Attractive Play Clothes Made for Picnics Hang in Wardrobes

Evening Star, Issue 25993, 7 January 1947, Page 7

Attractive Play Clothes Made for Picnics Hang in Wardrobes

TOPICS FOR WOMEN

“It’s all too disappointing. .I’m never going to buy summer clothes again for Dunddin, and I’m never going to make another play suit for myaelf or the children,” said one attractive' '■ young-married” to another as they sadly shepherded their young families back from the beach the other, afternoon. Not since 1939 have the shops offered such a wonderful array of summer clothes or such a selection of cottons,' prints, and linens to tempt the home dressmaker. If only the summer weather had matched the clothes it would have been a memorable affair. When the first spring goods appeared :in the shops at the end of a particularly mild' winter there was almost a stampede of customers anxious to buy, and saleswomen could hardly cope with the rush. Whole rolls of beautiful British and American fabrics disappeared in the twinkling of an eye, eager customers snatching up the bolts of material from display tables and : dashing to the counters with them. Followed a period of feverish : dressmaking, when enthusiasm was only slightly dampened by persistent rainy days. Although there is not the same wide range Of paper patterns as in pre- i

, Mrs W. J. Bardsley left to-day for (Wellington. . ■ Miss Edith Clare, whose contralto voice has been heard recently from the Dunedin Town Hall and from Station 4YA, flew to'Australia by Tasman Empire Airways on Saturday. She is. joining those working for ,moral rearmament in Melbourne. Mrs Eric Nicoi, of Los Angeles, California, who has been the guest of her. sister, (Mrs Hugh Speight, left to-day to meet her husband, who,is arriving in Christchurch to be present at the golden ..wedding anniversary of liis parents, Mr and Mrs Arthur Nicoi. *• Visitors to Dunedin for the JohnsonRussell wedding on Thursday include Mi - and Mrs H. C. Johnson, Mr A. A. Johnson, and Mr, lan Johnson (Strat-'

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

ford), Mr Bruce Joliuson (Whakatane), Mrs E; B. Nees, Mrs A. Macpherson, and Mrs H. E. Fyfe_ (Wellington), Mr and Mrs G. S. (Robinson (Palmerston North), Miss L. Cleave (Methven), and Missesß. andE. McCoy (Christchurch). - During the Christmas season the members of the St. Clair Croquet Club spent a very enjoyable "time, starting .the Saturday, before .Christmas with a delightful -party,vfor which' a large Christmas cake was made by the president, Mrs M. Black. During the holidays a two-day'singles tournament was held, the winners being Miss H. Sparrow, Mrs F. Parsons, and the runnersup, Mesdames G. Metcalf and L. Seehof. On a recent Saturday 20 of the members went to Lake Waihola, and Spent a day at the country residence otf the secretary, Mrs O. Baker.

war days, there were plenty of attractive styles available. Pictures of slender, models robed in brief shorts and brassiere tops, or play suits of many types, tempted home dressmakers, and many holiday wardrobes contained the most alluring play clothes. Although. broken weather persisted before Christmas, no one really thought it would continue over the holidays, and Women who were not good at making clothes fell for the ready-made beach frocks and suits displayed in all the shop windows. Bathing suits, too, practically unobtainable during the war years, came hack in new and dashing styles which formed a ready sale. And so the week before Christmas' found most women with a tempting stock of summer frocks ready to parade the benches and holiday resorts. But high hopes were doomed to disappointment, except in certain parts of Central Otago. Dull, grey skies, intermittent rain, high winds, occasional thunder or hail are conditions that call for warm clothing, and cardigans and raincoats had to be pulled out of the bottom of the luggage, where they had been packed “ just in case,” while all the lovely new tilings lay neatly folded away, waiting for the summer that was so tardy of appearance.