WHILE THE KETTLE BOILS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 23, 1 December 1939, Page 43

WHILE THE KETTLE BOILS

Dear Friends, Am still feeling a holiday " hang-over" from last week’s chat. As vacation time draws nearer we are all filled with a pleasurable anticipation of that two or three weeks’ period of blissful loafing. Be it in the bush or by the sea-it is still a "blissful loaf"; our everyday cares and worries thrust comfortably in the background. I want to tell you of a nifty travelling case I saw the other day. Not all of us can afford the luxury of a separate travelling case-unless you are like this lass I know, who fashioned her own. Pick out a small suit case of dark green or blue leather, and measure a piece of strong cardboard the length and breadth of one side. Cover the cardboard with a piece of bright cretonne, then sew on little separate cretonne pockets of varying sizes. When completed, glue the whole firmly upon the inside length of the case, and there you have a dainty little travelling case at your command: neat’ pocket for brush and mirror-toothbrush, cosmetics, etc., without the risk of these toilet requisites becoming messed up among your clothes. Now for bathing suits. Last week I spent a full afternoon browsing among the newest and most fascinating of the season’s models, It is important for you to keep a mental image of your own figure when you go on a similar hunt. Don’t be lured by a suit just because it looks a dream on some sylphlike wax model, Of course, if you are lucky enough to be a slim nymph yourself, you can shut your eyes and pick blindly, but if your curves are on the generous side-beware! Those attractive ripple weave suits are a snare and a delusion for the buxom lass. Let her stick to those slick satin lastex suits, or a plain finely knitted weave. Colours are as gorgeous and as varying as a rainbow. Blues, primrose, greens and reds, gaily patterned with flowers-to vie with the silver of sand and the sea’s dazzling blue, After an hour of pleasant indecision, I compromised by choosing a plain white suit touched with red. I have a weakness for white. I always think an all-white suit makes the best of one’s good points and minimises the bad. Incidentally, have you noticed that nearly all the American bathing belles favour white? So there must be something in the idea, The season’s styles are as varied as their colours. The new treatment of backs offers the most interesting study; ranging from the cross-over strap to the halter neck. The separate brassiére-top and trunks will have a wide vogue, offering as someone said"The least resistance to the waves!" The trim single-piece suits will always have a popular following. They are shown, slashed at the sides, and with other new and interesting innovations. Of bathing caps there are a beauteous legion-from my favourite white to silver and dull gold rubber creations. It is so delightfully simple to set out to buy a bathing suit, but once you start a score of other things follow. A pair of gaily decked sandals. A colourful beach wrap. A matching beach bag. Sun goggles. A becoming cartwheel beach hat. And if you really want to do the job properly-one of those portable sun mattresses with cushions and headshade attached. Bathing enthusiasts. among my readers need not be reminded of soothing lotions to apply to the skin before bathing and other such expedients, but they may be interested in this-blondes burn more quickly than brunettes, so be guided accordingly. Good sport! Yours cordially,

Cynthia