Scientists’ Warning To Mini-Skirt Wearers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31737, 22 July 1968, Page 2

Scientists’ Warning To Mini-Skirt Wearers

Mini-skirts are making girls’ legs grow fatter, according to scientific studies in France and the United States. Perhaps that is why a photographer and reporter from “Ths Press” found a very slender pair of legs hard to find in Christchurch. French adeatlate say miniskirted girls develop 5 per cent mote fat and ? per eent more flesh on the newly exposed parts of their legs- A similar warning has also Come from the United States. In France, measurements were taken of girls’ legs before they stsrtsd wearing mini-skirts and then again after a period of time. Young women’s legs responded quickly to exposure in cold temperatures and the bodily response was a quick build up of successive layers of fatty molecules under the skin in thighs and knees, the American report states. Thia fat build-up was almost Impossible to remove without extradordinary exercises that most women found difficult to maintain. Reafiauring Dr Elizabeth Purves, winner of this year’s Ardagh prize for the moot outstanding medieal student in Christchurch, news the report In a light reassuring for the miniskirt brigade. “It is reasonable that fatty tissues would build up in those portions of the leg not previously exposed. But it would only be a small increase in the volume of the leg and not particularly noticeable,” she said. Dr Purves wean her skirts about an Inch above her knees but Bays the warm environment of the hospital means that there is no danger of protective fatty layers building up. New Zealand’s relatively moderate climate may protect girls from the consequences suffered by those living in ley northern elimes. Some girls questioned thought they had put on a few extn Inches around the thighs m the last, , very cold months, but had not attributed It to wearing a mini-skirt | The suggestion that auch dire warnings from oversew could start a rush for the maxi-skirt was scornfully dismissed. Nor eould slimming salons expect a sudden upsurge In demand for their services, although there were some half-hearted murmurings about “doing some exercises.” With or without such reports it seems that extn “layers of fatty molecules” On legs havt always been a

problem for Christchurch women. When consulted recently Mr C. Strleke, manager of the American Health Studio in Christchurch, said there had always been a high premium on slimming legs at the Studios. However, there had been no increase In the number of legs coming In to be summed since the advent of the miniskirt. Lege were still the third most urgent Hem for spot reduction, being preceded by hips and waists, he said. « Fanners are seeing the reports from a different angle. In France and the United States cattle and sheep breeders have been prompted to apply the experiments to animals in Hie nope of priming them more quickly for slaughter. Farmers’ Hopes After the French theory wu published in the National and Local Government Officers’ Association journal in England, beef and mutton S reducers considered shaving ie tender areas of their animate,, the rump and loin, to make them fatten more quidsly. The march of the mini-skirt generally somewhat modified In Christchureb—goes on regardless Sox appeal is prob-

ably more infiuenttal than science, and while designers continue to be hesitant about longer skirts It will no doubt take some revcHutlonary Move by the trend-setters to cover knees again. Tights and textured stockings are out In force this winter, but that eould be as much a concession to fashion as the cold. Few over-the-knee boots are to be seen and the legion of long-booted girls striding through the streets still leave their knees and thighs to the mercy of chill winds. Of Course 'there are some who *elcome the reports, but girls with slim legs seem to be in a definite minority. Puffy knees appear to be on the increase. A philosophical theory adhered to by many of the mini-skirted Is that New Zealand girls are more amply built than those overseas and therefore do not need to put on fat to keep out the cold. Others casting doubt on the report ask why our faces, always exposed to the eold, do not swell up during the winter. Meanwhile, the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers has issued a plea to local clothing manufacturers for longer skirt lengths, and observers of such things have been heard to express the view that older women have better legs than their juniors. None of which is likely to make much difference in the current trend: