‘In’ for spring

Press, 1 September 1982, Page 15

‘In’ for spring

Bright. vibrant hues, straight white and subtle combinations of shades and tints are all included in the colour range of this summer's fashion fabrics. There is much use of black and white: blue and white: red. navy blue and white for both casual and formal wear.

White is also frequently combined with soft, natural beige tints. Stripes, wide and narrow, form a strong feature of the new-season look, as do styles and motifs that hint of’ things nautical.

Polka dots are popular, too, in many sizes from small to large and especially in red or blue on white. Equally prevalent are checks in black and white or navy blue and white. There is much use of strong colours and large.

bold patterns in all-over designs and in border-patterned cottons. Fabric weights run the full range from ultra filmy to substantial closely-woven construction, and filmy fabrics shot with gold thread remain popular for evening wear. White broderie anglaise is again part of the fashion scene and has been joined bycotton seersucker, also usu-. ally in white but available in red and navy blue as well. The emphasis on stripes shows here, too: broad bands of ripple with plain bands between. As for styles, the “boxylook and the “blousy,” bouf-

fant look are both fashionable, and there is much more use of asymmetry as a way of creating something different, particularly in variations on the lap-over collar.

Billowing and drapey fullness is popular in dress styles, and there is a tendency to dropped waists for the younger set. Tucked skirts in drapey materials are popular too. particularly for casual wear, and these may be long or short. The short blazer, with square, padded shoulders is as much in evidence as the long, unwaisted jacket, perhaps in "suede" fabric: either way the effect is trim and smart. There is much greater emphasis this season on interesting belts, some of them very intricate and many of them still showing the influence of the metallic look that was so strong last summer and through the winter season.

Gold trim and accessories are still fashionable and the "Mexican" look has come to prominence, adding fairly large, geometric shapes and or bright colours to belts, necklaces and earrings.