Fall fashions . .
a season of contrasts
By Joanne j. falls
Home Economic Extension Agent
- Combine one part 1960s with one part
1970s. Add a helping of space age looks,
and blend with luxurious fabrics. In this new
fashion recipe, the ingredients are not as
important as how you put them together.
Fall '91 is shaping up as a season of
contrasts. SKirt lengths range from mid-thigh
to ankle-skimming. Silhouettes mold the
body in form-fitting allure .or swing free in
flirty fashion. Plaids perk with daytime appeal
while leather lavishes in solids for evening.
And color plays brights against black for
another kind of contrast.
Silhouettes - Shapely Shapes
Lengths: The long and the short of the
length question is just that ? long and shortT
Short ? above the knee ? remains the
"most popular length," but longer looks
infiltrate the ranks too ? sometimes with
asymmetric or handkerchief hem treatments.
Back to the Future: The season's
newest silhouettes actually owe a debt to the
past. The 30s peplum jazzes its way into fit
and flare styles. And this fall fit and flare
shapes turn up in everything from jackets to
coats to graceful dresses.
The 60s A-line inspires a flock of
flyaway styles, and from the 70s ?
patchwork, boas, pants tucked into boots
and quilting. Meanwhile stretch and shine,
metallics and bodysuits reflect a futuristic,
space age appeal.
Dresses: The dress continues its
fashion reign, taking shape in the fit and flare
silhouette. This styling accentuates a trim
waist while swishing over fuller hips. Watch
chemise skims its way into fall with ease to
spare, as well as fie coat dress. Rivaling the
chemise is the A-line or flyaway. The
elongated jacket apd slim dress is a popular
ensemble. W
Jackets: Jackets return in princess
seamed or dart fitted styles, and go to new
lengths. Playing the proportion game, long
over short is a favorite with mid-thigh length
jackets over short slim or pleated skirts. The
same jackets team with pencil slim trousers
or stretchy stirrup pants. Reverse the
proportion with trendy shorter, fitted jackets
or waist length jackets over mid-calf split
skirts. The zip-front jacket that follows the
body contours is often seen in knot and
stretch fabrications as well as in wools.
Bomber and biker style jackets also abound.
Coats: Coa|s are big news in more
ways than one. They're not only a focal point,
they're also roomy. Tent trench styles and
greatcoat silhouettes abound. -
Rapper: The rap music sensation
inspires black leathers, "street plaid"
cardigan zip jackets and skirts, "homeboy"
jackets and pants. Caps, gold jewelry and
medallions are companions for this
silhouette.
Details: The zipper is closing up just
about every garment for fail. Designers
highlight it like a piece of jewelry. The wealth
of brassy gold zippers are exposed as front
closures on spare and streamlined suits,
jackets, vests and dresses.
Buttons become a focal point, often
bejeweled or in heavy metals and sometimes
take the place of jewelry.
For the legs, its bright tights that slide '
into matching bright shoes, shoe boots or
over the knee boots.
Body-hugging styles continue with
stretch fabric suits, leggings and stirrup
pants as the under layer for fashion
creations.
_ Color blocking in unexpected
combinations expands its fashion coverage.
Pleats and plaids are an unbeatable
combo showing up especially in sassy,
swingy skirts. *
Fabrics: The richest of fabrics create
fall fashion headlines. Wool jersey, crepe and
gabardine-remain mainstays but novelties
like cashmere, Angora, melton and alpaca
surface as alternatives. Microfibres, stretch
woolens and myriad metallics carve a nitch.
Two favorites for fall are the ultimate
classics ? velvet and denim. Add stretch to
these two longtime friends for the newest
looks. Denim is also decorated with
rhinestones, studs and patchwork.
Leathers, especially in black and gold
are in the fashion forefront. Shine-on
treatments and metallic threads show up
everywhere. And almost any fabric can take
quilted treatments.
Everyone is mad for plaid, and plaids
show up in a wide range of color combos
and scales. Jackets, dresses, coats, pants,
even leggings get the plaid treatments.
Color: For the newsiest look, traditional
fall color palettes have green replaced by a
splash of electric hues from blaze orange to
saturated, comic book colors are mixed
Forget winter white ? outright white is
here. Whether as a blouse or under-it-all
unitard, white is white-hot. And rich, rich
black is back to bring the vibrant shades
down to earth. Black is the basic that makes
it all work.
Gold takes its place as more than just
an accent in the season's fashions. Ifs the
color of choice for everything from lame to
leather.
Other color cubs to watch
The Berries: Pink Frost, Tea Rose, Red
Currant, Hot Pink, Claret, Purple Royal and
Aubergine. Passionate reds that mix with
luscious pinks and intense purples. .
The New Neutrals: Heather Gray, Gray
Flannel, Jet and QuicK Silver. With snow,
Vicuna and Oatmeal in best supporting roles.
The Russets: Camel, Nutmeg, Harvest
Peach, Burnt Orange, Yellow Squash,
Pumpkin and Cinnamon. Warm Autumn
shades that add spice.
The Blues end Greens: Moss, Bottle
Green, Deep Teal, Aqua Mist, Navy,
Sapphire and Winter Sky are used together
to add richness
Reprinted from the October 3, 1991
edition of the Winston-Salem Chronide.
1
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