BRIGHTER BEACHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 9

BRIGHTER BEACHES.

COLOUR ON SYDNEY SANDS.

SOMBREROS AND PYJAMAS

BACKLESS COSTUME CONTROVERSY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, October 25

Fashion's latest decree, the backless surfing costume, made its first appearance on Sydney beaches during last week-end. The debut has raised a storm of criticism and praise from various quarters. Together with the backless costume has come a host of new surfing costumes, beach wraps, pyjamas, dressing tents and other surfing accessories, which have turned Sydney's surfing beaches into replicas of the Lido. g*- r Tlie backless costume has' caused a sensation. Several councils have definitely banned the wearing of it, while others have expressed no opinion at all, leaving any decision to tile discretion of the beach inspectors. Two or three beach authorities have declared themselves in favour of the innovation. These actions have had the effect of drawing crowds away from and to those beaches where the more bizarre costume ideas are in vogue. Balmoral Beach, one of those be'aches where the backless costume is tolerated, was crowded on Sunday last, and many wearers of the new costumes were in evidence. Another new idea which has invaded Sydney beaches is the wearing of the shady sombreros and the colourful beacii pyjamas. Outsizes in sombreros

have already made their appearance among the women bathers, some of the sombrero rims measuring 36in from the crown to the outside rim. They are made in all shades of the rainbow and have introduced a distinct colour note to the beaches.

The pyjamas have made their appearance on many beaches in consequence of flie ban on sun-baking and of lying on the sand in bathing costume alone. These pyjamas, also executed in many variegated colours, are also introducing a brighter note on the sands.