IN MALE ATTIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 16

IN MALE ATTIRE.

WOMEN'S SPORTING FANCIES.

GOLF JACKETS AND CARDIGANS

PYJAMAS AND STOCKINGS. The moti's department of a clothing store is no longer the men's department. Miss Auckland, to say nothing of Mrs. Auckland and their sisters in a hundred other towns, are now numbered among the best buyers on the men's side. Of course, thev always have been purchasers on behalf of their men folk, but now much of their purchasing is for them solves. For this there are several reasons. One is that women's stylo of dressing has so changed that they are no longer bound by the conventions which were dreadfully dictatorial in the heyday of our Aunt Agatha. With the rliange in tho dress conventions, strange to say, there has been a remarkable change in the average female figure, in consequence of which certain garments intended for the male figure arc suitable for the female. The third reason is that in certain directions the fashions for man encourage him in the wearing of fine fabrics and gay colours. Miss Auckland, therefore, swoops down upon these wares and "[ticks the eyes" out of tho stocks with the result that the mac with blue eyes and fair hair is in difficulty about his colour scheme. Cardigan and Golf Jacket. Tho evolution of tho jersey and the Canadian lumber jacket have given women tho chance of securing male garments which please them. The jersey became tho cardigan and to-day men's cardigans are being worn by women at homo and abroad. The old-fashioned lumber jacket used to be a thing of heavy tweed in designs that reminded one of the inside of a horse cover. They appeared quite a lot in the films, usually on the backs of a "hard-boiled broncho buster" of the type who will not necessarily be a great success in tho "talkies." This garment began to lose its raw "accent," so to speak. It became more gentle in fabric and tone. It provided colour schemes to harmonise with anything from red hair to lizard skin shoes. Men bought it mainly for golf and tramping and climbing. Promptly their wives and daughters, who golf and tramp and climb, or pretend to belong to the great-out-of floors, cast envious eyes upon it, and if the present movement goes on grandma herself will not consider her wardrobe complete without a "kit" containing ( a modified lumber jacket or an exaggerated cardigan. Obtaining the Slim Figure.

Now this could not have been done in the days of "wasp waists." Convention would not have permitted it, and it is very questionable if the average figure would have allowed it. One sought information on this point from a salesman, who seemed to know ajl about it. "Apart from dieting," he said, "1 am under the impression that a great deal of secret exercising goes on among women, not for the love of it by any means, but solely for the puiposo of securing tho willowv figure that is tho fashion. But lots of them do not adopt the Sandow method or even make it very strenuous. They apply what might be called 'local method.' They buy a rubber roller, though I have heard that an old-fashioned rolling-pin from the kitchen is often used, and roll out the fatty tissues just as their mothers used to roll out the pastry. lam assured that by this means hips are kept under control". About the rolling-pin—l understand that the best sort is that in which the roller revolves on the handles. 1 see bv the advertisements in women's journals, however, that rubber rollers for this fat-reducing massngo are availablo in sets." Men's Garments Fit. Whatever may bo in all this, the fact remains that the average modern pirl is as slim as a wisp and so often is her mother and her grandmother, and being so they have less difficulty in wearing a male pull-over or cardigan or golf blouso than the man of rotund figure whose periphery causes a stretching of the garment, or tho man who is unusually broad in the beam amidships. And not only do they .have a wide choice of colours in the men's garment, but it is affirmed that they buy more cheaply. The same kind of garment specially made for women is alleged to be a little dearer. Thus Eve saves a few shillings as well as getting a wider choice and the satisfaction of knowing that the men are not getting away with something rather nice.

Formerly women used to buy tics for their sweethearts, their husbands or their fathers, the price diminishing in that order. Now they buy men's ties and plenty of them for themselves. Women in Men's Pyjamas.

Pyjamas, too, are now worn by many women and many are not bought in tho women's side of the shop. It appears that for men are now provided by thoughtful manufacturers pyjamas in dainty materials and delicate colours, and somo of them are cut with roll collars, and it pleases Miss Auckland, or some of her, to obtain her needs at the men's counter.

Men's golf hose, which are just footballers' stockings of a more decorative style, are now frequently filled by femnlo legs. Most of the gills who wear tramping breeches use these stockings. Somo try their brother's puttees, but usually give them up and find the stockings moro comfortable and much less trouble. Not long ago a ladv in Auckland was scon wearing a peaked felt hat, which had every appearance of having been made for a man, but probabilv millinery will hold its place in female affairs. But if brothers may not borrow their sisters' bats they may do worse than take French leave of their sister's ties and pull-over.