1930s Techniques for Keeping Chic in the Heat

The essence of summer chic and charm (let alone luxurious langour), is crispness, coolness, and feminine freshness. How's that alliteration for you? ;)

To keep cool, look cool, and feel cool,  wear fresh organdie dresses and cool, scented lingerie. This (and all the usual advice, and the image above) comes from a 1934 Pictorial Review article on keeping cool and feminine in the heat of summer. The usual advice includes: keep makeup light, use a light face cream, take care of your eyes (rest, use sunglasses, eye cream), massage the feet.

I found especially interesting two "new gadgets" mentioned, that made taking showers possible that did not muss up your carefully waved hair:

• A spray attachment  that fits around your shoulders  and lets your head rise above the spray
• An oiled silk shower hood that fits over your head without mussing your hair; it's transparent so you can see the spray through the silk, and eliminates the "agony of trying to fit a rubber cap over your carefully done tresses".

Can you visualize these? There were no images in the magazine article. I laugh when I think of each one. A spray attachment on your shoulders? :D The silk shower hood sounded harmless until it mentions seeing through the transparent hood. Are they saying it covers the face?? I understand now why these products did not survive the test of time. LOL!

I do love that illustration - so dreamy! :)

1939 Tips for Staying Fresh as a Daisy in the Summer Heat

Here is a picture of the beautiful Olivia de Havilland gracing a 1939 Home Arts article on "staying fresh as a daisy the summer through". This would have been about the time that "Gone with the Wind" came out.

So what are the tips for looking and feeling serene, fresh, and dainty despite the heat and humidity of summer? In 1939, the recommendations include:

• Twice as many baths
  Twice as many baths is the rule for the summer months. [I have to ask - how many is "twice as many"? Just how frequently did people take baths in the late 1930s? Once a week? More often? I do not know, and the article does not give a hint.] The tip goes on to recommend that the more soap and water you use, the better you will feel and look. So don't stint on the soap - be sure to lather yourself from head to foot! ;)

• Use a deodorant regularly
  [I guess this had to be stated explicitly!] The tip states that you should use a deodorant or "non-perspirant" as religiously as you use your toothpaste. A deodorant or an eau de Cologne combined with a powder which has deodorant qualities is a needed addition to your routine for summer.

• Ridding yourself of superfluous hair
  [To be quite honest, I did not know that hair removal was a "thing" this early!] The tips states that "superfluous hair is a trial at best, but if it appears on the face, it approaches the tragic." Unless you can afford expert care by an electrolysist, the solutions recommended include a depilatory for the arms or legs, and a razor or cream for removing hair from the armpits.

• The prevention of sunburn
  The tip recommends that you take your sun baths in small doses at first until your skin and body have become accustomed to them. You should apply a sunburn cream or lotion to exposed areas every two hours or so in order to prevent "getting sunburn poisoning". ;) [Indeed!]

• The finishing touches
  Wash your hair more frequently
  Use your hairbrush diligently
  Wear a simple hair style
  Choose your powder foundation with care
  Use less rouge
  Go light on mascara and eye shadow
  Cleanse your face as frequently as possible
  Be extra meticulous about personal cleanliness

There you have it - how to keep cool in "torrid weather". :D