Now that the dust has settled from the spring ’98 runways, it’s time to look past the spectacle and start evaluating the trends that will actually impact your wardrobe choices next season.
If the tension between masculine and feminine elements central to fall clothing was some version of the battle of the sexes, the women have clearly won. Pretty is back in a big way. Soft shapes, floral prints, gauzy layers, shirring, beading and embroidery all play up the feminine mystique.
Although designers are moving away from strict minimalism, shapes remain relatively simple, making this a good season for appealing clothes that stop short of sugary.
WE’LL TAKE A PASS ON THESE
– blouson tops and jackets
– bunched-up or rolled-over waistbands
– shoes that mimic aqua socks – neither comfortable nor attractive
– knee-length pants
– tube tops
– Farrah Fawcett hair, circa “Charlie’s Angels,” as seen at Givenchy
