The international roster of designers who showed their spring collections in Paris came up with a melange of trends. Just one word of caution: Don`t wear them all at once.
Fluid: Newest, most important. Synonyms include soft, flowing, modern.
Pants: Softly flared (best: Montana); very full (widest: Chanel white linens); bell-bottoms. Some still narrow. Many belled versions are slit to the knees or higher, causing lots of flapping down below. Also, newly short (above the ankle) and culottes.
Empire: Pronounced ahm-peer; refers to a very high waist, usually just below the bosom (made famous by Napoleon`s Josephine). Same effect also achieved with high-waisted (rib-covering) pants.
Transparent: Sheer fabrics (chiffons, georgettes, organzas); variations of see-throughs include lace, mesh and fishnet, frequently layered over bras and briefs or tights. Jean Paul Gaultier puts lace dresses over knit dresses or pants. Other major fabrics: silky or rayon jerseys, crepes.
Positive/negative: Black, white (occasionally together) lead, demonstrated by the many designers who opened (Oscar de la Renta) or closed
(Chanel) their shows particularly with white. But, then, this is the spring/summer season. Also: sand, ecru, ivory, navy, pastels (yellow, pink, coral, blue).
Dresses: Major, major; alone or especially over pants, sometimes topped by jackets or coats in same fabric. Remember shirtdresses? Yesssss.
New proportions: Long over long, as in jackets over skirts (this can be the most matronly look in the world if not handled with care) or jackets, tunics over long skirts.
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Bare: Bras, cropped tops bare middles. Also, lots of cutouts, sometimes between bosom and waist, often on the back. Vests bare the arms.
Layering: Things get piled on top of things, but with the lightness of the fabrics, there`s no bulk.
Pattern: Stripes are big (wide, narrow, horizontal, vertical, mitered). In prints, small flowers, or unusual types influenced by Africa, China, and tropical islands (take your choice).
Evening: Slender, unadorned floor-length gowns look smashing.
Long: Below the knee (rare) to calf-covering to above-the-ankle
(surprisingly frequent).
Hair: Frightful, generally too much of it. Many wigs, fake ponytails.
Shoes: Sandals galore, ankle-strapped or -wrapped; thin platforms; heavy heels. Get ready for wedgies.