European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Freaked out on fashion Back to Ballon and big hoop earrings Byann Quindlen new York times to Are these people who can Lake a pair of Black pants and a Black sweater and an important jewel and turn it Inlo a fashion statement anyway i want to meet one. I Don t know these people. I know people like me who buy outfits the kind of people who have a party 1o go to and panic and in that panic run Oul and make a Kamikaze attack on a dressing room and buy themselves an outfit. Three months later they run into thai outfit in the close and say. Like the Caterpillar in wonderland a Hoodoo ate Yoko you Titi is Why 1 need a fashion arbiter. You be read about fashion arbiters in the newspapers people in Black pants and important jewels who come out twice a year and say something like Bolero and there you Are. Six months later you re squeezing into a Bolero jacket and wondering where All that thigh came from luckily my fashion arbiter is not exactly like mat. My fashion arbiter is my sister. She is Young hip and on a budget so she always knows which Young hip and cheap Hinga Are coming along. She knows my strengths and weaknesses. My strength is that i have credit cards and will do what she says. My weakness is that i am old. She can t come in and say. Things with big holes in them and a Rosary around the because just won t Liston my other weakness is thai i can easily get bogged Down in fashion trends and Embarrass her by slogging around in big shirts a full year after big shirts have become passe of course there was a time when i never did anything but s of around in big shirts or their dress Lium pm twi a an goes hop fashions and other 1960 Tylea miking renewed inroad 20 year Latti equivalent. But my sister does not handle maternity rends twice 3 year my sister comes into my Kitchen and says something like this Reebok. Wilh heavy Crew socks scrunched that was last year. Imagine my Surprise to Lind out that the trend of the season was an an Elope. How would i Wear it what would i Wear with it where would i keep it would the dogs like it and what about the Crew socks were they for me or the an Elope they re sneakers my Sisler said leather. White. Slack. Pink preferably High tops with a velcro whal do i Wear them with i said. Stirrup Stirrup pants what Are Stirrup pants they re like made of stretch fabric and they have stirrups that go under your fool and you Wear them with scrunched Down Crew socks and the Walt a minute i mid. These sound like Strelch pants. I know what Strelch pants Are. People wore them in the 1960s and everyone looked terrible in them except Lor Marilyn they Are just like stretch pants except they look Good my sister patiently explained get a big sweater. Get Reebok. Gel scrunched Down Crew you re crazy i said. But Hen i remembered How i made fun of my sister a couple of years ago when she started wearing rhinestone jewelry with Denim clothes. Pretty soon everywhere i went i saw rhinestones and Danim on pre Debs on Post Debs on artists on Royalty. I used to count on fashion advertisements to figure out what was on the Rise but now All the fashion advertisements look like still photos from Avant Garde French movies with half naked women staring off into the Middle distance their hair in their Eye and a couple of men twined around their calves All scrunched Down like Crew socks. I even used to pay attention to serious fashion arbiters people who lived in Paris and smoked Brown cigarettes but they have no relationship to reality fashion anymore. Now they say things like and taffeta and body conscious i like taffeta As Well As the next person but it s not quite up my Alley right now because i find it very difficult to get Cho Folole pudding stains Oul o it i already have e Bustle which i have been working for years to get rid o. And i try not to be conscious of my body in i can possibly think of something else. So i have to stick with my sister no matter what not Long ago she came into my Kitchen and said i said nothing. My immediate impulse had been to ask about Sand and molluscs and whether lobsters were included but i was still slinging from the antelopes. And hoop she added. You Don t mean shells As in blouses do you9" i said. No sleeves round neck Ballon what is Ballon my sister asked never mind. 7nose shells yes. Those shells my sister said with a Short straight skirt. Big hoop earrings. And my whole life began to pass before my eyes. For a moment i thought longingly of Lafata and bustles As i realized that it i took this advice i was going to be wearing approximately the same outfit i had worn to a Par Ieula a dreadful Junior High school sock hop when i was 13 years old. I did this 20 years ago i said. But 20 years ago i had no thighs. Now i have children i already did shells and Short skirts and big hoop Well said my fashion arbiter. I think you re going to do it making friends with new fall clothes new clothes can scare you to death tomake my Point Here s a letter i received i m a woman who Mads your column regularly kid decided it was time to update my wardrobe. 1 bought veral Camel mfg rate and a Beautiful new jumper with a jacket to Natch. Iat ked myself All the right Oitt Toff and got ail the right Ana Wen abort when i could Wear it Good fit coordination construction and Cost i loved the new Lumper and jacket in the store but now i m afraid to Wear them. Did i make mistake i can t give you a hard and last answer without seeing you in the jumper and jacket. But if you got All the right answers and looked in the Mirror with an objective Eye chances Are you did t make a mistake what you probably need to do is make friends with your new clothes before you try to show them off. Allol us would Benefit by taking time to try on new clothes at Home the Lime is Well spent and can be great Lun if you la mix and real Chi new pieces of clothing with act tvs and accessories you already own. Find out How Well your clothes work together. Don t just try to imagine How an Boullit will look. Comb your hair put on a Little makeup then try it on in every combination you can think of. Try Dressy with casual and evening with Day Wear. You May just put together something which while unusual or unexpected will Woik and create new or improved outfits. Try on your jumper with a shirt. Button up the shirt and add a soft Bow now a necklace. Then open the top Button or two and try a second shirt Over All leaving in open to look like a jacket Roll up the sleeves for a super casual look. Try the jumper with Canvas shoes and Laler with boots. Take Lime to get the Leel of each new look. Sil in it. Climb the stairs in it. Clown around in front of the Mirror in it. Make it yours. Then try on your Jacke take your time and discover its options. This in t an exercise you can do in a hurry. Months irom now you Don t want to lament of i wish 1 had worn it that Way this May be just the time you need to recognize or reaffirm your personal style. Don t hesitate to make a list or to think combinations just in Case you can t keep them All in your head. A list will spark your memory on those occasions when you re in a Rush. For future reference tape it or Lack it on the inside of your close door. If possible conduct a dress rehearsal. Wear a new outfit at least once before a big. Important occasion. Pick a less important occasion or simply Wear it around tha House be careful not to get in dirty you May even be Wise to Wear Only part of a new outlet to begin. Many women have been completely overwhelm mad when friends make a big to do Over their new clothes w a new image. They Retreat and the new clothes never Corne. Out of the closet again. Now that would be a mistake if you have dress or grooming questions. I would ska to Fieser from you men As wet As women please Send. Your questions to Judith res Banc in cars of stats and stripes. Apo092j1, us forces a tuesday october 14, 1886 the stars and stripes Page 17
