DATE: Sunday, November 9, 1997              TAG: 9711090069

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Column 

SOURCE: Guy Friddell 

                                            LENGTH:   51 lines

FASHION TALES ENTICE WRITER AS SHOW NEARS

Three young women favored me Saturday with memories of dresses that had impressed them most. For one it was a plum-colored business outfit of raw silk she wore for a successful job interview.

Moving into a new home, she returned to her car to find a thief pawing through it. She didn't have to call 911 because her scream inspired six neighbors to do so. The thief made off with the plum suit.

At age 7, she loved a dress with tiny doors of yellow, orange and blue printed on white fabric. Her older and younger sisters also wore ``the door dress,'' as has a second generation. It now awaits a third wave.

Another young woman cherishes a soft wool ruby-red dress set off by a purple rose with green leaves.

She remembers when she and friends, age 7, wore red to their teacher's Christmas wedding. Her mother sewed a dress but had to leave it sleeveless. ``I was the only child bare-armed in the picture,'' she said. ``I felt humiliated.''

A third loves a forest-green dress, nearly ankle length, of light, soft velour with a scoop neck and loose Empire waist. It is as comfortable as a nightgown, she said, ``and I feel like Napoleon's Josephine.''

This madness about dress seized me when a friend, who once saved my life, asked me to tell you of a big fashion show at noon Wednesday at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott to aid the Virginia Symphony. Last year it gained $80,000.

Carole Lawrence, the show's producer, notes a trend to men's-style dress with a feminine touch. That brings to mind actresses Joan Crawford, who was imperious, and scrawny Kate Hepburn, who was appealing in whatever she wore.

Today, women are wearing pin- or bankers'-striped jackets and the feminine touch might come with a camisole blouse, a kind of tank top or shell embossed with beads or lace. After work, the elegant sleeveless blouse serves for evening wear. (I can't believe I am writing this; but the show shapes up as interesting, even to me.)

Another influence is Oriental with Mao collars and ornamental frog closures. Then, Lawrence said, there are leather and faux furs, the latter on collars and cuffs. Faux, which sounds high-class as Hector, means ``fake,'' which should cheer PETA. Velvet and velour are in order even for jeans, so help me. Popular colors include charcoal grays and black. Brown is around with wine hues, as are shades of green.

Lawrence began dancing and choreographing at 15. She modeled for Rice's and became coordinator of shows for Belk Stores for 25 years. Now she is on her own.

Seventeen professional models of all sizes and ages, late 20s to early 70s, will display clothes from eight stores. Tickets cost $30 or $50. For information, call 464-2997 or 460-3069.

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