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spring fashion supplement to the daily nebraskan
monday, april 7, 1980
Cardin's spring line conserves
energy, but possibly not money
By Mary JoPitzl
The spring lineup from designer Rene Cardin comes
to bat with three basic hard-hitting ideas: big and bold
and energy conscious.
Energy conscious? A new shade of gray, perhaps?
Or possibly the latest in t -shirt trivia?
According to Doris D'Angelis, who designs the Cardin
line in New York City, the growing energy crisis in
America has had an impact not only on designers office
climates but on their design boards as well . ' .
"A large influence on our line has been the conserva
tion program,' D'Angelis said. "We're faced with some
practicality which we haven't been faced with in a long
time."
This trend toward practicality is reflected by greater
use of 100 percent cotton materials and open-mesh
stitches allow body heat to be released easily, she said.
Because this spring and summer the air conditioner pro
bably won't be running as often as in the past, cooler
clothing will be a necessity , she said .
Natural fibers
Natural fibers will also be featured extensively in the
1980 Cardin line because they are cool and comfortable.
"We're trying to make a statement about conserva
tion,' D'Angeli said. 'This is really a first.
Another projection of current economic and social
conditions on the Cardin line is seen into he predominance
of cheerful colors, D'Angelis said .
"Color is a great psychological influence,' she said,
explaining that high inflation rates and worsening
economic conditions partly inspired the use of cheery
colors in the spring line. The colors include purple, yel
low, periwinkle, spring green and various hues of pink.
Big bold blocks of color are splashed onto spring line
creations, according to D'Angelis. Although she described
many of the spring fashions as "whimsical " D'Angelis
said there is nothing timid about them.
Big and bold
'They're big and they're bold and they're blocks of
color, she said. Of the fashions carrying these dramatic
swatches of color, t -shirts are the leaders, D'Angelis said.
The t-shirts are large and comfortable, but not over
sized like those worn by fashionable Parisiennes, and are
designed for more than casual wear, she said. Many of the
basic polo shirts would be suitable for street wear, she
said, and are designed to coordinate with skirts, shorts,
pants and blazers.
Coordination is the key concept behind the men's
spring wear line, said a spokesman for Pierre Cardin
sportswear.
"Its a well-presented line. Everything coordinates with
everything else, said the spokesman, who declined to give
her name:
Bright colors and stripes are popular for active sports
wear, such as shirts, shorts and sweaters, she said. How
ever, blazers are offered in subdued colors to blend better
with the flashier tones, she added .
Broader approach
D'Angelis said the spring line is an attempt to attune
Cardin fashions with the needs of the pubHc-at-large.
"We're taking a broader approach," she said. "It's not
just a fashion-New York City approach."
Although conservation may be a key design motivation
this season, a look at Cardin price tags may cause one to
wonder how far this idea permeates the Cardin line.
D'Angelis said most women's wear will retail for $25 to
$40 and the sportswear spokesman said men's line ranges
from $15 to $50. -
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