Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Trickle-down effect influences everyday fashion By JACKIE WHITE KRT CAMPUS They seem to come out of the blue. They are the fashion trends that suddenly saturate our awareness like a bad Jay Leno joke. Why, for instance, the recent obsession with short tweed jackets and frayed edges? Why has everyone including Martha Stewart been sporting ponchos? Consider this spring’s fashion scene. At the top of the roster, soft, flowing skirts are patterned in everything from meditative outdoor scenes to overdone flowers and geometries. Another major trend is cropped pants, which might be the simplest, most comfortable garment women adapt this summer. Most ideas surface first on some designer’s runway, sometimes six months to a year before they enter the full fashion arena. “It makes a huge difference when something great comes down the runway,” said David Wolfe, creative director of the Doneger Group, retail consultants. Almost “everything that becomes fashion that people want to wear” starts there. But professionals watch so many shows now with so much drama of little value that the potential hits do not always linger in the consciousness, Wolfe says. Many costumes are created as much for entertainment and instant press coverage as for feeding the fashion machine with fresh ideas. Dutch designers Viktor and Rolf, for instance, recently showed clothing in Paris inspired by white quilted bed linens. “That will make it into the press,” Wolfe said, “but no one will see the beautiful white shirts they did.” As for the pretty skirts moving into stores and magazines, they first appeared in Prada’s straightforward collection in Italy for spring 2004. The skirts are now fashion stars available in many versions and prices from such names as Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, BCBG Max Azria, DKNY, Ellen Tracy and Banana Republic. The cropped pants started to surface in Europe several years ago. Short and gathered, they were also part of the early Prada collection for 2004. And by spring shows last fall, they were ubiquitous on runways. At Chanel they were gathered and held with a band on the calf. They were cropped at or above the knees like shorts at many houses, including Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan’s DKNY and Banana Republic stores. The frayed tweeds were from Chanel’s collection in the early 2000s. Not only did they become a uniform for affluent fashion conscious ladies who lunch, they were redone in many lines at many prices. The poncho, on the other hand, is of unknown origin, although it was a strong factor in Michael Kors’ hippie runway show and others last spring. “It kind of came out of left field,” Wolfe said. “Maybe it was the thrift shop influence. Everyone was wearing them on the street before they appeared on any runway.” The look has almost run its course as a hot item, but it obviously isn’t out of sight. Martha Stewart gave it a boost when she wore a hand-crocheted poncho for her prison exit recently. As for other looks this warm weather season, the return of the spring coat has been widely heralded and has been spotted in diverse lines such as Tracy Reese, Carolina Herrera, DKNY and Banana Republic. Black has reappeared alone or in combinations with white. Is there a time lapse before a trend reaches the Heartland? Clothes might be modified or vamped down. The edgiest clothes might be in short supply. Many garments, from European stages especially, never see the light in the Midwest. But in today’s world of fast technology, they are probably modified and reflected somewhere. SPRING COAT The spring coat, a staple in the 1950s, is the comeback look of the year. It showed up on runways as diverse as Carolina Herrera, DKNY, and in stores such as Banana Republic. The best investment is one that goes with several things in your wardrobe, including your best dress or favorite jeans. Choose a light fabric for long-term wear. FASHION FYI If you’re spring shopping in the stores or even in your closet, here are the ideas making news for warm weather: Cropped pants that reach shy of the knees or well below Turquoise, pale green, yellow and the comeback duo, black and white. The spring coat Soft skirts that swing and sway Ethnic patterns from far away places Halter tops that reach well over the waistband High waists Metallic fabrics and sparkle sprinkles for day Wrap tops Flower prints Wedge shoes Shoes drenched in glitz and beads Layered tops Mixtures of textiles and fabrics PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Flats inspired by ballet slippers are especially stylish when dressed up with rhinestones. The bold geometric and flowered prints are being worn more often, inspired by the high-fashion runways. New Movie Releases Guess Who Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous EXPANDED INVENTOR y»26 GREAT COLORS | ' *.• ~~ . if ■■■■■■■1 mum For the weekend of February 11 ■■■■■■■ Dutch Square Mall Movies Be Cool Diary of a Mad Black Woman Guess Who Hitch Hostage Ice Princess Miss Congeniality 2 The Pacifier The Ring Two Robots Times 1:20 4:20 7:15 9:50 i V 1:30 4:10 7:10 9:40 6:50 7:30 9:15 9:50 1:50 4:30 7:00 9:30 1:20 4:20 7:20 9:45 1:10 4:00 7:10 9:30 6:50 7:30 9:20 10:00 1:40 4:10 7:20 9:40 7:25 9:00 9:30 10:00 1:40 4:00 7:05 9:10 _Carmike Wynnsom 10_ Movies Times Be Cool Constantine Diaiy of a Mad Black Woma n Cuess Who Hostage The Pacifier The Ring Two Robots 1:15 4:15 7:15 10:00 12:45 4:15 7:15 10:00 7:15 8:00 9:45 10:30 1:30 4:10 7:00 9:40 2:45 5:00 7:15 9:45 4:30 7:30 8:00 10:00 3:15 5:30 7:45 9:55 _Columbiana Grande_/ Movies Times Be Cool Constantine Finding Neverland Guess Who Hostage Hotel Rwanda Ice Princess Man of the House Robots Sideways The Wedding Date Reml Cinema 7__ / Movies Times 12:55 4:15 7:30 10:15 1:05 4:05 7:05 9:50 1:20 6:55 8:00 9:00 9:40 10:15 12:50 3:50 7:10 9:55 12:45 4:35 7:20 10:10 2:45 5:05 7:25 9:45 4:25 9:25 7:00 7:45 9:30 10:00 1:10 4:10 6:55 10:05 12:35 2:50 6:50 9:35 The Aviator Hitch Because of Winn-Dixie Miss Congeniality 2 Ice Princess Million Dollar Baby 1:15 5:00 8:30 1:10 4:10 7:10 9:30 2:20 4:45 7:15 9:30 7:00 7:20 9:40 10:00 2:30 4:40 7:25 9:35 1:05 4:05 7:05 9:55 just write for the mix. ' e-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu