While fashion news in the last few weeks has been swirling around the issue of longer skirts, many women who are doing their warm-weather shopping are ignoring the length issue and are opting instead for a silhouette that looks as fresh as the proverbial spring breeze.
The newest shape of the moment is based on a small waist above a skirt that`s full-be it gathered, pleated, flounced or gored at the hemline. Whether it`s a skirt that flares gently in a subtle A-shape or a skirt that`s propped up by so many crinolines it resembles a bell or umbrella, a full skirt is bound to look interesting simply because all of its sister skirts have been slim or second-skin for such a long time.
New Yorker Isaac Mizrahi, who started doing long, full party skirts a year ago, has added long and short versions for both day and evening for spring-and has been very successful in selling them-simply ”because women want what they don`t already have,” he says.
Another New York designer, Nicole Miller, agrees that fit and flare was bound to evolve, ”because things have to change and short and narrow had almost become a uniform. A little variety in shapes gives women more options.” Miller disagrees with Mizrahi on length, however, saying that
”long and full can be very dowdy.”
What she didn`t say, but what also calls for a word of caution, is that short and full can be very ingenue.
Too short, too full, too bare, too pert and pouffy on a woman of a certain age can make her look as though she`s going to a little girl`s birthday party-and wants to pretend that she`s one of the little girls.
Although many of the short and full styles are indeed designed specifically for parties, there are some dresses-especially shirtdresses-with swingy skirts that can easily go to offices or luncheons.
