Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 8 (November 1, 1934)

Summer Sports Wear

Summer Sports Wear.

Our summer frocks are divided into four categories —house-wear, sports-wear, afternoon frocks, evening gowns. Let us deal with the less formal, and, at the moment, the more interesting.

For followers of sport, the first consideration must be freedom of movement; so we ensure that our skirts are of a sufficient width (one and three-quarter yards round the hem should be regarded as the minimum), that our arms can swing freely and that no floating draperies interfere with our movements, The second consideration, is, of course, style. Bearing in mind the necessities of sportswear, we yet find style easy to attain. The necessary width is usually pressed out of sight in the form of inverted pleats; free arm movement is ensured in several ways—we may have the sun-tan type of frock with bare back and shoulders, the useful sleeveless mode, the easy short puff-sleeve, or a small sleeve with inverted pleats to give additional fulness; our outfit is business-like, and the only “floating-drapery” touch we permit is a colourful scarf, three-cornered and knotted carelessly, or oblong threaded through tabs at the neck of the frock and tied with a graceful bow in front. The addition of tabs and an up-to-the-minute scarf will lend a new season's air to a last year's tennis frock.

We must not forget the jumper and skirt which are retaining their popularity. Many young friends of mine are knitting jumpers of the lacy type in cream and pastel shades, and very smart they look. The newest jumpers are finished with a soft lacy scarf—also knitted.

For wear with light frocks, nothing is more useful than the swagger-coat. The short jacket has lost none of its popularity; nor have coats of the blazer type.

Sports hats are perky. The new material hats, with low crowns and the correct tilt of the brim downward in front and slightly to one side, are very smart, particularly in silk. Panamas, so becoming, and so long-lasting, are to the fore again. Hats with mesh crowns are not, I think, advisable for mid-summer wear, as the head requires some protection from the sun. Sporty hats are trimmed with bands of self or contrasting ribbon, and neat little bows.

Our comfortable old friend, the “sandshoe” comes in new guise this year. My choice is the mesh type of shoe, both for looks and coolness—the old type of heavy canvas shoe, allied with the rubber sole, made the feet very hot. Rubber bathing shoes are fascinating, in all colours and all designs. Which leads me to swim suits.

We, in New Zealand, do not buy our bathing-suits merely for beach parading. Our thousands of miles of coast-line have made swimmers of us—and so we don our “togs” for the purpose of swimming. The newest suits are cut away at back and sides to allow the fullest possible exposure to the sun. The more unusual the system of straps and ties across the back, the smarter would seem the suit. We all know how shoulder-straps leave an unwanted line of white skin beneath them. This difficulty has been overcome in a type of suit modelled on a last winter's evening style—there are no shoulder-straps, but the front of the suit is high and a band of material passes round the neck. Our shoulder-blades must decide us as to the adoption of this style. Colours for swim-suits must be gay. In strong sunlight, on yellow sands, one must rival the blue of the sea and the green of the grass. So we choose emerald green, scarlet, a vivid orange, royal blue—or black.

Caps are to match. Don't forget that an old-fashioned mob-cap style, worn under your diving helmet, gives extra protection to your waves. Later, when we are really “in the swim,” I shall have to give some hints on complexion and hair care at the sea-side.

Beach-wraps are gaudy and en suite with our costumes. Towelling wraps are most useful—warm and almost uncrushable.

Beach suits appear in a kind of stockingette material—smartly cut shorts, with a wider leg than last year, and a con trasting blouse. For hikers, nothing is more suitable than tailored shirt and shorts.