DRESS REFORM

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1933, Page 7

DRESS REFORM

TARANAKI MEN’S MOVEMENT.

CANOE SHIRTS AT BUSINESS

WELLINGTON, January 20.

“I haven’t, a canoe 811111,” said the Mayor of Eltham, Mr I. J. Bridger yesterday, when asked if he was prepared to lead a men’s dresi* reform movement at Eltham a© suggested ’by a correspondent of the Taranaki Daily News.

“But I am heartily in accord with the su.gges.idn to discard during summer tome of the heavy clothing that nen usually wear,” Mr Bridger continued. “The difficulty in Taranaki is the changeability of the climate. Ye have usually, even if the summer, at Eltham, a keen, chilly atmosphere in the mornings and evenings, and even during some days it is not possible to adopt an entirely light mode of dress. , Although perhaps it is fairly hot in the day, it is necessary to wear warmer clothes for the colder periods a,nd to guard against the danger of chills. More opportunities for safely wearing light summer clothing probably exist in the Warmer seaside /temperatures of places like New Plymouth.

SUITABLE GARB PROBLEM. women, men find it difficult to obtain suitable garb of a neat and attractive ,appearance for summer wear. Men in business .and commerce have to he neatly and attractively dressed so a.s to present themselves favourable to their customers or clients, a neat appearance being one of the first laws of salesmanship. “Although dress reform is not a new thing, and has been periodically proposed for many years, it has not made a great deal of headway. It is apparently very difficult to .devise the right Itype of clothing necessary to fulfil the purpose of .satisfactory summer wear in cities. In the country it is, of course, much easier. Consequently, past efforts of dress reformers have not been entirely successful and any new style of giarb lias usually been the resort of a few..' • , “It' would he a Very, good thing; however,' if inen . adopted a lighter and more sensible style of clothing for the warm weather, arid I compliment those who are brave enough : to - attempt the innovation.” ■ .

MEN MAKE A START. ■ , , Following on the • suggestion made for dress reform, 26 Eltham business men -signed a ‘‘pledge” on Monday that they would.wear canoe shirts and other : light suitable summer clothing at'business and endeavour to persuade others to do'likewise. A number of business men were to be seen thus attired nest day, and at an Eltham Progress Committee luncheon seven were- wearing opendronted shirts. The chairman, Mr Bridget, took the opportunity to extend “a hearty welcome to our canoa shirt friends, aud to express appreciation of your courage jn breaking the custom and coming cult as yen have done. The proposal is long overdue. I suppose men are very conservative and hnd it hard to change from the old fashion of heavy clothing.”