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Sunday, May 20, 2001
Outside the box
FASHION TIPS
IN THE SWIM
Designers have done a fine job this season of combining pretty fabrics and imaginative details with figure-enhancing tricks.
Trends include jungle themes such as camouflage, animal and tropical prints. An American beach party mood gives us cute gingham and polka dots, and red, white and blue themes. They're also Hawaiian prints, sporty striped suits and glamour suits in shiny fabrics.
Colors range from dark olives to brights. The trendiest are cool pastels or black and white graphic prints.
Embellishments are important. Expect beaded straps, grommets, embroidery, fringe and a sprinkling of jewels.
If your mid-section can't compete with Britney Spears', consider Cole's lovely, lilac bandeau and brief topped with a mesh tank. It gives the bare look while obscuring the naked truth.
To hide heavy thighs, many swimsuit lines offer a matching skirt in the same fabric. If you choose, it will escort you right into the water.
GET THE BLUES
Blue jeans are the pants of choice for most Americans. Stores such as The Gap have reintroduced the jean jacket. You can buy denim sandals at Banana Republic, denim purses at Burberry, and denim shirts pretty much anywhere. Versace even makes a perfume called Blue Jeans.
Denim is as American as apple pie. Ever since Levi Strauss patented the process of putting rivets in pants for strength way back in 1873, dungarees have been a symbol of American culture.
Some denim trends have been good (boot cuts, sleek skirts), and some are best forgotten (tight rolled ankles, anyone?). Lucky for us, enough time has passed since Mr. Strauss' invention that today's designers have gotten it just right.
Modern denim is fitted and flared in all the right places. Styles are available that look good on any form. These clothes are usually machine washable. And best of all, denim is almost always comfortable.
-Scripps Howard News Service
WEB SITE OF THE DAY
www.fashion.about.com
Fashion expert Cynthia Nellis updates the site weekly, and includes insider info on fashion designers such as Gucci's Tom Ford, style tips on the latest trends like 'Biker Chic,' and forums that debate such questions as "Are animal prints dead?" Best of all is her 'Help yourself' collection of articles, which cover topics such as dressing 10 pounds slimmer, shopping in a ritzy store, and making over your man.
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