A mix of too many might be overwhelming, but a single item or an accessory such as an embroidered purse or beaded bangles will punch up a wardrobe. Women who worship at the altar of minimalism will still find offerings in sleek separates. Rather than stick to the neutrals so often synonymous with this look, however, they might consider a dramatic influx of color. Layer in a single touch of color or go wild, mixing red with pink, green with purple, orange with pink or blue with green. New variations include hems embellished with beading or embroidery and a variety of fabrics, from denim to silk shantung, making them adaptable to evening wear as well as hitting the beach.
Designers continue to devote much of their collections to special occasion clothes.
Of course, dressing up means different things to different women, and savvy designers have kept this in mind, offering bias-cut, slinky gowns as well as full skirts to pair with a bare bustier top or a more modest sweater that occasionally exposes a sliver of skin. For spring 2000, there are clothes with which to build a wardrobe, clothes to work into an existing wardrobe and clothes to add color to anyone s world. Mostly, there are clothes to make you feel pretty. All over there is a return to femininity. We re seeing softer colors, softer silhouettes that are closer to the body, but not body conscious. . . .