MEN DO NOT LIKE FUSSY FEMININE DRESS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 188, 26 August 1937, Page 11

MEN DO NOT LIKE FUSSY FEMININE DRESS

As a rule men are chivalrous about women' s dress, but tbcir patience is being sorely tried. Aud when three wbite-tied, - tail-coated figures were seen picking tbemselves up off the floor at a restaurant the other niglit it was felt that something should be saia about it, even if nothing could bs done, states an overseas wiiter. Bclieve it or not, those three men to;l ocwn because ihey tripped c-> etheir partner's trains ! Tavo gallantly apologised for what they untruthl'ully termed their own clumsiness. The tl.ird bappened to be daueiugj with his wifc, so lie bluntly told hcr tliat unJess sLe bougln a sensible evening diess. > nc tbat would not get en;ngImI v, rh his feet, Le would not laueo i.'itb inv again. A man it appears, will forgive his wife anytliing but making, a, fool of him in public. Fair play to tbe men; women have undoubtedly been getting exasperatinglv fussy in their dress styles for dancing Trains are men's chief,- bugbear. Tf ihey are short they get entangled iu th-:r feet and can brmg a man dowh •is smartiy as any Rughy tackle. Long traiiis are not so dangerous, because ot neccssity a woman must hold tbem up. But. pity the poor man on a crowJed danco floor who is trying to ,£steer" a partner wliose left arm is .outstretched at an awkward angle clutchiug tho tip of her train. And how many women who do this reveal unkuowingly an often unshapely leg. The present iashion oi wearing flowers on the front of the hair also has its terrors. Two or three camehias bunGhed in a knot above the forehead may look charming, but hear what a man has to say about them when lie tries to dance vith thein right under his nose ! 'Even more difficult for him to negotiate are those lovely long sprays of orchids which many women wear across their corsage. How often a stout male heart sinks at ttie sight of these, for it means holding his partner at arm's length for fear of crushing the p.eciou3 blooms. Debutantes, partJicularly, like wearing those sweet, voluminous dresses of chiffon or finc nelj but I wcnder if they fealise that only a Fred Astaire couid bq expected to know the art cf quick stepping with anybody in such a dress. Starched frills and flounces at the slioulders are another nuisance, and many a man thouglit.essly or deliberately cruslies thc stiffening out of them at the first dance. Yes, I can hear your question; Vvhat can we wear that won't upset the poor dears ? A dress with simple lines reaciiing just below the ankles and without too many frills. Wear flowers 011 tlie corsage by all means, but remove them befoi-e dancing. As to hair adornment, flowers at the back or on the left side will be no annoyanco to your partner. After „all, the men are right, for any dress designer will tell you that simplicity is the key/iote ol: sinartness;