BEACH AND SPORTS WEAR MUST BE SMART

Southland Times, Issue 23634, 8 October 1938, Page 16

BEACH AND SPORTS WEAR MUST BE SMART

Never before has so much attention been paid to beach and sports wear as will be this summer. Gone are the days when a reasonably pretty swim suit and a neat print frock were considered all that was necessary for a day at the beach. Fashion now demands smartness for all outdoor wear, be it on the beach, the tennis court, cruising or merely at a picnic, and designers and stylists are concentrating on garments for these occasions almost as much as they do on evening and street attire. Trousers for women, although once frowned upon, are now accepted, and their comfort and usefulness cannot be denied. With the modern demand for comfort and freedom of action shorts came into being, first for men and then for women. They, too, have become accepted, and no longer are bronzed legs showing under a pair of brief shorts cause for comment or sideway glances. Although shorts have come to be recognized as a standard uniform on the tennis court, some women’s golf clubs do not approve of even long trousers, and a New Zealand yroman golfer caused np little comment when she walked to the first tee in slacks on an Australian course. The secret of the success of trousers or shorts of any description for women is good tailoring and expert cutting. A woman’s figure differs from a man’s in that her hips and thighs are bigger in proportion to the rest of her body, and if trousers are not made well she will look eyen bigger than she really is.

For the woman who does not look her best in a swim suit there are all kinds of beach coats which she candiscard at the water’s edge and put on again as soon as she leaves the water. These coats can be made of floral, plain or striped material to match or to contrast with the swim suit.

Children, too, are catered for, and there is a never-ending variety of play and swim suits for them. Above all they should be comfortable, but at the same time should afford plenty of protection against the sun for tender skins. Such accessories as shoes and sandals, sun hats, bonnets or scarves have had their turn of attention. At one time it was considered enough to roll up the swim suit and towel and carry it home in the bathing cap, but today that is not enough, and the second illustration at the top on the left shows an example of a bathing bag. It is of waterproofed material,, and has separate compartments for cosmetics. Carried out in red oil-cloth it is decorated with town names. The other illustrations are an indication of what will be popular this summer.

The trousers at the top left are worn with a mannish coat, and the beach coat at the bottom left is suitably embroidered with seagulls. At the top right is a smart swim suit, and next to it is a special sun-tanning device. It is a highly polished metal shield, which magnifies the heat of the sun, and was seen on a beach in England this summer. At the bottom right is a practical play suit and bonnet for a child.