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By Pat Schnitzer
Women will look and feel like women this spring in
clothes that convey softness and femininity.
According to Lincoln clothing buyers, femininity will be
a dominant theme in both dress and casual clothes.
The nostalgic trend, influenced by the "Great Gatsby
look," will create a soft, flowing look in high fashion
apparel. . .
Supple, silky fabrics, such as chiffon, Quiana nylon, silk
and jersey, are most common in these knee-skimming
dresses.
Drop shoulders, wrapped bodices and gathered skirts
achieve the flowing look. Buyers also said shirtwaist and
belted dresses should be popular this summer. ,
And the wrap style won't be limited to dresses, one
buyer said. It should be popular in blouses, skirts and coats.
Delicate, airy colors, such as mint green, apricot, silver
blue, peach and coral, make these dresses a cool summer
choice, . -
And the nfutfals-beige, white and cream-also will be
strong spring and summer hues.
Buyers agreed that the part pajama, with wide pants, will
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be a favorite for evening wear. The pajama should ba off the
same silky fabric as daytime dresses.
And an alternative to the party pajama is. the evsr
popular long dress, this year with a matching shawi.
One buyer said these spring clothes are seasonless.
"Pants will always be a way of life but dresses are selling
because women like to feel feminine," she said.
Buyers agreed that dress length will flunctuate around
the knee. Although below the knee length often is pictured
in magazines, buyers were skeptical that this length would
be popular with everyone. The length is appropriate for the
tall girl but not the short one, they said.
And for more casual wear, sheer voile blouses over halter
tops will be a favorite with pants.
Buyers said two new toppings for pants this spring are
the camisole and the "big" top. Both loose fitting, the "big
top" resembles the old tent dress and skims the hips. The
camisole usually is made of sweater knits, or cotton.
Buyers said sweater tops with one shoulder strap, halter
tops, low necked T-shirts and simple short sleeve blouses
still will be popular this year., I 1 ' -
Although pant toppings have changed little, pants will be
Wednesday, epril
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somewhat different this year, buyers said.
Pants, and especially jeans, will be lower and more
tapered this spring.' But they added that customers can find
pafitS in iti'iyt Jttngin ut' Width, Cuffed Of UfiCUffeu.
Despite the rumored shortage, denim will hold a high
place on the fashion agenda. Faded and regular denim with
rhinestones,ttrds -end embroidery will be found in pants,
skirts, jackets and. pan suits.
Accessories are all-important this spring Matching
bracelets and earrings are popular in seashells or in natural
tones of wood, cork, twine and straw. And for the more
sophisticated tfrtfssas, wear smaller bracelets and necklaces
of gold and silver
Shoes wil b9'lower and slimmer for dresses this spring.
Heels are lower and thinner with tapering toes for the softer
clothes.
But f6r 'casual dresses platform shoes, although a bit
lower, are still' popular. One buyer said shoes are an
accessory now, rather than being in the spotlight.
The sportswear, shoe probably will be a refined tennis
shoe on a rope or marshmallow wedgie solie.
In mai's-spring. fashions, buyers agreed the western look
and the "sport suit" will be two popular styles.
The western influence has inspired yokes, front pockets
and peart button "srtaps in shirts. These shirts might have
contrasting ...cuffs, -collars or yokes and be studded or
embroidered. And gingham check is a good fabric for the
cowboy shirt. .
However, the jacket is casual and can be worn with a
sport suit of turtleneck sweater. This suit usually comes in
two basks -styles; with the short jean jacket or the longer,
square bottomed jacket
Popular fabrics for the suit are denim, double knit,
corduroy and polyester cotton blends.
Jeans may be. more costly or harder to find, but buyers
will offer a -variety of styles. Back yokes, rag stitched seams
and buckled backs should be popular.
Buyers said " new pants most often are uncuffed and
straighter, but cuffs and flares are also available. New spring
pant colors are tight blue, yellow and green.
The "Gatsby look" has not yet become a strong style for
men, buyers said. The vested suit is the Gatsby style selling
most now.
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Clothes 'tod accessories by
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10, 1074
Wednesday, april 10,
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c
osts reflect 'changing times
By Scott Svoboda
"The times they are a changing,", Bob Dillon sings, and the
same thing can be said about the fashion merchandising
industry, especially where prices are concerned. '
That's the general belief of store managers and
merchandisers in Lincoln.
Gone are the days of $5 jeans and much of what a college
student on a limited budget might have been in the market for.
Where did those days go?
Down the road of increased labor costs and raw material
shortages, according to most retailers interviewed.
One Lincoln merchandiser for men's clothing said clothing
costs can be compared only when components and
workmanship are the same.
Come manufactures, he said, ar coming up with ingenious
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substitute materials that look and feel similar to the higher
priced materials and craftsmanship consumers are used to.
Like most merchandisers interviewed, he assumes that
clothing costs will rise about 15 to 20 by next fall.
"As a consumer seeing the clothes in the racks, you may
not discern the price increases, because the manufacturers
substitute fibers andor eliminate some extras," he said.
Another merchandising manager agreed, adding that there
seems to be cycle to price increases.
Returning from a recent trip to New York City where he
talked to clothing industry representatives, he said the
shortages of raw materials are altering buying patterns.
"Anytime there's a shortage of something, you have a price
increase," he said.
So far, the major concern has been a shortage of synthetic
fibers which are derived from petroleum.
He said he predicts a 5 to 10 increase.
Although all these men predicted price increases, they said
it's hard to establish just what articles of clothing will go up
and by what percentage.
Prices for cSothes with cotti and wool wLi t.usase, they
said. Last year's cotton ctop partially was ruined by floods in
the South. Japan bought a rather large portion of the gray
wool in world markets, according to a fabric store manager.
He noted a rising export demand for American produced
fabrics in the world market.
That means more fabrics will be produced and sold to
foreign countries, regardless of price increases, he said.
Do any of these businesses fear a slow down effect in
consumer purchases because of price increases?
One clothing store employe said the price increase won't
affect business.
Another merchandiser agreed, but added, "I'm' not a
pessimist, I feel if there is interesting merchandise to buy,
people will buy it in spite of the fact that it is higher than they
paid for last time."
Another merchandising manager said, The "fashion business
will be strong next year because people want something that's
fashionable." , '
The manager of a boutique for women said that increased
shoplifting will increase prices also, but she doesn't foresee any
slowdown for business.
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