SUMMER DRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 290, 7 December 1932, Page 8

SUMMER DRESS.

CONVENTIONAL MEN. THE BRAVE MINORITY. MAN WHO . MISSED LUNCH. Why dp. you men persist in wearing clothes that are uncomfortable in the summer heat, while, women welcome the , warmer temperature and clothe them-j selves to'get'the fullest enjoyment from it? This is a question which the women of Auckland 'ask.'the'men summer after summer, and the men's habit is frequently commented upon by /visitors, who, in other countries, have found picasure in dressing themselves to suit the conditions. Primarily, no doubt, the reason is psychological. There is a distinct reluctance on the part of Auckland men to break away from conventional dress, and with few exceptions their attire for the city in .summer is much the same,as in other seasons. The small proportion of men who attire themselves sensibly liavo to brave the critical eye of the others. Being in a decided minority they are conspicuous and objects of comment, albeit that comment is not without a savour of approval. Once having taken the step, however, they find the comfort they enjoy sufficient encouragement and reward for comment and critical stare.

It is not necessary for men to don a tropical costume of white suits and helmets, which are universal in many climes little hotter in Queen Street on one of its many steamy days. The man who swelters over Christmas in heavy tweeds and removes a hard hat to mop his perspiring brow has only himself to blame for his lack of temerity in breaking away from habit. When away from tho street, in his garden or at the seaside, the first thing he does is to don jcool "slacks" and an open shirt. But when lie sets out for tlie oJfico the greatest concession he makes to meet Lthg change in Jlie temperature of the

summer season is to wear a suit of lighter material, possibly unlined. Often this degree of comfort is nullified by adherence to a stiff collar and a heavy hat. One noticeable feature of , the. change of dress this summer is the reintroductiou of the straw hat or boater, which several summers ago enjoyed universal popularity and -then suddenly disappeared. So far this is the only obvious change of the present summer.

light and careless air, and even drew from his perspiring acquaintances their envious comment. He had a rude shock, however, when accompanying some of them to a city hotel for luncheon. He was about to give his first order when the , waitress politely told him that she could Jiot serve a patron who did not wear a coat. For the moment ho took the remark as facetious, but when the waitress was adamant, he asked the manager for an explanation. He was

One Aucklander who decided to dress ] liiiiiself comfortably tells the following j story against himself. His first breakaway from his heavy tweeds and worsted was ail unobtrusive palm beach; suit, light grey, so as not to distinguish; himself too much from his fellow men. I Then he went a step further. lie donned light grey slacks and a plain white shirt, but, for convention's sake, adhered, to a detachable soft collar and tie. He walked the hot city pavements with a

■politely but firmly told that that "was j the rule of the hotel, but was given the option of donning one of the manager's coats or withdrawing from the diuingJroom. ITo chose the latter course, and | his acquaintances followed him. Gratifying as that may have been to him it was hardlv consolation for a lunchless day, and it certainly nullified any progress ho may have made in inducing his acquaintances to follow his mode of dress.