Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 18, 1990 TAG: 9003222095
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By TRACIE FELLERS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Styles of the season represent almost as many cultures and countries as the United Nations. And the ethnic look isn't just for sportswear anymore - it has broader appeal.
"You're going to see it in just about everything - from coats to suits, jackets, blouses, tops, pants - everything," said Lisa Williams, special events coordinator for Roanoke's Leggett stores.
In the Roanoke area, the ethnic influence can be seen in a variety of clothing, from children's wear to women's dresses and suits. And ethnic-inspired clothing can be found in stores as varied as E.I. Randle, JCPenney and Thalhimers.
With the global attitude of clothes this season, one needs to travel only as far as the nearest mall or boutique to achieve the look and feel of an exotic, faraway culture.
For example, since much of the world's attention has been focused on Eastern Europe for the past few months, many shoppers will find appeal in Russian-inspired looks for weekend dressing.
The Eastern European flavor is in the shape - blouson or loose-fitting tops and long skirts, which nearly graze the ankle. The look is soft and simple.
Prints combining patterns such as paisley and polka dots, like those on a rayon gauze blouse and skirt designed by Carole Little, evoke a folksy image of the Russian countryside.
African-, Indian- and Polynesian-inspired clothing has emerged most prominently in area stores, as well as garments with the feel of the American Southwest.
Indian-inspired batik prints are splashed onto sarong skirts, casual dresses, shorts, tops and pants. The colors range from vivid purples and blues, with touches of black or white, to oranges, olive greens and neutrals, such as sand or clay.
African-flavored prints or those with a Southwestern flair have an impact on the same types of clothing, but with a difference. Some skirts - in rayon or polyester chiffon - are dressier and paired with jackets in brights or spice tones, such as mustard, a gold muted with just a hint of brown. The result is a dynamic career look.
The tropical prints and florals of Polynesian- or Oriental-influenced design are in spicier tones than previous seasons. These colors include golds, orangey-reds and touches of olive green. For instance, one floral-print Ellen Tracy outfit at Leggett comes in a zesty orange-red dubbed geranium.
Animal prints, popular for the last couple of seasons, add a dramatic or whimsical air to skirts, sweaters, tops and pants.
In an ensemble at E.I. Randle, Adrienne Vittadini's sense of fun comes into play in a short-sleeved black cotton top with an orange and brown jungle print. The top is paired with black form-fitting calf-length pants with an orange and brown leopard print.
A Vittadini jungle-print sweater with tiny beads and brown wooden buttons has a dramatic look over a snug-fitting black knit skirt.
A relaxed, "loose and flowing" silhouette is key to the ethnic mood, Williams said. "A lot of things are going to be draped and tied and loose-fitting." Sarong skirts are one example of the soft, easy shape, she said.
The look is definitely multicultural, Williams added. "I think you're going to see a touch of Oriental, a touch of Indian, a touch of Western, but still it comes back to the ethnic look."
Accessories with an ethnic touch have been hot since last fall but will wield more fashion power this spring. Ethnic influences in scarves, jewelry, shoes, belts and hair accessories can bring a touch of the exotic to an outfit.
"Accessories are just a real key to achieving this look with things you might already have in your wardrobe," said Peggy Lyons, fashion coordinator for Thalhimers' Roanoke and Lynchburg stores.
Wooden and beaded jewelry, including earrings, necklaces and bracelets accent the look, says Williams.
Filigree earrings that dangle below the chin line - appropriately called shoulder-dusters - add a fresh, light touch, Lyons said: "They're lightweight and they're just fun."
Headbands and barrettes use combinations of wood, metal and fabric for ethnic flavor. "They're made out of everything - rope, jute, satin, beads," Williams said.
Large scarves in silk, gauze or sheer cotton can provide a chic, easy finish to ethnic-inspired clothes.
In brights, batik prints and vegetable-tone golds, browns and greens, "these scarves can be tied around the hip and draped with belts that have coins or charms," Lyons said.
"The big scarves - 48-inch squares and larger - can be draped over the waist like a sarong skirt and worn over a swimsuit," she said.
Men looking to put a little ethnic spice in their spring wardrobes can do so by topping a favorite pair of spring shorts or slacks with an ethnic-inspired shirt in a modified batik or tropical print.
Now wait - don't get hung up on an image of Hawaiian shirts in garish color combinations. "It's toned down," said Mark Bright, young men's buyer for Leggett. "It's not the bright Hawaiian shirts you used to see."
For men, many of this spring's prints feature cool, urbane colors, such as the cobalt blue, black and gray leaf motif splashed on a rayon cream-colored Reunion shirt at Leggett.
But for the man who likes to stand out in a crowd, bright, ethnic-inspired T-shirts and shorts like those at JCPenney might be just the thing for an afternoon's sail on Smith Mountain Lake.
T-shirts feature modified batik prints in bright colors and black, often with green, yellow or pink neon accents. Shorts have tropical flair in color combinations like orange, yellow and black, or green, purple and black.
The wide variety in this season's ethnic looks is a result of designers' growing awareness of children and men as fashion consumers, Williams said. "You're seeing children's wear come way out. The designers are trying to keep them updated with the adults, and I think it's the same way with men.
"I would think that designers are trying to get everybody involved," she said.
Because they're available in so many interpretations and at all price levels, spring's global trends make it easy to put together a new look. When you go out to savor the flavors of the world, you can even leave your passport at home - but don't forget your credit card.
Memo: Spring Fashion