Soft, pastel and pretty

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 15

Soft, pastel and pretty

Soft, pastel and pretty is the emphasis in fabrics and styles this spring. Unpattemed materials in tints of coral, pink and lavender are especially popular, along with an apparently infinite range from cream, beige and putty through to khaki.

Also popular this spring are narrow or very fine white stripes on pastel tints. There are patterns, too, of course. Many are in the form of large, sparse, very simplified florals on a pale or white ground. Others are simple border prints, some combined with pale, narrow stripes.

Besides very simple floral patterns, there are all-over “native” geometries, again with the emphasis on simplicity and clarity, and "scenic" prints, some with a montage effect. Many of the spring prints reinforce the impression of simplicity through the restriction of the design to two or three colours combined with white.

Popular colour combinations for patterned fabrics frequently include cream, beige, rust and indigo.

For those who prefer a small, all-over pattern, there is a wide selection of the ever-popular Liberty floral prints. Blues, rusts’ beiges and creams are the most frequently recurring colours in these.

Plain or patterned, the new spring dress fabrics are filmy, or at least drapey. Bolts of cotton-polyester,

rayon-polyester and “viscose” (rayon) are abundant.

Suits of linen-polyster or a linen-silk blend are very much “in.” as are gabardine jackets and trousers. Fashion magazines and stores feature many threepiece outfits, such as those which combine a pastel or cream linen-look jacket with a pretty, pale blouse and a skirt that has a fairly large, simple and sparse floral pattern on a pale cream ground. Jackets, hip-length, are plain in design and colour as a foil for the soft ruffles, ripple collars and tucks that decorate many of the new season’s blouses.

The legs of trouser suits are wide and those of sports trousers are positively baggy — like culottes, which have become fashionable once more.

Pretty blouses have burst into prominence for formal occasions. Of thin, drapey material, many are also of plain colour to give prominence to dainty styling, often including ruffles and tucks or pleats.

Dresses for that special occasion echo this dainty, feminine look. The jabot front is popular for dresses and blouses alike, while covered buttons and button loops add an extra couturier touch to some.

Party dresses go a step further to include tiered skirts and eyelet material.

One idea for an outdoor, less formal effect is the

white, knit fabric dress with a wide band of colour built in near the hem and around the neckline.

Simple shirt dresses have made a “comeback" for every-day wear. Neat, practical and smart, they are mostly shown in plain colours, checks or stripes, sometimes with contrasting collars and belts. Outdoor ensembles that include Bermuda shorts are of plain, pale colour. Like the trousers of trouser suits, the shorts have neat front openings and inset side pockets. The blouses to go with these more casual outfits may be in a shirt style or simply a camisole. For really warm weather, jungle print sun frocks with “halter" necks, plunging “V" necklines, shoestring straps or completely bare shoulders are often made as part of two-piece outfits, having matching jackets. Insets of bright, plain, candy colour add further colour impact to many of these ensembles.

Bias binding, either of selfmaterial or a contrast, is an easy finish for the simplest halter neck sunfrock, and soft, tie belts to match the binding are in keeping with the soft, informal style.