SUNNY WINTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1932, Page 8

SUNNY WINTERS

LONDON’S NEW CRAZE,

LONDON, March 3. Winter is no longer sunless for Mayfair. It has carried sand from the* beaches, water from the ocean, and has sought to capture the glory of Australia’s sun —from the powerhouse!

Young Mayfair, middle-aged Mayfair, and “oldish” Mayfair (though it objects to the name) has developed the sun-party craze. It has thrown out the drawing room and filled it with the glare of sunray lamps. Heavy furniture has been scrapped for tiny cubicles and the cellar has become the, beach. The craze started on a bleak, foggy day, when a young society man substituted for the orthodox wedding breakfast a cote d’azur party in his country home. Inviting his guests, the modern youth sent a beach scene card, and added a footnote: “Wear what you like, but bring your bathing costumes.” Scores of young women added their beach pyjamas, and wondered what the new craze was likely to be. As soon as they arrived they were hurried to bedrooms and told to change for the. beach. Then down they jumped, giggling with joy, to the cellar, and found—not the wine shelves, but a beach of golden sand, with blue, warmed water lapping the edges. Next thrill came from the “sunbathing room,” once a sedate drawingroom. Here powerful sun-lamps were concealed, but the rays were there, and soft, creamy-skinned maidens were warned that three minutes were sufficient for the first dose of sunlight. Some stayed longer and paid afterwards —they were almost roasted. The innovation has “caught-on,” and. Mayfair is crazy about getting sunburnt* in the drawing room or cellar.