16 - Sunday, Aprii 26, 1992 ~ North Shore News Filling out your work wardrobe YOU WILL know it when closet claustrophobia hits you. Carol Crenna FASHION STATEMENTS. When dressing for work in the morning takes twice as long, when even your favorite clothes begin to fall flat, when your business wear just doesn’t seem to do its job any longer — those are all signs. This doesn’t mean you have to rethink your entire wardrobe. You- simply have to mix a few of your faithful pieces with a few great new looks to wake up your ward- robe. You may even find that the trick is to hide some of the staples in your closet, (those now worn at least twice a week), behind some - of those garments that have been _ overlooked recently. Choose some of those pieces ‘that have been getting second bill- ing, and try them with your new purchases. You can pull together some outstanding new office out- fits with a little imagination. What should you add to your: ousiness wear to fight fashion en- nui? Each season there are certain pieces which show up again and again in designer collections. These are the key looks to use to update your wardrobe. The clothes that you should buy should display these looks. It is important to add a fashion forward: look to your style. But you also want to Pick . invesiment pieces that will still look fresh five years down the road to success. Your: best option is to choose classic styles which have been given a medern “‘edge."’ That .‘‘edge’’ has been softened this spring for business wear that is more feminine and refined. The standard menswear-for-women suits that- have been seen in the office for years, are nowhere to be seen. Women can-now be women and get taken . seriously, very - seriously. . * Say goodbye to cardboard stiff jackets; clingy, binding skirts and ‘wiltless trousers. Clothes become prettier with draped fabrics, ~'touchable textures and: soft colors ’ that make work (Separates, more ladylike this spring: The most fashionable clothing now moves with you, for comfortable dressing from nine to five. North Vancouver’s Margareta Design puts together a neat com- pact selection of ‘five easy pieces from the Edited Collection for : you to use as.a starting point. You can then add your own pieces. Each one of the chosen clothing items works with the others to create a mini wardrobe that works for you. All you need is a couple of minutes and a couple of ac- cessories to create your own indi- vidual look. Margareta’s designer Sandy Elliott stresses, ‘‘Our look now is soft. Fabrics and tailoring are softer than we have ever done be- fore. We are not showing any- thing that you can ‘knock on’.”” 44. Choose some of | those pieces that have been getting second billing, and try them with ; | your new. purchases. 99 Margareta’s best dress. “is. ‘semi- fii itted i in an updated ‘sheath: ‘style. It has short sleeves, angled “hip pockets and a little butterfly cur at the neckline. It is designed 'in an unusually textured fabric which is’ punctured with tiny dots over: a puckered surface. *) JACKET mo A sure cure for: closet : claustrophobia is a- mew. jacket. Make it femininely tailored .with “subtle: details’ that~spell qualit Pull, it over: the suit: skirts: pants already in your: wardrobe to’ give theaa new. fashicn know-! For jackets that just: won’ . check The Edited Collection of soft blazers. This is: the “fi rst season. that. “Margareta ‘has: ; tured so - heavily’ into. the . jacket. market, showing them single: and -.double breasted in’ Slahtly. x . and. -loosley draped : silhouettes. The jackets may or may ‘not/be. Soft shawl collars “and notched neckline, "almost: like © - Collarless styles: are: also shi with low V-necklines. ‘The. feaures of the jackets are the most’ subtie details. Covered buttons given feminine frog closures,. double-breasted jackets get. one two or three buttons down ’ . side: - The "front closure on™ these: ‘Jackets \has. a curved “hemline. 7 which drapes:into.an inverted ’ shape. This shaped hemline: also ‘be: continued in the . vested “ fooks.: which Margareta show: ‘beneath. The ‘long vests .. are: designed to “trim” the edges: ‘6 the jacket because the V-shapes are. not as pronounced so peek out ‘beneath. He. -4) PANTS - If you buy a pair of pan fo -work this: season; - match a jacket.-Pant svits aré‘a new ‘essential, and. Margareta’: " newest collection - shows them’ ex-’ oo _ tensively. WHITE TEXTURED cotton sheath dress by Margareta Design. The Edited Collection’s philos- ophy is intended to prove that corporate wardrobes can break away from cookie-cutter uniforms and create a distinctive profes- sional image. This expanded spr- ing collection is said to be ‘‘posi- tioned to fill the current void be- tween weekend wear and designer labels, The European inspired, clean- lined looks are full of options, and are cut to flatter the figure. Margareta’s latest deigns are created in fine Austrian viscose, uniquely textured Swiss cotton, Argentinian cool wool and sand washed silk. Five easy pieces that work as hard ~ as you do include: 1) COAT The Edited Collection starts with a light weight, unlined duster coat. It is long enough to cover every skirt length in your closet and simple enough to go over pants. — Margareta’s coat has round padded shoulders, and falls straight or ties with a belt. As well as pro- tecting you from the elements, the coat makes immediate impact and updates everything that is beneath. This duster is meant to be layered. It is shown as a monochromatic look over a jacket, shirt or vest, and a skirt which have been cut in the same fabric. It may also be paired with a different solid color. beneath which peeks out at the collar, for instance, a celery duster over a cream safari shirt. 2) DRESS Add a dress for work. Nothing adds femininity faster than a dress or a soft two-piece ensemble that fits together in a dress shape. -length too. ‘and secured to one’ side’ with, A pantsuit will add longevity: your: “wardrobe because this _ pairing will be seen - more é more in. future seasons. Chocié classic, feminine style. Margareta’s pants have, " .waistband for a smooth fit: of: a. lengthened waistband .to phasize the waist. Full: inver pleats or knife pleats; Pro: i This summer’s wardrobe wil: net be complete without. a varia- : tion on the sarong. You can wi Margareta’s sophisticated vers: all year long because it. is mi covered. It wraps completel: around. the hips from the back :t the front so that no thigh area is: revealed. The skirt is in a longer’ It. is softly. ‘draped -- covered button. See Learn page 19.