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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 9 (December 1, 1936)

Our Women's Section

page 74

Our Women's Section

Timely Notes and Useful Hints.

Whether your vacation will be long or merely the Christmas-New Year break, whether you are staying at home, visiting friends, camping or “hotelling,” a little thought given now to your wardrobe will save worries later.

* * *

The home holiday is easiest to plan for. You know your surroundings, your friends and what occupations you are likely to pursue. You know whether a cocktail and dance frock is indicated, whether you will require a smart street outfit or whether shirtwaist and suntan frocks and a “picnic” coat are all you require. In addition, there is no worry as to practicability for travelling.

* * *

The traveller, however, unless she is revisiting a place, knows not what is in store. She has to plan for eventualities and at the same time to limit herself sternly to a suit-case and hat-box, or whatever amount of luggage she thinks desirable.

A New Zealand summer is an open-air affair. Therefore, the holiday-maker concentrates on her sports kit. The wise traveller will have her shirtwaist frocks (printed or plain), sun suits, shirt short and skirt outfits, in anti-crease linens. These can be popped in and out of bags, or carelessly lounged in, without acquiring that crumpled, slightly grubby appearance cottons used to have after a few hours' rough-and-tumble. The active girl who does not care for shorts will enjoy the freedom of the “trouser-skirt,” which, standing or walking, has the appearance of a trim skirt with deep pleats back and front.

For changing into, after a day with King Sol, a dainty frock in silk or cotton crepe (another uncrushable affair) will add to the freshness of early evening. If the unused energy of the day is to be expended in dancing, a gaily patterned georgette, or one in a soft plain shade with vivid belt accent, will be cool and charming.

Preparations.

As far as styles are concerned, simple day-time frocks vary the shirtwaist type. Pipings, stitchings, novel sleeve and shoulder cuts, varied necklines, pockets, tab and button trims, lend themselves to variety. Add to this the wide choice of plain and printed materials, and you will see that no sports frock need be a replica of another.

With linen frocks, have a beach hat of linen or straw for picnic occasions, and a plain but smart straw for “better” wear. A short or three-quarter linen coat, to tone with all your sports frocks, will allow you to add a touch of formality if necessary. Linen gloves, printed or plain, are a cool and smart accessory.

* * *

For long days in the open, a triangle scarf, carelessly knotted at the throat, lends interest to an outfit and also protects the neck from over-exposure.

For the semi-formal frock, materials and styles are manifold. Flattering modes are puffed, pouched or slashed sleeves, elbow or three-quarter length; draped bodices; high neck-lines; panels of pleating, unusual belts such as white pique matching the collar and cuffs on a dark crepe printed in a tiny white design, metal magnificence on a subdued dull-finished material or the swathed two-colour sash.

For wearing on into the evenings, leading dress houses sponsor the tailored frock of a gorgeous material such as lamé or cloque. The contrast between material and style is amazingly effective.

* * *

The summer dance frock is a lovely thing in its apparent simplicity. The skirt fullness may puff out, delightfully Victorian, or be smoothed away in flat pleats or unobtrusive flares. Organza, georgette, mousseline, tulle (lovely names!) will float, etherealized under the lights, one with the night as are the moths which waver in from the darkness of trees.

Packing Points.

If your case will hold a tennis racquet and an umbrella, good! Put them in first. Even strapping them on the outside is better than carrying them loose.

Don't forget coat-hangers, folding ones that slip in unobtrusively.

Have a zip on your sponge-bag. Don't bother about a large, expensive-looking one: tooth-brush, paste, face-cloth, soap, are all it will require to hold. Have a separate hold-all for other toilet accessories, and limit them as much as possible. I suggest cleansing cream and powder base in small jars or tubes, a tiny jar with extra powder-supply (boxes of powder can be messy things when travelling); talc; another compartment will hold a small box of hair clips, hair-nets, and slumber cap. With a set before you leave and by caring for the wave during the holiday (two bathing-caps in the sea, a net in a high wind, clips in a slumber cap, a cap at night) it should not be necessary to carry setting lotion. A manicure outfit and a small, strong hair-brush (probably rubber-cushioned) will find a place in the hold-all. Take what you can't do without in the way of sunburn lotions or bath salts.

Be strict about shoes. Wear your street pair, take play shoes or sandals, sand-shoes, evening shoes, bathing page 75 shoes. Always pack shoes first and remember that shoe-bags are tidier and more effective than paper.

Take a bathing-bag with you, and pack your swim suit in it. Make sure that last Sunday's sand is well shaken out before packing.

A big bathing towel is fun, but not for travelling. Take a modest-sized one, only one and rinse it out when necessary. You can boil it when you get it home again.

Don't leave the thought of luggage straps and labels till the last minute. Check up your travelling gear in good time and don't expect Aunt Mabel at the last minute to come down in a taxi with the bag you've simply got to borrow.

I assume that everyone will book, train, steamer and hotel reservations well in advance.

A Plea for Mothers.

Occasionally, especially at Christmas time, I am overcome with amazement at the emancipation of women. How did they do it? Politically they are free. More and more the law courts are recognising the rights of woman in marriage and imperceptibly increasing the liabilites of man. Economically, in theory at least, women have equal rights in the wage field, the right to compete for the same jobs and the same wages. How did they do it?

* * *

As I said, it is particularly at Christmas time that I wonder. All down our street, and probably down your street, every two houses out of three are full of the activities of women who do not care a fig for the great onward march of their sex, the vote, the political vagaries of the country, or the basic wage, except in so far as it may effect the summer holiday for the children or the summer weight suit for the wage-earner. The making of the Christmas puddings early, the stitching of little print frocks for Mary and new pants and shirts for Bill, baking for the holiday season, all added to the usual daily tasks of cleaning and food-preparing, occupy her time, her energy and her thoughts.

* * *

How did they do it? As so often in history, a minority movement rose and fell and rose again, and with the added impetus given to it by the need for women workers in a European war, swept back, appreciably the barriers of custom. After the necessary adjustment of post-war years most women settled down, with a little extra elbow-room, to their activities, the admirable activities of home-making and child-rearing. So well they do it, too, as may be judged by the cheerful husbands, and clean, sturdy children.

* * *

Women are wonderful. They submerge themselves, the careers they might have had, the books they might have written, the causes they might have led, in a round of little tasks and long planning. They live in others, in what their husbands care to share of their lives, and more, in the wonderful futures of their children. And who shall say they are wrong? Even the most ardent feminist, the most advanced writer on human relationships, haloes the word “mother” at least in his or her own case.

At Christmas time, when the “mother” spirit works overtime, I would put in a plea, that every one, especially husbands and children who are, or are almost, grown-up, should endeavour to obtain for the mother that which she will not grasp for herself, that little leisure which is essential to the individual self which must not be allowed to be swamped by the “mother” self.

Health Notes.

And now comes Christmas! We hope you all are going to have a very jolly one, and that you will make the most of every moment in a judicious manner.

In our various “Articles on Health” throughout the year, we have based our advice on so many “Don'ts and Do's,” but from time to time have qualified them by saying that “an occasional burst, judiciously planned, never does harm.”

These “bursts” so often form very happy links in our chain of memories, but if not planned judiciously, are apt to form anything but happy links, so let us all make for the road to happiness.

Don't imagine we are “wowsers.” Far from it. We love the good things of life just as you do, and in season we go for them, but we do hate to waken next morning with a mouth like a stale vegetable shop and a head like the old “Frying Pan Flat.” This merely wrecks the whole of next day and most likely next night also.

Choose your night carefully—one preceding a holiday is best, otherwise there is risk of your work suffering through that dreamy state of mind so common after a good night out.

In this country, the Christmas Festival falls in mid-summer, and as no Christmas is complete without the proverbial dinner of turkey, puddings, etc., we all labour through the menu as a matter of custom.

In ordinary routine, we, or most of us, eat too much, but at the festival season the excess is enormous. Furthermore, in the hot weather one requires less heating food than one requires in the winter, so for your own peace of mind and comfort of body, carefully regulate your intake.

You may dine at midday or at night. If the former, don't rush out immediately after to your games or to bathe, and if the latter, see that you get some exercise before going to bed. Be sure to brush your teeth well before retiring, and should you have committed any indiscretion in diet or drink, an aperient that night might help you to feel more pleased with yourself next morning.