In the latest fashions shows all the models wore large necklacesand wrists-full of bracelets made of wood or shells and hadtheir hair done in loose, gentle upsweeps. The black-and-whiteBeatnik style is back, aimed at the 16-25 age group, severe andpared down, a complete about-turn...gone is casual,throw-it-all-together, ethnic school of style, with lastseason's Bohemian look making but a brief showing. We sawsequined dresses, halters and shrugs in purple, green and gold;swimwear followed the metallic theme: women wore tiny silver andgold bikinis, while men wore shorts or swimsuits in colorfulprints. Last season's Bohemian look made a brief showing.
Many of the formal dresses were updated versions of moreclassic styles. A simple off-white knee-length strapless gownwas accented with a skirt of tulle ruffles around the waist. Along purple evening gown was slit up the front with a cloud offeathers beginning at the knee.Steer clear of flat black -the key element is the combination of black and white, such as acrisp, white shirt with a pair of well-cut black trousers, andlook for rich fabrics such as satin, silk and velvet; black andwhite-striped mohair sweater-dresses, worn over tights or veryfitted jeans, worn with black ballet slippers, patent slippersor with knee-high black boots; black wool cropped jackets andpea coats; Beatnik-style black caps; black eyeliner and mascara;sunglasses and straight hair. The hourglass silhouette isalready a key look for this winter but if you don't have a tiny,well-toned frame, choose less fitted silhouettes, and addnarrow, leather belts, retro-style shoes, vintage handbags andopulent fur, a striped Pompom scarf. Pompom decoration is adesigner look and very easy to make yourself. Back in style isthe Sixties-inspired wool shift, with a Chanel touch and insolid colors such as a white shirt and oversized black blazer,and rather than a revival of androgyny it is simply a questionof comfort and ease; black mini-skirt with over-the-knee boots;or a striped top or sweater [with a pair of skinny black pants.
Dresses have been the featured item in the latest fashionshows; 'The Wrap' dress is making a comeback, and is not in aboudoir-inspired style, but a dress with a waist, a neckline, askirt and - most importantly - sleeves. The new autumncollections are full of dresses with sleeves of every shape andsize - three-quarter length, cuffed, long and tight, full andbelled, raglan and puffed, many in a print pattern such aspaisley print, on a long-sleeved dress. Prints in shades ofgreen, orange, pink and purple dominated the beginning of theshow. Shorts and skirts came in bright patterns that echoed backto the 1950s and 1960s. Modern technology, with improvements injersey fabrics and stretch, makes a dress really comfortable towear. Many younger women want an all-in-one solution for workand business travel, rather than a skirt and top or a suit.
Fall/Winter 05/06 has accents of color combined with regalfabrics. Black is not minimalist black as in the 1990s; richdeep plush velvet, black satin, black lace and black justaccented with white or red is the look for 2005. Black silk,black gauze, Persian lamb, black taffeta, penne velvet blackdenim, black cashmere, black jet, corduroy, black suede andShear ling add touches of sophistication and glamour to newtrends. Main colors are deep rich violet purples, wine reds,burnt ginger tones, moss greens, mustard, and teal. The basicsolid black and white can be very sharp and smart, plus graysand oyster shell tones. British country style tweeds havebeen out in force, but this year tweed is less textured. Itlooks more like Harris Tweed, flat plaids or old familiar checkssuch as black and white hound's tooth checks. This is a lookthat can continue into night with sequins used to create thecontrast; boldly vibrant colored checks, colorful tartans andtweeds are all used in coats, dresses and skirts that areloose-fitting with flowing folds of fabric, or with a Romantouch with lines of gold appliqué. Ironically, these heritagefabrics and shapes should be worn in a quirky way, jumbled up,mixing Argyle knits with tartans, plaids and stripes. Or youcould borrow from the men, Ralph Lauren-style, and wear slouchytweed trousers with brogues and oversized knits; and boucletweed suits in the 50s style. Intarsia in knitwear is backagain, such as Fair Isle, ikat, bold abstract and paisleyarrangements. Long cardigan jackets cardigan and asymmetriccardigan wraps and coats often have fur collars or a narrow furedge; Aran knits, not usually in the traditional cream but inricher deep shades of creams, teal and rust feature in manycollections. Luxurious rich fabrics and antique brocadefabrics, often interpreted with Ombre dyed materials likevelvets that move through related colors such as burnt orangemerging with reds through to claret in Ombre dyed velvet. Suchvelvet is then over printed in toning colors or textured withembroidery. Velvet can also have texture and appliqué
and is generally gorgeous this winter with an antique vintagefeel. Metallic luster and rich satins and the plushest ofvelvets bring a new opulence to winter. In addition to richplush velvet there will be penne velvet, corduroy, suede, Shearling, leather reptilian skins, boiled wool, suiting. Designershoes frequently have lace and beading and if they are notvelvet, they may just as easily be made of suede another luxurymaterial. The best styles to look for are wide-leg cuffedtrousers, short, swingy jackets and slim skirts, totes andbucket bags, flat lace-up brogues, flora and fauna prints. The'in' colors are black and white, beige, orange, gorgeous greensand often have crochet motifs added - also a lot of purple tonesin tartan skirts, fur coats. Just remember that black in2005 is no longer the only look to wear. The fabrics in richdeep berry and gem jewel colours may do far more for yourcoloring than black ever might. Berry colors and purples will bea wonderful choice instead of black or as an accent color.Cubist paint techniques as prints will lead us into Spring 2006and stencil print effects will be popular. Leave behindgypsy skirts, kaftans, tribal jewellery, military jackets,waistcoats, drainpipes, crocheted shrugs and warrior belts[finally!].
Many of the formal dresses were updated versions of moreclassic styles. A simple off-white knee-length strapless gownwas accented with a skirt of tulle ruffles around the waist. Along purple evening gown was slit up the front with a cloud offeathers beginning at the knee.Steer clear of flat black -the key element is the combination of black and white, such as acrisp, white shirt with a pair of well-cut black trousers, andlook for rich fabrics such as satin, silk and velvet; black andwhite-striped mohair sweater-dresses, worn over tights or veryfitted jeans, worn with black ballet slippers, patent slippersor with knee-high black boots; black wool cropped jackets andpea coats; Beatnik-style black caps; black eyeliner and mascara;sunglasses and straight hair. The hourglass silhouette isalready a key look for this winter but if you don't have a tiny,well-toned frame, choose less fitted silhouettes, and addnarrow, leather belts, retro-style shoes, vintage handbags andopulent fur, a striped Pompom scarf. Pompom decoration is adesigner look and very easy to make yourself. Back in style isthe Sixties-inspired wool shift, with a Chanel touch and insolid colors such as a white shirt and oversized black blazer,and rather than a revival of androgyny it is simply a questionof comfort and ease; black mini-skirt with over-the-knee boots;or a striped top or sweater [with a pair of skinny black pants.
Dresses have been the featured item in the latest fashionshows; 'The Wrap' dress is making a comeback, and is not in aboudoir-inspired style, but a dress with a waist, a neckline, askirt and - most importantly - sleeves. The new autumncollections are full of dresses with sleeves of every shape andsize - three-quarter length, cuffed, long and tight, full andbelled, raglan and puffed, many in a print pattern such aspaisley print, on a long-sleeved dress. Prints in shades ofgreen, orange, pink and purple dominated the beginning of theshow. Shorts and skirts came in bright patterns that echoed backto the 1950s and 1960s. Modern technology, with improvements injersey fabrics and stretch, makes a dress really comfortable towear. Many younger women want an all-in-one solution for workand business travel, rather than a skirt and top or a suit.
Fall/Winter 05/06 has accents of color combined with regalfabrics. Black is not minimalist black as in the 1990s; richdeep plush velvet, black satin, black lace and black justaccented with white or red is the look for 2005. Black silk,black gauze, Persian lamb, black taffeta, penne velvet blackdenim, black cashmere, black jet, corduroy, black suede andShear ling add touches of sophistication and glamour to newtrends. Main colors are deep rich violet purples, wine reds,burnt ginger tones, moss greens, mustard, and teal. The basicsolid black and white can be very sharp and smart, plus graysand oyster shell tones. British country style tweeds havebeen out in force, but this year tweed is less textured. Itlooks more like Harris Tweed, flat plaids or old familiar checkssuch as black and white hound's tooth checks. This is a lookthat can continue into night with sequins used to create thecontrast; boldly vibrant colored checks, colorful tartans andtweeds are all used in coats, dresses and skirts that areloose-fitting with flowing folds of fabric, or with a Romantouch with lines of gold appliqué. Ironically, these heritagefabrics and shapes should be worn in a quirky way, jumbled up,mixing Argyle knits with tartans, plaids and stripes. Or youcould borrow from the men, Ralph Lauren-style, and wear slouchytweed trousers with brogues and oversized knits; and boucletweed suits in the 50s style. Intarsia in knitwear is backagain, such as Fair Isle, ikat, bold abstract and paisleyarrangements. Long cardigan jackets cardigan and asymmetriccardigan wraps and coats often have fur collars or a narrow furedge; Aran knits, not usually in the traditional cream but inricher deep shades of creams, teal and rust feature in manycollections. Luxurious rich fabrics and antique brocadefabrics, often interpreted with Ombre dyed materials likevelvets that move through related colors such as burnt orangemerging with reds through to claret in Ombre dyed velvet. Suchvelvet is then over printed in toning colors or textured withembroidery. Velvet can also have texture and appliqué
and is generally gorgeous this winter with an antique vintagefeel. Metallic luster and rich satins and the plushest ofvelvets bring a new opulence to winter. In addition to richplush velvet there will be penne velvet, corduroy, suede, Shearling, leather reptilian skins, boiled wool, suiting. Designershoes frequently have lace and beading and if they are notvelvet, they may just as easily be made of suede another luxurymaterial. The best styles to look for are wide-leg cuffedtrousers, short, swingy jackets and slim skirts, totes andbucket bags, flat lace-up brogues, flora and fauna prints. The'in' colors are black and white, beige, orange, gorgeous greensand often have crochet motifs added - also a lot of purple tonesin tartan skirts, fur coats. Just remember that black in2005 is no longer the only look to wear. The fabrics in richdeep berry and gem jewel colours may do far more for yourcoloring than black ever might. Berry colors and purples will bea wonderful choice instead of black or as an accent color.Cubist paint techniques as prints will lead us into Spring 2006and stencil print effects will be popular. Leave behindgypsy skirts, kaftans, tribal jewellery, military jackets,waistcoats, drainpipes, crocheted shrugs and warrior belts[finally!].
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