Times-Advocate, 1979-03-21, Page 40Page 14 T-A Fashion Edition, March 21,1979
Perennial fashion favorite: pleats are in!
From King Tut’s time to
today, pleats have earned a rep
utation as a perennial fashion
"trend.”
This spring they’re baek, and
looking better than ever! But the
new pleated looks are feminine,
flattering, and elegant—partic
ularly in luxurious fabrics like
suede or jersey of Qiana nylon.
Moreover, the news for
pleats this season is the blending
of elegance with easy care. It’s
an unbeatable combination that
today’s active woman is sure to
appreciate.
Pleated portraits
The Egyptians were the first
on record to use pleats as a fash
ion statement. According to
their hieroglyphics of 3,000
years ago, the classic look for
the well-to-do Egyptian woman
was the floor length pleated
linen sheath, tied around the
bodice with a golden cord.
The look out-lived the King
and "the culture. For example,
this same style was resurrected
in the 1930’s through the use of
the Venetian knife-pleated silk
sheath that all chic women
owned, and kept rolled up in a
circular box like a valuable trea
sure (presumably to keep the
pleating in good shape).
Then in the 40’s, when more
or less permanent pleating was
possible, along came the
“accordion,” used extensively
by Claire McCardell. One of her
most popular creations was
pleated all the way from the col
lar to its midcalf hem. It was
tied around the bodice by a spa
ghetti cord, much reminiscent
of the Tut look.
Flattering but practical
Pleating for today’s versatile
NIGHTTIME is the right time for pleats, as PLEATING is a very important part of the look
shown by this Herman Marcus of Dallas ere- of soft sophistication for today’s executive,
ation in glamorous crepe of Qiana nylon. Its This smart three piece suit, fashioned by Coat
double tiered full pleated skirt is poetry in Fair Ltd., is an elegant suede of Qiana blend
motion for Spring ’79. that’s both luxurious and practical.
woman is very different from
the Tut pleated sheaths or even
the casual, swinging crystal
pleated skirts of the rock-and-
roll 50’s.
Today’s pleats are designed
to flatter the figure, so that a
woman need not be painfully
thin to look great in this spring’s
pleats. According to Aleksan
dra, designer for New York
based Coat Fair Ltd. and
Cedarhurst Classics, the major
ity of women can wear pleats
well.
“The sunburst pleat offers a
slimming look,” she explains.
“It starts from almost no pleat
or excess fabric between the
waist and hip, then opens up to
beautiful pleats from the hip to
the hem.”
One of Aleksandra’s favor
ites for spring is the blazer, vest
and pleated skirt she created in
elegant suede of Qiana. The
fabric is supple to the touch, yet
holds the pleats permanently.
And, it’s a perfect look for
today’s active executive.
“Pleats give an elegant but
sporty look,” says Aleksandra.
“They are accepted every
where, and are just as appropri
ate for the board room as they
are for going to a football
game.”
Nighttime pleating
Circa 1973, pleats invaded
the evening fashion scene with
new fervor. Pleated gowns,
evening robes and dinner
dresses swung into the hearts of
fashion critics and American
women alike.
One of the most ideal and
glamorous fabrics for the new
pleated evening wear is Qiana
nylon. This sensuous light
weight fabric promotes the rip
pling movement of pleats, long
seen as one of their most entic
ing characteristics. Qiana also
ensures that the pleating will
retain its shape even after multi
ple wearings, and in high
humidity.
To make the most of the new
spring pleated fashions, look for
garments with an overall tone of
softness, ease in movement (in
the bodice as well as the skirt),
and simplicity in accessories so
as not to detract, from the
garment’s natural lines and
motion.
Through careful selection of
fabric and styling, you’ll find
that today’s pleats, distant
descendants of the Tut couture,
offer a wide range of looks —
from smart executive attire to
the ultimate in elegant evening '
wear.
Touches to
update last
year’s togs
This year there’s a great new
freedom to wear what you like.
And, to complement this
freedom. Mademoiselle tells
how to play up accessories.
‘■'I'his year's looks turn on the
kind of wit you can get with
accessories.” says the January
Mademoiselle.
Like the chic-on-a-shoestring
idea: an argyle shoelace from
the 5 & 10 that works as a tie. Or
little plastic pins made from
gumball machine charms, tiny
pencils or anythin^.'
All you need are trinkets^’
backs and some glue. An^.
make them even more ’79, try
Mademoiselle's advice on
A'here you pin them.
Scruncn up the neckline of a
crewneck sweater or fold over
the lapel of your blazer (a broad
shouldered blazer) and pin. Try
a chain pin to link your collar.
Mix your plastics with antique
pins.
Pearls are back, says Made
moiselle. and if you have them,
you’ve got a great way to snazz
up your whole wardrobe. Don’t
think of them as an accessory to
the black basics, admonishes
Mademoiselle. Try them with
more rugged, tweedier clothes.
Remember, with this year’s
fashions, the more contrast, the
zippier the effect.
If you could do just one thing
to update your clothes. Made
moiselle says belt them. Try one
of this year's bold belts or make
a narrow belt memorable—luck
in a pair of antique lace gloves.
Or dangle a pedometer ... a
catch of cloissone fish ... a
lucky rabbit’s foot!
Making hairstyle ends meet:
practice makes for perfection
When styling up a fashion
able storm of coiled and braided
coifs, remember that there’s
more to all those twists and
turned-under edges than meets
the eye.
Beneath the rolls and layers
of hair are a variety of pins,
clips and combs essential to
“making ends meet” in a do-it-
yourself hairdo.
After several seasons of the
singular-look permed styles,
women are once again opting
for more individualized looks
that they can create themselves
on a day-to-day basis, report
beauty experts at Gillette Appli
ance Division.
With a little practice and
some creative input, anyone can
become a coif craftswoman.
turning a basic cut into a variety
of upswept or innovative styles
to reflect mood changes and
enhance wardrobe selections.
Just as last season's perms
were characterized by volume,
spring’s styles demonstrate a
graceful, sleek silhouette. Mod
eled after the smooth, sophisti
cated coifs of the forties, these
toned-down versions start with
hair blown-dry with a light
weight but powerful dryer like
Promax Compact 1200. Essen
tial to successful results, blow-
drying “tames” fly-away hair,
adding shape and control for an
overall graceful effect.
Building on a smooth founda
tion, styling techniques tire lim
ited only by the imagination,
with possibilities ranging from a
single asymmetrical braid or
ponytail to intricate rows of
woven hair.
One of the season's most
popular looks is the typical for
ties' topknot with hair gathered
at the forehead with an elastic
band, twisted around the fasten
ing and anchored with hair pins
(the straight-pronged type are
best) to keep ends mckcd under.
For a decorative touch, add a
comb or garnish with crossed
chop sticks for a whimsical
look.
Besides adding interest to
AS THIS YEAR’S HAIRSTYLES go to greater lengths, women
are rediscovering the art of hairdressing with self-styled looks
as simple or complicated as the wearer’s whim. This variation
on a longer look begins with hair blown-dry with Gillette
Promax Compact 1200, the powerful little dryer that
shortens drying and styling time. Front hair is side swept then
plaited into a sunpie braid for an updated approach.
upswept styles, combs, bar
rettes and other hair ornaments
bridge the gap between styles,
bringing the free-and-easy
wisps of last year’s perm into
line with today's controlled
concepts.
Grown-out bangs or layers
can be easily captured with the
aid of hair accessories, then
softly incorporated into the style
with assistance from a curling
iron like Super Curl Compact
with Steam.
And. though hairdressing
works best with medium to long
hair, accessories can keep
close-cropped coifs from com
ing out on the short end. Today,
synthetic hairpieces convinc
ingly imitate the texture and
color of natural hair at easily-
affordable prices.
Pre-braided strands can be
pinned into hair for a contempo
rary look with minimal effort,
while full-fledged hairpieces
can be last minute lifesavers
when it’s time to go and there's
no time to style.
Remember, practice makes
perfect, so give dressing your
tresses a trial run before step
ping out in a glamorous new
style. Equipped with the tricks
of the trade—a blown-dry base
and necessary accessories —
your efforts arc bound to be met
with “sweepingsuccess.”
Lively Into
Spring
Our new spring and summer stock is now on display ..
Come in and see the new fashions.
JUST ARRIVED
Joggers
And Shoes
By Cougar
& North Star
Young Men's
Casuals
By Tractor, Cougar
and Kodiak
Good Selection of
Children's
Rubber Boots
For The Muddy
Days Ahead
GREAT SELECTION
Ladies'
Dress Shoes
and
Summer Sandals
with
Matching Handbags
Young Ladies'
Dress Shoes
IN NEW LOW HEELS
and
Canvas Bags
Shop Early For Best Selection
Wuertl) S Shoes Ltd
MAIN ST. EXETER
235-0611 W
CHARGEX
VZSA