Male Big Tops
now fashionable
By Ron Ruggless
It has nothing to do with circus, but Big Tops are splash
ing onto the men's fashion scene and will be a big holiday
gift item, according to Lincoln men's clothing retailers.
Big Tops (comparable to smocks) have loose-fitting
sleeves and low- or no-collar necklines and will be the
fashionable shirt to buy a male, said Parvis Kamgar, manager-buyer
for Jason's clothing store.
"When buying Christmas gifts for men," he said, "get
something he wouldn't get for himself."
The unusual, new Big Top fits the bill and will be
popular through the spring, he said.
Made from fabrics ranging from gauze to denim, the
shirt is carried by most Lincoln men's clothing stores.
Foreign-made sweaters
If the buyer wishes something more conservative,
Kamgar said, sweaters are still a popular gift. This year most
of them are foreign-made. ,".
"They are made abroad, where the labor is cheap " he
said, "so 85 per cent of them are under $20." ,
Ski-type sweaters are still popular, but sweaters in earth
tones such as rust, brown and forest green are gaining
popularity, said Bruce Hahn, Hovland-Swanson merchan
dise manager.
Matching scarfs to go with sweaters, sweater vests and
cardigans are being stocked, he said.
"Clothing collections for younger people are turning to
anything that is different or unusual," Hahn said. Sweaters
with hoods, kangaroo pockets or in a wrap style are selling
well, he added.
Chest designs popular
Rod Hernandez, Ben Simon's merchandise manager, said
sweaters in the muted, dusty tones are selling for him.
Chest designs on the sweaters also are popular, he said.
As it has been for sometime, cuffs in slacks are no longer
fashionable, the retailers agreed. A straight-legged, slightly
flared look is fashionable, they said, which has produced a
change in shoe styles.
Shoes are going to a lower heel and a more tapered toe,
said Chris MeLean, Backstage, Ltd., manager, and wedgies
with Vi to VA inch heels are being sought.
"This is a transitional season," he said, "where funky
shoes are out and a more sophisticated look is in."
Popular colors in shoes are amber and brown. McLean
said, and crepe soles are fashionable.
'Look at man's size'
As for determining a man's size, Scott Erskine, Brandeis
men's store manager, said, "Girls should take a good, hon
est look at the man's size." ,
"They will come in here and say ..'Well, his shoulders are
a little broader than yours, and he is a little bigger,' "
Erskine said, "and before you know it the guy will be in
there with a piece of clothing two sizes too big."
Retailers suggest that the holiday gift buyer just ask the
male the size he wears and if that doesn't work, all stores
take refunds.
If the size isn't known, the buyer can go to bathrobes,
which come in a variety of styles but only one size, or
jewelry.
Belts, underwear and other personal items come in a
variety of styles, Kamgar said, and some tank tops can be
worn on the outside of a shirt.
"Clothes are a very personal gift," he said, "and there
are so many ranges of styles and prices to choose from that
it is just the ideal Christmas gift."
w
omen's sweaters sell well
By Marian Lucas
Novelty sweaters and pastel-colored ski jackets have hit
the women's fashion scene hard and fast.
A check of area clothing stores revealed that these two
items are the most sought for this year as holiday gifts.
"Sweaters have been super for us," buyer Teresa Hoban
of Hovland-Swanson's junior department said. She said, two
popular items have been a suede-front sweater priced at $32
and $42 and a scenic sweater that comes with a matching
scarf. That combination sells for $22.
Another big article for Hovland's has been a $76 velve
teen mechanic's jumpsuit. Just right for holiday parties, the
suit comes in black, rust and hunter green.
"Leather, more than anything, has appeared this sea
son," Hoban said. "And it's a fantastic Christmas gift."
She added that a $100 leather car coat is durable, lasting
more than three years.
Jacket and sweaters
At Ben Simon's, buyer Nancy Mond said its biggest sell
ers have been a mint green ski jacket as well as turtleneck,
wrap and scenic sweaters. -
'The pastels have done very well for us in ski jackets,"
she said. Simon's carries White Stag and Aspen jackets rang
ing in price from $36 without a hood to $62 with a hood.
Printed shirts worn with patterned sweaters are impor
tant pieces in Magee's stock, according to buyer Barb
Schmidt. -
Woven in plaid, polyester knits .and nylon prints, the
blouses may be worn alone or with a novelty sweater.
Ski apparel
Magee's ski apparel includes hooded jackets trimmed in
fur and reindeer and snowflaked ski sweaters in colors from
coral to rust to cactus.
For Miller and Paine, its $7 crew-neck, long-sleeve skivvy
sweater has been most successful.
Leslie Oehm, manager of The Daisy, said that, along
with sweater sets, her popular pieces are ski pants, jackets
and jumpsuits. At The Daisy, ski jackets are priced from
$32 to $64.
Also Oehm said flannel, quilted, velvet and corduroy
vests would make nice holiday gifts. ,
. Skirts popular
All stores surveyed said the skirt is enjoying its most
popular year. The most fashionable length is 24-27 inches,
which comes to the knee or an inch below the knee.
The well-received skirt comes in prewashed and fine
waled corduroy, denim, gabardine and wool. Styles range
from striped, biased cut to button front and draw-string or
elastic waist.
Karen Siefkes, buyer at Millet and Paine, said skirts are
stylistic because "people are tired, of pants."
"Now you don't have to be dressed up to wear a skirt,"
she said.
Since pants were fashionable for such a long time,
Siefkes said, people have worn layered items that work as
well with skirts.
Thin-heeled shoes
Beckstage LTD. part-owner Christopher McLean said be
cause of women's transition to dresses and skirts, he has
been selling tapered, thin-heeled shoes that are similar to
those in the 1940s and '50s.
McLean, who said he has 40 styles of boots in stock, said
his best seller has been a $5 1 wedged boot.
He added that a fashion gaucho and a "baggy" boot,
which is tight at the top and loose at the bottom, have also
sold well.
Pants are important gift items again this year. But pre
washed corduroy, colored denim and velveteen fabrics are
what make them different.
"Prewashed cords for pants are starting to peak," Siefkes
said. '
' . . Denim gifts
Even though denim jeans are still important, styles are
dressing up. Oehm said denim gifts in the form of blazers
and outfits are "super ideas."
Mond urged customers to practice investment buying.
That is, buying a basic skirt, blazer, vest and pants. She said
then additional coordinates such as sweaters and shirts can
be worked into different outfits.
Siefkes said she thought junior customers look for
fashion before quality in an article.
"If you look at the popular items, they are made in
India," she said. "They are not a top quality manu
facturer." For best investment holiday buying, basic items includ
ing skirts, pants and blazers are urged. If, however, fashion
is important, a ski jacket or sweater couldn't go wrong.
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