Fall officially began Thursday, and despite floods, famine, high unemployment and the loss of our A&P’s, women’s thoughts turn toward what’s new for fall in the world of fashion.
A few years ago, there was much talk and promises to use “normal weight” models because of the health risks many young girls were taking in trying to resemble the models they see on television and in magazines. Unfortunately, a normal weight is not even on the radar. The models are pre-adolescent nymphs with arms and legs so bony they look as though they have been living in Darfur.
Most designers seem to be getting their inspiration from out of the mainstream grunge street kids, rather than from well-known women of style.
Formerly, even if the rest of us could not afford the original, elegant clothes the socialites wore, such fashion did serve as a yardstick for good taste and we could look for inexpensive copies. Now, unwearable and ugly shoes are coupled with scrunched-up ankle socks, plaids compete with polka dots, harem pants topped by gauzy see-through blouses, and many skirts are so short they literally disappear when the wearer sits down.
And the men’s clothes are even worse! I’m tired of the Burberry ads featuring young, scowling toughs (and for women the model Kate Moss with her pouty, spaced-out look) and advertisements that employ words like “must haves” and “hot.”
If you would like to add some inexpensive touches to make your basic wardrobe look “this year,” I would suggest a white ruffled blouse, an asymetrical-styled sweater or jacket, and a faux shearling vest or bomber jacket.
Anything pleated or fringed is also shown by many designers, but when overdone, these can make the wearer resemble a walking lamp shade.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of viewing the exceptional Metropolitan Museum exhibit “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.” Utilizing continuous films on the exhibit walls and mannequins, the exhibit featured an extensive collection of fashions from the 1820s to the 1980s.
On display was Scarlett’s little velvet hat, worn when trying to charm Rhett Butler; the beautiful black and white ball gown that Annie Hearst wore to the London coronation ball; and Ava Gardner’s stunning ensemble from “The Barefoot Contessa.”
On view were kidskin boots from the 1960s that would be fashionable today, as well as sumptuous day suits and evening gowns made in Paris for women of elegance and wealth. The workmanship and the fabrics are absolutely breathtaking.
Another exhibit showed wool bloomer bathing suits and tightly laced corsets that surely must have been contributing factors to the women’s revolution. While this exhibit has closed, a smaller, but equally interesting exhibit, “Notorious and Notable: 20th Century Women of Style,” featuring their clothing and jewelry, has opened at the Museum of the City of New York (5th Avenue and 103rd Street) and will remain until Jan. 3.
There is no entrance fee for this museum, and if you are taking Metro-North into New York, get off at 125th Street. A $6 cab ride will put you at the museum’s front door, after which you can hop the 5th Avenue bus directly to the Metropolitan Museum, where there is always something worthwhile to see.
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