Trousers may be straight and skinny to wider and flared at bell-bottoms. Waists are usually in place, but sometimes low in hip-hugging pants and jeans, '70s style. Gird these hips with elaborate, huge jeweled belts if dressing a la Christian Lacroix. Neat battle jackets are new-looking, and shorter jackets are in fashion. Shoulders are still minimal, except at Givenchy, whose suits are sharply defined, and Yves Saint Laurent, whose new Rive Gauche designer Tom Ford looks back to the master for a silhouette.
Fabrics are soft, sometimes silvery and high-tech.
Silk chiffons are gorgeous, soft tweeds for suits at Chanel are outstanding. This article first appeared on February 2, 2001. We welcome your feedback. All rights reserved.