BEACH FASHIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 2, 3 January 1934, Page 2

BEACH FASHIONS.

BACKLESS COSTUMES. GREY FLANNELS POPULAR. RAPID CHANGES IN VOGUES. Tito years ago on a. liner coming to New Zealand a young woman appeared at the swimming pool one sunny morning in a bathing costume, the material in which might have been anything from half a yard to a yard. The passengers, or some of them, were shocked, and it was suggested that the captain should have a word with the bather. A man of the world, who had travelled far and seen much, he knew exactly how to handle the situation, and tactfully he told the young woman that while what there was of the costume was very nice, and would be quite the thing on "the Lido, it was just too scanty for ocean travelling. The hint was taken in the spirit in which it was given, and during the remainder of the voyage the bathing costume was neatly folded and placed away. That was two years ago. To-day, on the same liner, "similar costumes are worn by nearly everyone, without comment. Backless costumes are everyone's property. The bare-back style is now common on all beaches, and anything approaching the neck-to-knee two-piece costumes would be something to joke about, being worn only by old-fashioned members of the. fair sex in secluded bays. Bathers have definitely shown that they prefer the backless costume to the two-piece attire. All that the authorities who control the foreshores ask is reasonable behaviour and common decency. Providing this is forthcoming, there is not likely to be any objection to the present fashionable costumes. Another fashionable garment, for promenading the beaches, is the grey flannel trousers. This summer the girls are seen in their hundreds on all beaches walking about in what in the_ past has been looked upon as man's attire. Occasionally trousers of bright, gay colours are noticed, but the majority are grey flannels, and they are both smart and comfortable. Shorts, too, are very popular, but they are worn mostly on the sands, and for long walks the greys are preferred. There are some people, not many fortunately, who would have all bathing done in overcoats and sea boots, and they were aghast when the local authorities permitted bathing in the two-piece Canadian costume. But the world of fashions changes every year, and what is to-day is no more twelve months later. Health and comfort are now considered, together with decency, and the backless costumes?-or shorts, combine all three. Leading stores in the city have done a big trade in bathing costumes this Christmas, and nearly all the demand has been for the low-cut or backless, variety. It is an interesting speculation what fashion next year will hring forth.