A Few Cool Essentials Make Up New Wardrobe
For all the cozy appeal of winter’s layers, the arrival of warm weather sparks the impulse to shed.
Away with angora and mohair. Off to the attic, bulky tweeds.
Now is the time of year for paring wardrobes to the cool, spare essentials - pieces that are simple, versatile and totally up-to-theminute, fashionwise.
The six examples shown here not only fit the bill, they don’t break the bank.
Summer vacation, here you come.
The sweater set. In the ‘50s,
coeds collected sweater sets like candy. Now the classic preppie partnership of cardigan and matching pullover has won a whole new following.
Cardigans can be short-sleeved or long, V-neck or crew; pullovers range from mock turtlenecks to sleeveless shells.
What counts most is shape, scale and color: Look for sweaters with a small rather than oversize fit. Then find the sherbet shade that makes your complexion glow.
And don’t be afraid to split up the team.
The cardigan adds a pretty top note to a bare little dress. The shell lends a soft touch to a sleek, tailored suit.
The polo shirt. Another timely revival, the knit polo shirt, is a hip alternative to the basic T. As with sweater sets, scale is key: Cropped, waistband-grazing polos set the standard.
To wear with? Capris and other skinny pants. Short A-line or kneelength pencil skirts. Or even as a sporty counterpoint to tailored pantsuits.
A fitted suit. Fashion publications from Allure to Women’s Wear Daily have declared 1995 the year of the suit. What the best ones have in common are fussfree sophistication and a flattering, waist-conscious fit.
Jackets are cropped to the hip and buttoned high up the chest. Skirts - gently flaring bias cuts or more demanding pencils - drop to the knees.
Treat the pieces like separates (most now are sold that way), and the options increase dramatically: Skirt with twin set, jacket with dress….
A bare top. Bra tops and corsets were all over designer runways. But here’s a compromise that’s made for the real world: a top that’s fitted but not constricting; bare but not overexposed.
A little black dress. Every wardrobe needs one perfect black dress. A likely candidate this season is the totally simple A-line that just skims the knees. The bareness of the cut-in shoulders makes a great after-dark look.
Top with a fitted jacket or cardigan sweater to go from sexy to chic.
Narrow pants. If classic pleated trousers are the Fords of the fashion industry, spring’s streamlined pants are clearly the Ferraris.
Cut to cling and cropped just shy of the ankle, they aren’t for every body. But the clean lines and pleatless, side-zip styling are more slimming than you might expect.
Add a fitted white shirt and heels to echo Uma Thurman’s “Pulp Fiction” look (visible black bra strictly optional).
Top with a tailored jacket for work, a clingy T-shirt or scaleddown polo for weekend wear.
xxxx More spare pieces for the season Here are seven more spare essentials for spring: Strappy heels. Fitted white shirt. Patent leather tote. Short trench coat. Sheer, skin-toned hosiery. A small silk kerchief. Clear or lightly tinted lip gloss. -Dallas Morning News
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Tracy Achor Hayes Dallas Morning News