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Cool Clothes for Those Lazy, Hazy Days
| Article
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15999 |
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Section : |
LIFE
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| Issue
Date : |
7 / 1989 |
1,401 Words |
| Author
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Wendi Winters
Wendi Winters is the fashion writer for Manhattan's West Side
Spirit as well as a special correspondent for the Antelope
Valley Press. She has written several fashion articles for THE
WORLD & I. |
Have you ever wondered what Daisy was wearing nearly one hundred years ago on her bicycle built for two? You can almost see her now, pedaling decorously behind her penny-pinching beau on a hazy summer day. She's wearing a long, dark, ground-sweeping skirt over a myriad of lacy petticoats, a pair of bloomers, thick black cotton hose and kidskin lace-up boots, a corset, a leg-o'mutton sleeved blouse with a high, elaborate collar, a short, fitted jacket with a capelet, tight gloves and, perched atop an elaborate hairdo, an oversize straw hat loaded with artificial silk flowers or fruit. Since she wants to avoid getting any sun on her face, Daisy juggles between holding her parasol and gripping her handlebars and handbag. He, of course, is decked out is a suit complete with vest, pocket watch with chain, and a flat-brimmed boater.
No wonder Daisy always carried a bottle of smelling salts in her bag. Her corset tightly compressed her midriff, making it difficult to breathe. Her layers of heavy clothing were outrageously impractical in warm summer weather. Whenever it was hot and humid, poor Daisy was always dizzy.
Then, the clothes worn for playing--bicycling, motoring, picnicking, boating--were variations of the same clothes worn to church, the market, or the office. The concept of a separate wardrobe for sports activities had not been born.
Fast-forward a hundred years. Daisy wears a vastly different outfit as she mounts her ten-speed racer. Her clothes are virtually the same as her beau's. Created of fabrics originated in a test tube, they have a second-skin fit and are aerodynamically designed to reduce wind drag, yet weigh only a few ounces. In addition to these benefits, the synthetic fibers used in a cyclist's togs assist in keeping the wearer cool and dry. Daisy is also wearing a lightweight impact-resistant helmet, fingerless gloves that give her a good grip on her handlebars, acrylic socks, and foot-gear created just for speed cycling. Her nongreasy cosmetics feature a built-in sun block that gives her the look of a natural tan.
Cycling is not the only activity for which specialized clothing has been developed; now, nearly every organized sport has a unique "uniform" of its own that maximizes performance while promoting comfort and style.
Fabrics au natural
Regular daywear for summertime has not been ignored either. Modern fashion
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