If Your a Brunette - Colors You Look Fabulous In!

The black-haired, dark-eyed women in this group can wear either black or rich brown as a basic color. Becoming to them also are white, peach, apricot, brick Chinese red, russet, sage green, bright greens provided they do not make the skin seem sallow, mustard, burnt orange, henna, tan, and beige.

Norma Shearer

If the hair is medium brown, skin is tanned, and eyes are blue or gray, brown is the most flattering basic color, especially in tobacco and in russet shades. Other flattering colors are dull gold, dusty rose, woodsy greens, soft dull blue and muted orange-reds.

Gail Patrick And now, to end on an optimistic note - no brunette need envy a blonde. Her type of beauty wears better, is not so fragile, and she can flaunt it more - use more daring perfume, brighter make-up, more striking coiffures. But she does have to work a little harder to get her effects! Gail Patrick

This ends lovely Ruth Murrin's beauty advice based on hair color. I hope this gives everyone ideas for how to be a fabulous 1938 beauty.

Carmen Miranda

I've been reading some fun vintage beauty and house keeping books from the 1930s and 1940s. Not sure what I will be posting next, but possibly some advice from one of the vintage books.

Ann Blythe

If You Are a Brunette . . . What about your skin?

If you are a Brunette by Ruth Murrin (from June 1938 Good Housekeeping)

The trouble with being a brunette is that there are so many of them. The competition is formidable. This situation daunts Miss Lazy Bones and Mrs Timid Soul, who think, "What's the use?" and let themselves go. But to any girl with an ounce of enterprise, it's a challenge. Perhaps that is why so many dark-haired girls with no looks to speak of grow up to be chic, distinguished-looking women.

These successful brunettes know that their effectiveness depends largely on contrast - dark hair framing a clear skin. They know, too, that among their liabilities is a tendency to murky complexion. In the teens and early twenties they are subject to oiliness and blackheads and blemishes that may accompany it, and as they grow older and their skins become dryer, they complain of the "dirty beige" color their faces take on instead of the bright, fresh aspect they need to set off dark hair.

At the oily age brunettes who are intelligent about their cosmetics use soap and water plentifully. They keep on hand liquid cleansers and tingly skin tonics. They use masks for cleaning and freshening. A starch mask, which is simple and inexpensive, interests them especially just now. When choosing face powder, they demand sticking power and suede finish; and because "Clean up before make-up" is a law for oily skins, they carry cleansing pads in their purses.

It is a canny brunette who knows when her skin has stopped making too much oil and actually has too little. Then her routine changes to include cream cleansing and cream at bedtime, for if she lets her skin get dry and scaly, it will soon look coarse, dark, and neglected. She stocks and uses preparations that protect her face from wind and sun, and likes a light, fine powder.

I am not quite sure why Ruth is so harsh on Brunettes! I know not just brunettes have oily skin issues. And I think I might be Mrs Timid Soul ;)

Starch mask – this mask helps to make enlarged pores less evident and restore healthy glow to the cheeks.

Ingredients are:. 1 tablespoon corn starch and warm water

Massage your face gently with a little olive oil, then apply starch mask on the face and neck and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly with warm water.

(from http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com/mainsite/beauty.asp)

Next up - Brunette hair care

Favorite Foods of Famous Stars: Gail Patrick

Gail Patrick (June 20 1911 - July 6 1980) treats us to a delightful cold lunch today. It includes: Piquant Tongue Loaf, Cranberry Salad, Potato Chips, French Dressing, Chocolate Cream Chips, and Iced Tea.

Because of how picky an eater I am, I'm not sure I could eat Gail's lunch. Tongue Loaf just doesn't do it for me, Piquant or no. Understandably, this meal would not have been unusual for the time, so I understand it.

The Cranberry Salad sounds good, and it's fun to see a recipe for French dressing. Definitely would eat the Potato Chips (I'm a total salt addict), and Iced tea sounds refreshing. I thing the Chocolate Cream Chips sound good too, with obvious adjustment because the egg whites are not cooked.

Gail Patrick was in the Delta Zeta sorority, and donated $1 Million to them in her will. That's real sisterhood!

She designed Children's clothing for children of celebrities out of her home in the 1940's and 1950's

She was married to Robert Howard Cobb from 1936 to 1940, owner of the famous Brown Derby Restaurant and inventor of the Cobb Salad.

For info about the Cobb Salad, check out: http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/CobbSalad.htm

For some great info on Gail Patrick, check out the posts on one of my favorite blogs, Hollywood Dreamland

Gail Patrick posts: http://hollywooddreamland.blogspot.com/search/label/Gail%20Patrick%20Deco%20Dame

Hollywood Dreamland: http://hollywooddreamland.blogspot.com/