Simple solutions to sprin clothing concerns & tren FASHION {, CATEMENTS WHAT TO wear to work and other spring business- wear questions get some answers. ; QUESTION: I always feel sti- fled at the office in a suit though - we are compelled to wear one - every day in our more traditional environment. Any suggestions for . feeling more relaxed? .. ANSWER: Ask around to see if “co-workers feel the same way about the dress code, and if they do, approach your boss about a weekly or bi- weekly “dress-down” day. Many offices loosen their co!- lars on Fridays, especially during . warmer months. 95 | This does not have to mean dressing casually, it can mean dis- carding a jacket for a vest or dressy sweater set, and a skirt for dress pants and flats. ~ Companies in the U.S. found through research that productivity does not necessarily shift into neu- tral when the business suit occa- sionally disappears. Often work gets done sooner in the week because employees look forward to their “breather,” so try to get crucial work done ahead of time. Dress-down days for staff after completing an important deadline or busy time acts as a morale booster and a reminder not to get too uptight and stressed-out about work, Q: How do I wear those sexy clothes with sheer fabrics. visible cleavage, short, short hems and lin- gerie details without looking tarty? A: First, keep in mind that sul- try brat looks seen in magazines are.exaggerated for print interest. Adding it sparingly and wearing it with confidence are the key. Try these ideas to wear sexy apparel to work without losing any respectability. @ Combine sheerness with the lay- ering trend. Put two transparent layers together and you’ ve still got the look but it becomes more mod- estly translucent. You don’t have to expose cleavage to translate bare- ness. ® Bare shoulders and arms are very sexy. Try a new long vest with a knit tank beneath. A short, © buttoned vest worn solo shows no more skin than a top, but it’s the idea of wearing a vest alone that makes it sexy. ’ @ Instead of showing your lingerie, wear provocative fishnet or lace ~ hose in a spring shade with a knee- * baring skirt. . . > Wear thigh-length walking shorts in a dressy style to show off legs rather than a short mini. Q: Loose pyjama pants and palazzos may be a big trend for - spring, but I don’t have the height to wear them. How can I fake it? A: “I’m too short” and “I’m too heavy” are typical rejections of fuller pant styles, but everyone can wear them if they choose the right ones. If you like pyjama pants, choose an unstructured style with a draw- string, but with a slimmaer-cut leg. _. Have a pair altered slightly if none are available. Any pants broader in the leg than you’ve been wearing will update your wardrobe. The most wearable now don’t look heavy because they’re cut in breezy, light and translucent fab- tics. A tiny print also takes away from the solid, heavy line. : They also have flattering front | pleats and no cuffs. Wear a fitted A Spring Fashion feature with a difference. A close up look at the new trends for spring and summer brought to you by your local fashion merchants. Find out what is hot and what is not on the runways of Paris, Milan and L.A. and. where it’s available on the North Shore and Vancouver. Sunday April 10 is Fashion Day in your te ira SUNDAY » WEDNESDAY «FRIDAY jacket that is buttoned up, a narrow tunic ora top which shows your waist over them and finish with a low or flat hee? Q: I'm fired of conservative clothes, but [ don"t want to buy styles that will look outdated after two seasons. Which spring trends have the most staying power? A: You're lucky that spring’s big trend is simplicity in neutral colors. A new soft jacket, unconstruct- ed with natural shoulders and cut in a flowing fabric is a good bet. Just as structured jackets with ‘fullback shoulders stayed in fash- ion for years, so will their opposite. Jackets can’t change drastically from year to year because retailers know women invest in them. A sheer shirt is also a good pur- chase. Layer it for day now and slide it over a lace bra as evening wear later. Play up its transparency every spring und summer and wear it under a jacket or sweater when ‘the season or the trend passes. A sarong is now a staple. You can wear il to dinner this spring, and in seasons to come it can dou- ble as a beach coverup. - Q: H love all of the natural fab- rics shown for spring for work, especially linen, rayon and washed silk crepe de chine, but the problem ‘is that by midday I look wrinkled and unprofessional. Is there a solu- tion? A: There are several ways to avoid wrinkles, though you can never totally rid yourself of “pres- tige creases.” When the natural fibres are combined with a small percentage (20%) of a non-wrinkle fibre such as cotton, certain silks and fine- quality, polyester, they will look fresh ali day. If you prefer the pure fabric, however, make these tips a habit. ® Take off your jacket while dri- "Photo submitted : A MORE relaxed dress code at work means 3 the traditional sult is reptaced by freer fashions such as this Beechers Brock flo- ving and hang it over the back of the other seat. @ Be sure to pull down your skirt and smooth it flat at back every time you sit down. @ Wear your natural fibre pieces " one at a time. Instead of wearing a linen suit, LEATHER JACKETS | LEATHER BAG FOOTWEAR SWEATSHIRTS SWEATPANTS T-SHIRTS SWEATERS ACCESSORIES BABY, KIDS & YOUTH CASUAL ADULT CLOTHING “sal front-buttoned dress and long, open cardigan, available at Fairweather. ° : ye wear a cotton skirt with your jack- et, or a knitted top with linen pants so that even if these pieces wrinkle, you will still appear polished. if you have got an important appointment midday, spray or pat a smal] amount of water on the wrin-, kled area.