NOTES FOR WOMEN UNCERTAIN EASTER WEATHER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27358, 6 April 1950, Page 2

NOTES FOR WOMEN

UNCERTAIN EASTER WEATHER

Loosely Woven Woollens Idea! For Cooler Days

All those who are fortunate enough to be going away this Easter are speculating on the weather. It may be fine-and warm; it may be cold and wet, for April, in both northern and southern hemispheres, is notoriously fickle in her favours. The Easter holiday is probably the most difficult for which to pack; one thing is certain, however, that at this time of year it is well to err on the side of warmth. Light woollens—skirts, jerseys, and a travelling coat—should provide the requisite number of layers to cope with sudden changes of climate.

Although human beings are provided with their own central heating apparatus, having a regulating mechanism which keeps the body temperature more or less constant, this apparatus cannot cope entirely with the elements. Sudden changes of temperature tend to catch us out, resulting in chills and a lowered resistance to any infection in our vicinity. With the correct type of clothing, the bodily effects of these temperature changes can be mitigated, leaving us free to enjoy the mental clarity and activity which are said to be the most widespread in the cool temperate regions. We must clothe ourselves so that we have our own personal comfort zone, the temperature in which lightlyclothed people can live comfortably and work or play efficiently. In choosing materials to preserve warmth, the looseness of the weave must be taken into account. Air next to the skin, between the clothing layers and in the fabrics themselves, receives heat and moisture from the body, and as air retains heat a continuous warmth is provided. A garment of loosely-woven material containing innumerable air-filled pockets is more satisfactory than a tightly-woven fabric of similar weight. Up to a certain weight more clothing layers give greater protection against cold because of the increased circulation of air in close contact with the body; over a certain weight, clothing ceases to maintain the body’s heat because physical activity becomes arduous. •Wool is the ideal winter material, and it retains heat in its air spaces and its fibres contain grease which prevents water from being absorbed.

Linen and cotton take up moisture and pass it off to the outside air. carrying body heat with it. These are cool summer materials. Dark colours are the warmest and white the coolest. Red and black absorb infra red sun rays. When choosing clothes remember these additional factors: Children need loose garments so as not to restrict their activities. These should be made of porous materials which absorb additional sweat resulting from a child being ever on the go. A child's heat centre, more easily adjustable, permits him to feel happier in a colder environment than would suit an adult. It is a mistake to over-clothe a child so that he is not able to run about freely; an extra loose jersey to slip on is much better than another layer of tightly-woven underwear. Extra warmth for the beds is better obtained by the use of fluffed up or cellular blankets, which, because of the air trapped between them, keep the sleeper much warmer than many more thin blankets where there is little air between the covering layers. Weight and warmth are not the same thing, either in bed covers or in personal clothing. Through their additional fat layers, Nature provides women with a wider comfort zone than the menfolk. Women have better automatic powers of adjustment to outside weather conditions; in addition, they have developed a greater range of fabrics and styles to make themselves comfortable in heat waves or blizzards. Women catching Easter chills will, on the whole, have to blame their vanity or lack of forethought, for there is usually sufficient variety in every woman’s wardrobe to make the risk of chills unnecessary.