What`s new for spring? Here are the trends we`re seeing on New York runways:
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Easy does it: Nothing is rigid, everything flows, glides smoothly over the body. Clothes are long, lean, linear, liquid.
Flare with flair: Pants flare everywhere, from the crazy bell-bottoms at Betsey Johnson to, surprisingly, lots of flares and bells at Donna Karan.
Ruffles, flounces: They`re back, but not with a vengeance the way Oscar de la Renta or Scaasi used to do them. These are very gentle, quiet flounces, usually at the necklines and cuffs of poet`s shirts or on linen or chiffon blouses; definitely on the old-fashioned floral dresses.
It`s a natural: Makeup and legs are almost colorless. Faces look fresh
(well, except for the false eyelashes). Legs are in skin-toned hose or are totally bare, even with black things for evening. But, toenails are polished, sometimes in bright red.
Layer it on: This is one of the biggest changes for spring. Layering-especially dresses, tunics or vests over pants-will be the first step in taking on a new look.
Hip and hippies: Lots of hip-slung bell-bottoms and flared pants, even hip-slung skirts. Hippie derivatives include tons of headwraps, long beads, tie-dyes, beaded and fringed vests, dog collars, leather wrist wraps.
Navel attack: Yes, with all those bras and bare midriffs, the eye goes right to-you guessed it-the belly button. Cynthia Rowley helps draw attention with a circular cutout that`s as attention-getting as a spotlight.
Barely there: All kinds of cutouts, halter necklines leaving backs open. Filmy chiffons also add to this bare look, which will probably make thong panties spring`s major accessory for the fast and adventuresome set. Anna Sui had so many see-throughs, she even credited Hanky Panky for the very visible thongs.
Major hair: Sometimes downright messy, sometimes stacked up high by way of falls and other hair accessories.
Look out down below: Interesting footgear includes lots of ankle-wrapped sandals (some shoes have yards-long laces that wind their way around the legs up to and over the knees). Platforms continue (heels and flats); wedgies, thick cork soles.