Spring & Summer Fashion 2002

Spring & Summer Fashion 2002

(PRWEB) February 15, 2002

Sophisticated and subtly sexy looks are what we've been seeing on the New York fashion runways. Featured are leathers, tailored styles, tuxedo evening suits in satin or wool, oversized clothes, including the "three-sizes-too-big" tops at Gucci and the men's-style white shirt in the Calvin Klein women's collection.

"It's a direct reflection of our times. It's a cocoon; it's cozy.Â"

[Bailey] She says that another trend is the very feminine look. Â"ItÂ's

a '70s hippie feel." She advises anyone who bought a blouse -

especially a peasant blouse with frills or embroidery, at the end of last summer, to hold on to it. Pair it with a simple A-line skirt or slim pants for a modern silhouette, she suggests. The story here is proportion, she explains. The reverse look also works, Bailey adds, with a flow-y skirt, a big belt and a simple jacket, although it will be softer and

less structured than in years past.

"The return of the blazer is so helpful to women's wardrobes!" says Deichnan, who predicts that leather will be a strong trend, and suede pants will make a strong debut. Natural fabrics, such as wool and cashmere, will be popular with the young, and with women. Square necklines and semi-empire waistlines will make a comeback.

Fur shows up as collar or cuff trimming, as well as for the hemline border, no longer being taboo as it was a decade ago. It can also be an extravagant floor-length coat, a lining, a shoulder bag or a fuzzy cocktail dress.

For suits, the double-breasted and seersucker are new again. Denim vests are out for men, with more men preferring the more masculine denim suit.

WeÂ're seeing wool coats decorated with toggle closures; double-faced plaid capes cinched with a belt; floral silk shirts with sable cuffs worn with plaid manÂ's pants.

Trench coats are popular - long and lean in black leather; fitted jackets of leather or shearling worn with full or pencil-slim skirts below the knee, or low-slung, boot-cut tween trousers or cargo pants, of mid-calf length. Coats are in grays, black and plaids, with flashes of gold lame and worn with ruffled blouses. Skirts and skinny dresses built of panels of wool or leather and worn below the knee; double-breasted coats in officer style are trendy.

The look is generally subdued with clothes being more comfortable, and wearable. Some are industrial-inspired, cotton canvas utility jackets, skirts, trousers and even overalls - in shades of brown.

Mixed looks are the trend - sporty with dressy; corduroy overalls matched with a mink blazer; a sweatshirt made of chinchilla with a sporty rugby shirt striped in sheer mesh, and decorated with beading or rows of dyed sheared mink; draped chiffon in pastel rainbow

colors and crinkled, draped, layered, and gathered; chiffon slip dresses, handkerchief skirts, gauzy ruffles, flounced skirts and sheer full-length gowns; mix-and-match swingy skirts with scoop-neck leotard-like tops; and full satin ball skirts with thick turtleneck fishermanÂ's sweaters. Sable, olive and black are popular colors, with a few dashes of ultramarine.

Other new colors are chartreuse, citron, and eggplant, or a mix of blues and grays.

Black is still a favorite with heavy beading for sparkle. "Every season we see a little bit more color added," Deichnan said. "Black and white is being replaced by root-beer browns and crèmes. A lot of the colors are a little hazy, with some gold tones underneath. There won't be any neon brights."

Necklines, sleeves and hemlines are asymmetrical, and decorated with ribbons and fringe. Skirts have thigh slits and are worn with camisoles and sometimes with lacy stockings, although bare legs are usually covered by leg warmers or knee socks.

Boots are still in fashion, thigh-high, flat-heeled, sometimes in crocodile. For evening: ultra-high heels with the evening baby doll look, while ballet footwear is a reminder that this is a romantic season and women's footwear featuring backward heels.

From Italy come basic styles and structured shapes. Boots and pumps are expected to be exceptionally popular, while boxer-style and golf shoes are popular for men.

Bags are expected to be dressier and smaller to be carried under the arm, with more structure, in colors of metallic tones, such as antique gold. Vivid color contrasts along with smooth materials prevailed in the fashion shows; almost-black and brighter colors such as brick, claret, rouge and oxblood with flashes of crimson, scarlet and currant.

Mid-sized functional bags in gold and earth tones together with crocodile or python with a semi-glossy surface are "in".

Some designers fear that they might have to face a shortage of raw leather materials caused by mad cow and foot-and-mouth disease problems in Europe and elsewhere forcing the wholesale slaughter of cattle. This would force them to mark up their prices. Many leather manufacturers believed that if the cost of raw leather is going up, they might use a balance of leather and other non-leather materials, such as PVC and textile fabrics so that they can still keep their prices at a competitive level.

Seen on the runway: flat shoes, mule boat shoes, Adidas sneakers, Gucci sunglasses, two-

tone men's and women's shoes, Grecian boots by Kenneth Cole. There is a current flair for

pretty feminine styles - pointed chisel toes, interlacing and two-tone pastels, sandals with flower designs, cork, and openness and transparency, loc-cuts, cut-outs, perforations, straps, sling backs and lacings; mixed materials for creative effect, with combinations of leather, canvas, clear plastic, corduroy, denim, decorative stripes and polka dot prints; lots of metallic - usually gold and bronze; handcrafted details and decorations and lower heels. "Uppers are enhanced by bi-color effects, patterned surfaces, contrast piping, raised seams and delicate buckles," predicts GDS's Marion Maisel. "Sailing and tennis, the old sports of the 20s and 50s, provide inspiration for slightly rounded and ultra-light sneaker shapes. Moccasins and college loafers are also experiencing a comeback."

For men, GDS advises modern city classics like lace-ups and loafers with slim, clear-cut shapes and a slight accent on the welts. The college/campus look is updated with capped versions, unfilled seams, weaves and woven inlays.

Denim for teen-age girls with gold and silver metallics for glitter. Glitter denim started this fall but will increase in popularity as we move into the spring, she said. Low-rise jeans are a hot commodity, and Liz Claiborne says the waistlines will get even lower. Decorations,like grommets and rhinestones, will become more popular, and deconstructed denim will make its statement this coming spring. Â"Slits on the sides, fringes, acid-washed denim," Claiborne said. "It's all going to be a growing trend."

Guys' denim also will have similar designs to the girls' line, according to Kathryn Winfield, Claiborne's project partner. Low-waisted jeans are being introduced for guys, as is

denim underwear, but Winfield, a fifth-year student, doesn't expect guys to jump into them. Instead, embellished jackets will catch their eye. Among the popular trends are zippers on cuffs, pockets and the jacket front, she says.

"Dark denim is going to be an outgoing trend, but we are going to see more of a black-casted indigo," Winfield said. "It's not going to be real denim. Instead it will be more browns, blacks and tans."

Winfield predicts slim legs will become the fashionable thing, with guys placing more emphasis on detailed shoes.

Hairstyles are feminine, either loose or gathered in a satin ribbon. This style goes well with the look offered for men: on the long side, either smoothed back or tussled and boyish.

"It's interesting to see how celebrities are becoming the style icons," Lusk said. "It used to be models and fashion designers were looked at. Cartoons were the style icons for younger kids. Now we are seeing 12- and 13-year-olds looking at people like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera."

Kateigh Axness, a fifth-year fashion-merchandising student, said designers no longer dictate fashion.

"Fashion is not fashion until the customer accepts it," Axness said. "Fashion is interactive. There are no hard and fast rules anymore."

Lusk and Axness said people are screaming to be free from fashion constraints. No longer are they methodically following the designers' every move and suggestion.

"People are now saying, Â'Let me be me,Â' Â" Lusk said.

By Margot B, Journalist, Freelance Writer & Information Broker

mailto:margotb@wonderport.com

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