By Lauren Smith
THE BATTALION
[X Tith the job market in a drought that is awaiting May grad-
y\/ uates as well as the upcoming end of “Friends,” times are
’ V tough for college students these days. Despite the politi-
ate of the United States, fashion fans can take comfort in the fact
it s really a happy time,” said Sonia Gibson, fashion and public
°ns director for Saks Fifth Avenue at Bal Harbour, Fla., as report-
t the Miami Herald. This time of stripes, prints and polka dots is
®ge, but though these patterns do seem fresh, they have a rich
■7 in fashion.
ttricia McFall of the U. Daily News praises Hawaiian shirts as a
°mia legend.”
Originally brought here in large numbers and loud colors by
's from the Pacific in World War II, the same shirts were later res-
froin their sons and some daughters,” McCall said,
odd War II, besides changing the way the world functioned,
gave birth to authentic American fashions that had not existed
e ; Fashion designers could no longer make trips across the
aic to France to copy their designs upon returning to the
'0 States. American designers were cut off from Paris coutuie
^ the German battleships stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Out
f Ie necessity, designers in New York City had to become more
1Ve , resulting in the United States becoming a major player in
swear fashion.
Mageblues.com, which provides a detailed history of fashion,
as a year that mirrors where fashion is this spring.
-Mistian Dior introduced the ‘New Look,’ featuring longer
s and fuller skirts, a return to classic femininity, the Web site
fed. Women’s fashion changed to a soft, feminine and roman-
lage.” 6
m °ngst the floral prints, citrus colors and ruffles, the dress is
and better than ever — a must-have for spring.
Left: Ross
Peavey (left),
a senior politi
cal science
major and
Jason
Cornelius, a
senior envi-
ronmental
design major
sport classic
looks by a
classic car.
Peavey pairs a
blazer with a
seersucker
shirt and
khaki shorts.
Seersucker
fabric com
bines texture
and pattern
for a crisp
look.
Cornelius
relaxes in a
polo shirt and
white linen
pants, adding
flip-flops for a
super-casual,
laidback atti
tude.
Jacqui Lividini, fashion director for Saks Fifth Avenue in New
York City, said this season has been one of the best for dresses in
years, as reported in The New York Times.
“Particularly successful are halter-style sundresses, chiffon
evening dresses in watery prints and anything with an off-the-shoul-
der feminine collar on top,” she said.
This romantic feel that reflects current fashions has carried over
into men’s fashions as well.
The National Association of Men’s Sportswear Buyers (NAMSB)
calls 2004 the year of “casual elegance” in the form of lightweight
suits in pastel colors.
The NAMSB expects to see more striped patterns everywhere, par
ticularly in the form of cotton sports coats.
Jack Herschlag, NAMSB executive director in New York City
said, “I just think that’s the cycle. Stripes are the easiest type of
pattern to make.”
These trends in men’s and women’s fashions are not just an
“American thing,” as the first week in March at Milan’s Fashion Week
displayed similar trends.
Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune summed up the
week’s looks in her wrap-up. Burberry’s look was cute and charming,
she said, but she could not understand the “obsession with girlish
dresses” that Burberry and Marc Jacobs had.
“With their hair tied in bandeau scarves, the models looked sleek.
The hard soft masculine-feminine theme was done in a ladylike way,
with attention to detail: a flower pattern worked in relief on a leather
jacket or a bow on the front of a pump,” Menkes said in describing
Ferragamo’s line.
The tweed trend has carried over from winter to spring, designer
Veronica Etro said. Etro said she thinks the material sticks to the over
arching romantic theme.
“Printing the sensible country stuff with sweet roses and mixing
patterns in one coat or a jacket with a full skirt,” she said. “A soft sur
face, such as tweed or velvet, and a fuzzy printing effect make the
plethora or pattern easier to digest.”
Page 3A • Thursday, April 1, 2004
CAMPU
with Lauren Smith
ou
/ Li
re
S tripes,
polka
dots
and tropical
prints are risky,
especially if
the craziest
thing you have
ever done is
switch the
wrist you wear
your watch on -
or write a fan
letter to Scott
Baio of
“Charles in
Charge.” This
season, prints
and patterns in all colors and
sizes are everywhere, so step
out of your comfort zone and
try them out.
Stripes are present this
season in the form of
sweaters, skirts and pants.
Seersucker, a blue and
white pinstripe pattern, is a
must for this spring and sum
mer. The material is light
weight and so crisp that you
just might feel like a J.Crew
model casually strolling to
class. There are both men's
and women's pants and but
ton-down shirts in this pat
tern. Because the stripes in
this pattern are vertical, the
pattern is slenderizing and
flattering. When wearing
stripes, it is essential to avoid
u
Dress sharply
and they notice
the dress. Dress
impeccably, and
they notice you.
— Coco Chanel
designer
horizontals on
the bottom.
Polka dots
are especially
popular on
swimsuits this
season.
From my
brother's black
board shorts
with large, hot
pink and white
polka dots to
my roommate's
white suit with
pastel polka
dots, I think I
am seeing spots
when I close my eyes.
Multi-colored polka dots
are better for girls, while
guys should stick to polka
dots in a solid color. Polka
dots also work well as an
accessory for a girl, in the
form of a belt or headband.
The tropical print is in full
effect this season, so it is not
just reserved for your annual
beach trip. Since dresses are
so hot right now, girls should
try a tropical print dress. But,
to avoid having the dress
look like a muumuu, belt it
with a ribbon that coordi
nates with the dress.
Guys, please button your
tropical shirt, and lose the
See Patterns on page 10A
Randal Ford •THE BATTALION
Krysten Allison, a senior communications major, and Ross Peavey, a
senior political science major, take their patterns to the streets of
Northgate.
Randal Ford • THE BATTALION
Whit Wolman, a senior industrial distribution major, whispers
nothings into senior English major Meggie Assad's ear.
sweet