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Message: <blockquote data-quote="southfork88" data-source="post: 371925" data-attributes="member: 200">I believe that behind this choice by Barbara Bel Geddes there is above all the mastectomy she underwent in real life. Unfortunately, many years ago, surgical operations of this type were physically and psychologically devastating.  One arm remained more swollen than the other and the prosthetics had nothing of natural. In addition to the baggy dresses and loose shirts, Barbara tended to keep her forearms raised to often cover her chest.  She often held her glasses in her hands raised at 90 degrees, or she raised an arm to tuck her hair behind her ear. All these actions were the same as what one of my bis-grandmother did (she was actually my grandmother's sister) born exactly the same year and month as Barbara Bel Geddes.  She too had been battling breast cancer and she too wore baggy clothes and kept her forearms raised.</blockquote>