Suit yourself Chic and shapely

Press, 12 May 1987, Page 40

Suit yourself Chic and shapely

By

JANETTA MACKAY

SMART city dressing is defined this season by the suit. In its \. biggest revival in years the suit ‘ is smart and shapely. The new suit is also decidedly feminine — it is not a steal from men’s wear like the drab ensemble with tie-neck shirt adopted in the 1970 s by American women would-be executives. That look gave suits a bad name. Fitted clothing lost more appeal when women relaxed in baggy clothes. Fashion’s move closer to the body has now revived the suit but the new version is not severely tailored. Shapely, slim line, but not restrictive. The two main suit silhouettes are short and slick or long and flowing. The timeless influence of the French designer, Gabrielle (Co) Chanel, is obvious in reinterpretations of her cardigan styling and the use of gilt buttons. Jackets are usually long and semistructured over the shorter skirt Longer skirts gain drape and swing from inverted pleats.

To wear under the new suit, crisp big-collared white shirts or draped

tops look better than buttoned-up blouses. A polo top is an alternative but its higher neckline needs breaking with jewellery. Suits create top-to-toe lines and so throw emphasis on to the head and feet. Make-up needs to be polished, earrings can afford to be eyecatching. Hosiery should complement the suit not compete with it. Perhaps more than with any other style of dressing suits demands the right shoe. A wrong choice destroys the total effect.

High court shoes which tone with suit and hosiery are best with short skirts. Flat pumps can be teamed with longer lengths. Try black patent for accessories with polish.

So you have read this far but can’t afford the hundreds of dollars a. good suit costs. If you wear a tracksuit, or leggings and top, then you have already adopted suit-style dressing) admittedly in a casual manner.

To make the most of your money stretch your definition of a suit to include reasonably priced co-ordi-nates.

Wear them with confidence and make fashion suit you.