FUN AND frivolity is back in
fashion.

By Carol Crenna
Contributing Writer

This was particularly evident at
New York's fall collections as 60
top American designers staged an
entertaining spectacle in huge white
tents within the heart of
Manhattan's garment district.

Perhaps design-
ers are

Graphics Carof Crenna

York si

bored with the bleak cloud that’s
been hanging over the fashion
industry in the past few years or
they've once again succumbed to
escapism, but the current collective
consciousness has a sense of
humor.

They presented fresh wearable
clothes, throwing in Jots of witty
twists and flattering curves.

Though much of the news isn't
new, with silhouettes and fabrics
recycled from the last two seasons,
innovation is shown in the way they
are used.

Layering and mismatching col-

ors, textures and details brought

: the runways to life through

clever coordination. ‘This was

so apparent that a lot of atten-

tion was focused on the work

of the fashion stylists who

coordinate the clothing for

each show. Several collec-

tions were reported to have

acquired their direction

using skilful presentation

eae rather than clothing
va design.

The most memo-
rable lines were pre-
sented by the follow-

ing designers:

® Donna Karan
likes variety. Her
favorite shape is
the princess-
seamed dress in
stretch neoprene or
taffeta with scooped
neck and fully gathered
skirt for evening and in
softer fabrics
beneath fitted jack-

ets for day.

Her knee-length skirt
has an age-spanning
appeal, shown in knit

dresses and straight skirts
worn with shearling

Shae

Advertisin ing Feature

17e@ Of

tunics. Full plaid minis are teamed
with waist-cropped turtlenecks end
down quilted vests.
® Marc jacobs has evolved trom
grunge {to feminine whimsy, offer-
ing plastic cuated coats in acid
green, orange and hot pink; little,
flared skating skirts: slim-fitted
pantsuits; sheer blouses with fur
sleeves; sheer skirts with panties
visible beneath; nubbly wool poo-
die suits with fake fur hoods and
satin jackets topping glitter bras.
@ Bill Blass shows impeccable
clothes for office and evening
including wool double coats which
duplicate a simple shape in bright
accent colors; suits with Empress-
waisted shifts over long, narrow
jackets; shapely tweed and plaid
pantsuits; wool peacoats; velour
tunics and dresses and layered iri-
descent chiffon dresses.
@ Calvin Klein's CK line will
make an impression with the
designer's idealized approach to
suburbia. Inspired by innocent TV
sitcoms and small-town clean liv-
ing, he offers white turtlenecks
beneath crisp shirts, argyle knits,
knee-length straight skirts, white
shoes and tights, rolled jeans,
sleeveless shirt dresses, plaid kilts
and thin belts securing most waists.
® Anna Sui mixes it up. She is onc
of many who plays with the envi-
ronmental issue, replacing or mix-
ing feather with vinyl and
medacrylic with fur. Red and lime
green vinyl dresses have wide fake
fur trim and matching viny! boots,
fake fur minis slide under wool suit
jackets with leather trim or suede
vests, and both long- and shoit-
haired faux fur coats top office and
evening looks.
® Nostalgia and Hollywood
escapism make an impact on Isaac
Mizrahi who adds it to casuals and
evening wear. Colors called Pez,
Pepto and Poodle pink, Tang

Kids Biz offers great service and
brand names for less.

Smiles are plentiful at the
Kidz Biz store in Lynn Valley
Centre. Smiles on the faces of
Dianne and her staff, because
they love their job, smiles on
the kids because they love the
clothes, and the smiles on the
parents because they love the
prices!

One of the Kidz Biz
stores, the Lynn Valley
location sells top labels at
discount prices from
infants-16. The racks are
overflowing with Oshixosh,
E.N.U.F, B.U.M., Bugle
Boy and Kotton Kandi, to
name a few.

Owners Bill & Pat
MacDonald irequently travel! to
New York, Montreal & Toronto
to search out ail the well
known brands. By taking a
lower markup they are able to
pass on the savings to their
customers. As parents them-
selves, the MacDonalds recog-
nize the needs of their con-

sumers and constantly strive
to ensure those needs are
met.

Dianne says they have
something fer ail the little peo-
ple on your list. Whether it’s a

suit, shirt and a tie for your

Left to right: Karen, dackie, Karen, Michelle,

Dianne, Lynda, Norma

youngest son to wear to your
sister's wedding, an Oshiosh
outfit for your nephew or the
perfect crochet vest for your
eleven year ald daughter, Kids
Biz can accommodate you.

They also carry a full range
of sports clothes and starter
hats featuring all the top sports

team insignias, Christening
caresses, party dresses, socks
and accessories (which are
made by a local eritrepreneur).
“We receive ordeis from ail
ever the country", says
Dianne.

‘The store itself is bright and

colorful and features a Brio

Train table which keeps the

kids happy while you shop.

With the purchase of
41 $25.00, Kids Biz awards
71 you a “Brio Buck” to trade
on your next purchase of
the popular toyline also car-
ried by the store.

The buyers really appreci-
ate input from their customers.
lf there’s something you'd like
to see in the store, tell them.
This is one place where you
and your comments are truly
appreciated!

Kids Biz is tocated in Lynn
Valley Centre and can be
reached at 988-7466.

orange, Glade green and

Jaw Breaker blue cover

knits, coats, suits and
dresses. He shows promi

queen crinolines with
sweatshirts, full pom-

pon tulle = mini

dresses under

quilted and shear-

ling mac jackets,

sequin shifts over

wool turtlenecks

and mohair dress-

es with a sequin

yoke or sleeves,

@ Betsey

Johnson amus-

es with her

“Suzie Cyber

Surfs” theme. She

shews black patent

bras and garterbelts,

tight vinyl jeans and

dresses and

Sasquatch white fur

jumpsuits.

Aside from the fun,

there are empire-

waisted jersey dress-

es, cuddly crocheted

velour knits, puff-pleated

plaid suits and Oriental silk
housecoats. Ensembles end in
matching thigh-high hose cut in
velvet knit, striped jersey and gold
metallic, cinched with garterbelts to
skirts and bodysuits.

@ Geoffrey Beene takes a different
approach, creating longer, more
covered shapes for colder weather.
He layers them adventurously, slid-
ing pants under long sheer skirts
and little cropped boleros over wool
jumpsuits. For added warmth,
wrapped and tied tops slip over
office and evening wear and richly
colored coats in fingertip-length

“ reaching

Hoor
wool are shawn.

@ Richard Tyler knows how to
make suits for Anne Klein, cutting
his jackets close to the body over
minis, shorts and nacrow pants.
Ultrasuede is added to British
tweed jackets and vests, beaded
embroidery to collars and ostrich
feathers to hemlines. Other high-
lights from the show were his
Norfolk jackets and vests, super-fit-
ted pinstriped pantsuits, officer's
coats, quilted mac jackets under
sophisticated raincoats and little
knitted skirt and cardigan sets.

“ALL BUFFALO

tne

lox " LADIE

Rite

Pa Wy
“OVER 20 Hi

ptOW ON SALE”
LEP TET.

Ve 51 LONSDALE AVE.
oe] NORTH VANCOUVER

980-2965