Times-Advocate, 1979-03-21, Page 29T-A Fashion Edition, March 21, 1979 Page 3
The queen of gems, cultured
reigns over fashionspearl,
This spring, the pendulum of
fashion will soften the chiseled
lines of fall’s fashions. Exag
gerated padded shoulders will
give way to a more natural look,
angular waist lines will be
eased, and straight and narrow
skirts will be made less severe.
But though the shape of fash
ion may change from season to
season, its direction is unmis
takable. The trend, embraced
by both the fashion designers
and their customers, is towards
an increased elegance in style.
Dressing up, not dressing
down.
Fabrics for
spring are
body-aware
Soft, airy and sophisticated
are the words for spring fabrics.
Sheer, airy see-throughs give
the body an ethereal look.
Lightness plus texture is an
important trend, as in loose
weave open-work knits, loopy
surface knits, cloudlike souffle
effects.
Shimmering shiners give a
new gentle luster: see it in
pearlized iridescent looks, the
soft gleam of silk, a silvery -
design on a sheer matter
ground. .
The texture play is the most
important fabric game. Pattern
is layered on pattern in soft col
ors fora new dimensional look.
Jacquards and dobbics in florals
and geometries, pique terry,
slubby linen are the new texture
components.
Prints combine with textures
or add asoftpolishof their own.
Multi-patterns, spaced Victo
rian looks, Provence florals,
foulard prints, small menswear
patterns and loads of stripings in
soft new colors are all part of the
game. "
The color story’s been
cleaned-up, freshened-up for
spring. There are four
chapters: the naturals, the
sophisticated pales, the spicy
tones and the sizzlers.
Soft and sweet are the palest
peach, cool blue and lavender.
Spicy cinnamon, nutmeg,
toast prelude the high adventure
of black and white, fireworks
red, violet, sunburst yellow,
peppermint, fuchsia and
quoise.
Fashions are becoming more
sophisticated, with a greater
appreciation for well-cut
tailoring, choice of fabrics and
the total look of a wardrobe.
In jewelry, this heightened
emphasis on elegance and
sophistication has elevated
pearls to a reigning position in
fashion. The regal beauty of
pearls, themselves symbolic of
self-confident stylishness, has
become an integral part of
almost every well planned
wardrobe.
The renewed importance of
pearls became evident last
November at preview showings
of the spring fashion collec
tions. Pearls were the only jewel
selected by Halston for use with
his spring collection.
Pearls were also very much in
evidence in the spring fashion
previews of Bill Blass, Gil Aim-
bez, Richard Assatly and a host
of other fashion designers.
Unlike previous fashion sea
sons, no one style of pearls has
greater importance than any
others. This spring, short pearl
chokers are every bit as fashion
able as long ropes or multi
strand bibs.
The only requirement is that
the pearls be real, either natural
or cultured, to reflect the rich
look of the fashions and empha
size the cultivated tastes of the
women who wear them.
Happily, the choice of real
pearls does not have to bankrupt
anyone who wants to be fash
ionable. That is because cul
tured pearls—real pearls grown
in oysters with an assist from
man—are available in so many
types and sizes.
They range from silky rice
shaped fresh water cultured
pearls, at the low end of the
price scale, to large perfectly
round South Sea cultured
pearls, valued at over $10,000
each.
This spring, as all pearls are
fashionable, the fresh water
pearls have become very pop
ular. These pearls, which are
grown in clams rather than in
oysters, have an intriguing
milky translucence and come in
silvery to pink colors.
Next up the price line are
baroque pearls, pearls which
lack symmetry but which often
have very good color and lustre.
The more symmetrical pearls,
of course, are more expensive.
Cultured pearls which have
both good symmetry and deep
lustre are the most expensive,
but it is still possible to buy
these at a moderate price by
choosing small sized pearls.
With small sized pearls just
as fashionable as the large sized
ones, only the size of your bud
get needs dictate wharyou buy.
. According to the Cultured
Pearl Association of America,
almost any cultured pearl buy is
likely to be a good investment,
too.
The value of cultured pearls
has quadrupled since 1972 and
appears to be going up each year
because there is a limit to how
many pearls can be cultivated in
the world’s oceans. And that
limit has almost been reached.
Some designers’ resolutions
/ resolve to stay home with a
good book three nights a week.
My first project is to read all of
Tolstoi. 9
—Giorgio Sant’Angelo
In 1979, I’ll turn 30 and swear
to enjoy every minute of that
turning point.
—Charles Suppon
Stork Club soiree
ft
Photo: The Wella Corporation
A MOST ELEGANT SETTING to show off fashion’s return to
elegance, The Stork Club in New York was recently host to the
press for an introduction of the total new look in fashion—
from dresses to accessories to the latest in hairstyles. The
model in the foreground was coiffed by Diego Messina of
Boston, with rich antique feathers tucked into her hair. Her
gown is by ZoZo, and she is surrounded by other members of
the elegant review al the chic New York nightery.
I’m never going to make resolu
tions, but instead to meet each
situation prepared to decide
correctly.
—Don Sayres
in/ swear not to gain weight
1979 and to swear off choco
lates and ice cream.
—Howard Lawrence of Kim-
I’m all set to fight for the recog
nition of fashion design as
something that can be patented.
—Joseph Famolare
/ resolve to do twice as much as
last year and twice as effec
tively.
—Bill Atkinson
Gold Chains for men
Gold Initials
Pearls
Earrings
Necklaces
CULTURED PEARLS are faahion’s favorite jewels for spring.
Halston chose pearls to go with his spring collection, ds pic
tured here in Halston’s studio preview showing.
fashionable
Diamonds
Watches
Rings
Bracelets
Charms
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