The Indianapolis times., 1930-12-26
Waterproof
Garment Is
Essential
BY JEAN PATOU
Written for NEA Service

PARIS, Dec. 26.-The practical
qualities that are demanded Of a
winter sports costume do not mean
that all fantasy should be excluded.
The two first principles are absolute
freedom of movement and water
proof qualities.
In the old days, the decorative
element inherent to a sports, en-
semble Of this category often bor-
dered on incoherence. 1t was then
the mistaken idea that violent col
iors should be used, not even alone.
but two or three at time and
.howling greens, reds and purples
sfoften figured in one costume.
a Women, with their uneTing fair
for harmony, soon realized how mis-
. taken was the idea, with the result
that every succeeding season has
showed a progressive equilibrium in
the composition of these ensembles.
a Several Garments Needed
There is one point, however,
which even today few women have
realized and that is that the per-
fectly constituted winter sports en-
semble should comprise several
lightweight garments TO cope with
the varying elements they are likely
TO meet at high attitudes.
A heavy crepe or flannel blouse
affords ample protection at mid
Gay in European resorts, if bright
sun is shining. Other exercises, on
the other hand, demand a garment
that can be closed tightly to keep
out wind, rain, or snow. These
emergencies are taken care of by
the top coat or jacket.
A skiing costume should, in prin-
sCiple, be Somber in coloring. Suffi-
Cient gayety can be introduced in
the cap, gloves, sweater, blouse and
socks. The only plea make in
regard to the decorative elements of
these, accessories is that it never
should be forgotten that discretion
and good taste are synonymous.
Only Two Fabrics
5 Contrary to my custom, 1 showed
this season a costume made of
tightly woven fabric such as used
for mems riding breecheS in an un-
usual shade of pale yellow. Strange
~ enough, this fantasy seemed to
appeal to even the most conserva-
tive women who take winter sports
seriously.
There is not wide choice of fab
rics for this particular section of
women's clothes-whipcord and this
ribbed material are practically the
only two that give the best results.
My sports ensembles usually COM
prise Norwegian trousers, belted in
at the waist and ankles, sufficiently
wide at the top and gently tapering
to the ankleband.
Then comes a comfortably-fitt
hip-length jacket, worn over
handknitted cardigan, which in
turn is placed over a blouse of heavy
crepe or lightweight flannel, fitting
>sRugly around the neck and wrists.
Sweater Passing Out
The heavy sweater, either the tur-
tle-neck Or the rundown collar va
. riety is, I think, destined to disap-
pear from the really smart sports
outfit. They presented the great
inconvenience of adding considera-
bly, to the wearer's girth, of being
. decidedly toe warm after few min
utes of strenuous exercise and, last
. ly, they are awkward to take off.
The blouse is incomparably more
flattering to the feminine figure and
can afford just as much warmth and
comfort as the sweater.
The Norwegian cap, complete with
ear muffs, is, I think, the most at
tractive of coiffures for the snow.
Berets are good, too, but the cap
can be much more feminine and al
Turing, besides affording more pro-
lection from the suns glare.