While The Kettle Boils

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 69, 18 October 1940, Page 36

While The Kettle Boils

Dear Friends, We have said it before, but each Spring it is said again-"In the Springtime a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." As for the ladies, well, in the Springtime their thoughts turn instinctively to thoughts of clothes! For several months we have gone round coddled up to the ears in coat and scarf, in an endeavour to keep out the winter blast. But now we can throw these aside and emerge, chrysalis-like, from our winter cocoon. We can show the world that beneath that enveloping cover we really possess a figure-and a pair of legs! Husbands are looking anxious as their wives fall into ecstasies over a new Spring hat they have seen in town. Bits of nonsense they are; scraps of straw and net and flowers-and the cost is out of all proportion. Still his lordship parts up fatalistically. He knows from hard experience what Spring means, apart from cherry trees in blossom and warmth in the air. The problem of a spring wardrobe is an exquisite one, filled with doubts and delightful indecisions. To a woman, the choice of a Spring frock or hat is as important as a man’s plunge on the Stock Exchange. Personally, I don’t think anyone can go far wrong in following the colours of

the outdoors if they want to achieve a typically Spring-like appearance. The cool green shade of leaves and grass, the sun-warmed yellow of daffodils, the heavenly blue of the sky, or the red of the poppy. At home or at sport you can best capture this mood. If you are a gardener, a peppermint striped frock; yes, and a sun bonnet, will put you right in the picture. Or if you would be more workmanlike, a pair of blue " Jackie Coogan" overalls worn with a yellow linen blouse are both practical and attractive. For indoors, lounge pyjamas have to be worn to be appreciated-or those dainty house-frocks, printed in a design of spring flowers, that you just step into and zip from hem to neck. They always look fresh and laundered. For a go-to-town ensemble, picture a simple white suit in piqué or linen, with a handkerchief linen blouse, white gloves, a brown purse and brown vagabond hat, finished off with brown suede shoes and suntan stockings. A vision in white and brown. For the sporting lassies there are those new Canadian suits in linen or soft flannel, that are slacks and blouse all in one. For tennis the shortie sweater can now be discarded, and arms and legs, against spotless white silk or linen play suits, can be bared to the sun’s tan, If you are one of those venturesome people who have already braved open beach and stream, you can look like a mermaid in a rubber or rayon bathing suit, a vast, comfy bath robe, cartwheel sun hat and slip-on sandals. If you happen to be a golfer you cannot look beyond a smart tweed skirt and matching blouse, with a little snug hat pulled down over the eyes, Then we have Spring evenings to cope with. Don’t bother to look over-glamorous for an informal function. Your evening will be spoilt trying to live up to the part. A simple figured organza, a printed linen or a piqué frock, with short puffed sleeves and a narrow belt, will succeed in making you look charming-and your evening a success. At bedtime you can follow the mood through by slipping on a perfectly plain suit of white pyjamas, or one of those simple lawn nighties that make you look like a demure schoolgirl. There is a moral to be found in all this chatter about clothes. It is this, Always, under whatever circumstance, strive to look your best. Spring is here-and spring is fleeting, so let’s make the best of it. Yours cordially,

Cynthia