HOW TO BE SMART AND CHARMING are attainable an retainable by any woman who will implement her intelligence with the secrets of the course and apply her own problems

I have heard innumerable woman say "Oh I would be well-dressed too if I had the money to spend." The answer to that s the fact that some of the wealthiest women are frumps and some of the smartest women have only modest means. (Seems that there is a LOT that has not changed since 1939!) IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO BE WELL-DRESSED AND SMART WITH THE MINIMUM OF EXPENSE. (Yeah you can buy vintage - wonder if that is even a concept then? If it is it will be referred to as mending your older clothes or re-making them I bet!) And if you do happen to be able to afford a large budget for your clothes, this course will make it possible for you to realize the greatest value form your expenditures.

(honestly I am starting to really look forward to this - I hope she is a proponent of QUALITY over quantity - I have no qualms about spending money I am just getting tired of the idea that you have to have a million cheap pieces of crap. Lets buy less and better!)

Knowing HOW TO BE SMART AND CHARMING (just in case you forget the title of the book she has kindly capped it every time the phrase is written) is vastly more important then having financial entree to exclusive shops

(I soo know some woman that would STRONGLY disagree with THAT statement)
(Oh My God I think capping words is contagious)

You are being judged constantly. By Friends - by strangers - YOU ARE CRUELLY JUDGED

(OK so I now want to go back to bed)

First, their eyes look you over, ready to approve, more ready to criticize. (did she know about Go Fug Yourself even then???) They're flattered if you have made the effort to please them. But much is decided during these first searching observations of your appearance. Second their ears judge you. When you start to talk, other revelations take place. Again you can attract or repel. One might LOOK smart and lose all by seeming dumb. (Now this I agree with!) Or one may be all brains, but have no ALLURE

(point taken there as well)

The secret lies in Balance. It is the first law of Charm and Allure. Outer and inner Smartness must be correlated- as every successful woman has learned.

This is an acquired secret-one is not born with it, as some envious woman say, trying to excuse themselves. Few woman have instinctive style

(Do you all hear every fashion magazine article you have ever read replaying in your head right now?)

What to wear and how to wear it- how to conduct oneself- all the many phrases of Smartness and Allure (do you notice that we have gone from Charm to Allure as the key word? The probably made her put Charm on the cover since Allure would have basically made the title - how to be smart and sexy - a no no in those days of "properness". But I bet this book is a how to of using your womanly wiles!) - can only be learned and applied quite as one learns to play the piano or to dance or to speak foreign languages.

Now, through my methods, the principles of Smartness and Allure and how to balance them have been simplified and thousands who have struggled alone to try to solve them can attain smartness quickly, easily through a magic (Magic!!) guidance of a few easy rules, classifying and condensing the laws of charm.

In this course, you will find how to meet YOUR problems- how to gain complete mastery of Balance- the Secrets of Smartness, the Art of Allure.

TO YOU! Let's go! Here is the precious key to the world and happiness- a full and glorious life

----- Alma Archer
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Bring it on Alma!

Section 1 - The Secrets of Charm
Lesson 1, Part One - The Laws of Allure Tomorrow!