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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 1 (May 1, 1933)

Autumn Fashions

Autumn Fashions.

A New Idea!

I met a girl the other day, who said she always preferred the winter for dressing. Summer clothes were such a nuisance, so many frills and flounces now to keep crisp and fresh.

There is something so comforting about autumn and winter, after the wispy ephemeral summer; we almost look forward to a dependable tweed skirt. The girl who can look a devastating vision in flowered voile and a picture hat should be able to look just as attractive in sporting tweeds, vivid jumpers, and dashing scarves. She must borrow the spirit of the season and snatch eagerly all the colour and flame of falling leaves. When a keen wind sweeps over the city, and the sun has lost some of its generous warmth she will be gay—a challenge.

You remember how everyone was knitting last year? In fact I have heard husbands complain they could never have a sensible discussion with wives ! “Be quiet a minute, dear— knit one, purl one!”

This year the craze is to be even more preyalent —everything is to be knitted and you will see the most attractive schemes imaginable. Even men will not despise a tie or pull-over.

Here is a new idea from England, and just the thing for now—because it can transform one frock a dozen times. In the sketch you will see a plain woollen frock such as we all have, and are wondering what to do with—still quite good, but not the “latest thing.” All you have to do is to choose some colours which will be outstanding and contrasting and knit yourself a smart little beret, a jaunty scarf and a wide, close-fitting belt, as in the sketch. Behold a transformation—and you can have as many as ever you want! Some people even knit bags and deep cosy cuffs.

Our Beauty Note.

“We live in a woman's world,” I read the other day. “The place is absolutely run for them now and soon will be run by them.”

I felt extremely sceptical about this. True enough that women have emerged rather aggressively and with much spectacular display from their age-old obscurity. Naturally they are absorbing rather more than their share of attention just at present, and are very much “to the fore” in all things. But surely a balance will be achieved, and from being merely ornamental, women will be useful too. We must not concentrate too wholeheartedly upon our equality with men, and although we have revolted from the long accepted idea that our sphere in life is to be beautiful—we must not altogether forget it. Once a woman's only claim to notice lay in her charms and they were her sole weapon in the struggle. Now it is believed that she actually possesses quite remarkable brain powers—so that she no longer has to rely entirely upon her face as her fortune.

Yet we still wish men to idealise us and to admire our beauty.

There are so many artificialities and cults and so many methods of acquiring beauty that the business girl of to-day is tempted sometimes to give up the struggle. She simply can't be bothered, and hasn't time.

But here is a point to remember. Although you have hundreds of things to think about beyond yourself, try always to be well groomed. This is far more important than being ultra-fashionable. Too many girls concentrate any spare energy they may have upon clothes alone and forget the little things that matter, such as beautifully brushed and well-cut hair, hands which have had a little attention beyond soap and water, teeth which shine, and a skin which glows with health and care. Holes in gloves, heels down-trodden, a hastily darned ladder, safety-pins—all these are impossible to the wellgroomed girl. She knows how much they matter, and sometimes she will spend money on general repairs rather than on acquiring at once what Fashion has decreed shall be worn this winter. This woman has a sense of proportion.