AS couturiers debuted their pricey and elaborate
creations for spring 2000 to a haute clientele, in
the streets of Paris, the city’s “bons gens” cele-
brated the chic comfort and ¢ase of American
sportswear.

Fashion editors championed the return of the dress —
flounced and to-the-knee ax Chanel, wrapped and slit
to the chigh at Yves Saint Laurent — the city’s
denizens chose to beaz the July heat in sporty sepa-
rates: leggy skirts, crisp white shirts aad neat little
sweater sets. ;
Such is the gap between runway and reality.
Earlier in the year when designers unveiled their fall
collections, electric colours of red, fuchsia, canary and
orange lit the runway. But on the clothing racks and in
the streets of Europe’s style capital, grey prevails as the
“non-colour” of choice for everything froin suits to
shocs.
It’s no different in Vancouver where stores are filled
with shades of grey and some retailers are bemoaning,
this sad lack of colour.
“E'm actually a litde concerned about that,” says Bill
van Oonen of J. Gregory, when contacted at his
Cauifeild menswear store carlier this week. “A lot of
men don’: look great in grey.” One way to punch up
the colour, Van Oonen suggests, is by adding a jewel-
toned dress shirt (burgundy or bright blue, for exam-
ple). .
Sherry Toni has also filled her Seymour store with
racks of grey, which she’s ofiset with pretty pastels.
Knice-high boots are another hot trend from the run-
ways of Paris, where, either high-heeled or flat-seled, °
teat worn to complement every conceivable skirt
length.
You'll spot the look at designer shoe stores Stephane
de Raucourt and Brown’s but you won't likely find it
at mid-priced boutigues like Zig Zag in Edgemont
Village. Owner Sandra Bodnarchuk says she’s waiting
for the weather forecast. If we’re in for another wet
season, then women will be suiting up in pants and
short boots, not spending their money on a look they
can hardly afford for such litte wear.
photo One runway trend that’s sure to please Vancouver
style-setters this fall is the return of the wrap.

From the pashmina (cashmere) shaw!, advertised in nearly
every Paris shop window, to the woot cape at Louis Vuitton
and kimono at Hermés, there are several variations on the
theme.

This has Leslie Tyrclt of LeslieJane in Ambleside excited.

_“We have an incredible sew line of coats this year,” she
says, naming several styles including a kimono jacket in soft
mohair oy Vancouver label Cecile Banac and a faux-fur
trimmed cape from Scandinavian line Fjall.

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