THE REFORMATION OF MAN

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1928, Page 4

THE REFORMATION OF MAN

(From Auckland Star.)

The average woman is so enjoying her emancipation in being able to wear comfortable, easy-fitting clothes, and not too many of them, that she is anxious for her men to follow Her example. “It is high time the men took stock of the garments they arc wearing,” she says, “ and consider if, for health reasons only, they could make a change in their mode of dress.’ 1 Men are certainly too-heavily clothed. Tho modern woman strives to wear as few garments as possible—not in order to make an exhibition of herself, as many unkind folk suggest—hut in order to be comfortable, healthy and

energetic. The younger generation of maidens, in spite of adverse criticism in the Press, from the.pulpit and in private, stuck to their new mode of attire, and in so doing led the way to improved health, greater energy, and a saner outlook on life. Boon tho older women began to follow tho girls’ example, very timidly at first, however, but when the benefits of lighter and fewer garments, short frocks, easy fitting, and bobbed hail- became known and appreciated women in every, part of the world adopted the modern fashions of dross. \Yc already see the results of this great change in our older women. In their fifties they are as eager as the girl for a dance, a game of tennis or golf, a long tramp or picnic, and last but not least, they are able to do their household duties with greater dispatch and efficiency, and have no difficulty in finding time for either sport or any other interest outside tho daily routine.

There is little doubt that if women continue to progress ns they have done in the past few years the men will shortly find themselves dominated by the so-called weaker sex. Why men do not wake up and follow suit in the manner of their dressing it is difficult to understand. If only the youths would make a start as the girls did and insist on a simpler mode of dressing, with softer collars, fewer pockets, no padding in coats, lighter underclothing and less of it, shorter trousers with long stockings, and banish that ridiculous garment, the waistcoat, altogether, there would lie such nil improvement in the health and energy of our men folk that they would very soon overtake the progress made by tbe women, and it is not too much to say that the result of lighter and more suitable c-lothing would he healthier and happier conditions for everyone. There is no need to be untidy or unsightly in the altered mode of dress. The modern man could dress quite as attractively as the modern girl. To wear less clothing does not necessarily mean That a man must be careless about his apparel and just wear any old thing so long as it is cool and comfortable. AA'e want to see our men folk well dressed, smart and looking tbe picture of health and well being. Surely no man could object to shorts with long stockings, a silk shirt; with turn-down collar, a tie and a loose, well-fitting coat or jacket. Evening attire might be modelled- on the same lines with a difference in tho cut, but why continue to choke with stiff collars and wear starched-frontcd shirts when silk or some other soft material would look equally well and he much more comfortable? Apart, from any other consideration it would he more economical to dress in the manner suggested. Aran’s re-dressing will mean his reformation.