Matching the Gown
Among the treasures of her jewel chest, the woman will select with a discerning eye. If she is to wear a new gown made for the opening, it is well to try the jewels on, with the gown, in advance. If she finds that a necklace with a pendant, or pendant parts, graces the décolletage, even the most beautiful pendant earclips should not tempt her to wear them. Such earclips are probably adjustable so that the pendants can be removed, and the upper motifs worn to grace the ear lobes. On the other hand, if a tiara is in the cherished jewel collection, it may now be taken forth and worn. Then a brilliant clip may be set directly on the shoulder, above the décolletage. This skinpin admirably breaks the long line from tiara to décolleté gown. If the evening gown is embroidered, however, the clip should be left in the box. The various possible combinations should be tried, and examined carefully in the mirror, before the outfit is complete.
Matching the Man
An opening night is one of the few occasions, in our increasingly informal times, when the gentleman will embrace the opportunity to blossom forth in evening clothes, with white tie. The opera opening recalls the olden grandeur; the diamond horseshoe of boxes still deserves the name, for accompanying the gentleman in his most formal attire comes the lady in her most glamorous jewels. These are unquestionably diamonds.
Some Basic Rules
If no tiara is worn, diamonds may be used as ornaments in the hair, as earclips, as necklaces, as bracelets. While the diamond is the basic gem in the jewelry, other precious stones may accompany it, such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires. They may be set around a large central diamond; or they may be the center stones, with smaller diamonds of different shapes set around—so that the brilliance of the one and the deep color of the other will interact in a fireplay of beauty. Of course, the stones must be of a color that will harmonize with the gown—in all likelihood, the gown was ordered to harmonize with the chosen gems.
It must be repeated that elaborate jewelry does not mean a quantity of jewels. One brooch, which may be a large rose, will suffice; she may have other beautiful bracelets, but the discriminating woman will wear just one, which has been carefully made or chosen for the shape and size of her arm, to stay precisely where its beauty will most enhance her lines.
The diamond bracelet should not be worn over gloves, unless these are not removed for the entire evening. A two-piece evening glove is available, the hand of which may be doffed, so that the remainder becomes a long sleeve over which the bracelet is worn. Women whose arms taper sharply to the wrist may find that such a glove helps to maintain the bracelet at the proper place on the arm.
A diamond clip should not be worn on a fur coat, jacket, or stole. For then either it is put aside, hanging over the back of the chair at a restaurant or in a closet at a private home, or when the coat is taken off the clip must be removed and reattached to the gown. One seems ostentatious disregard; the other, ostentatious concern.