European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Anne Marie Schiro. New York times n Ever mind skirt lengths. Many women in the United states and also in Europe Are leaving their skirts in their closets this summer and just wearing tights. A with a big shirt or sweater of course. It s the natural evolution of the Long jacket and heavy tights style sported by the Avant Garde last Winter and Spring and suggested for next Winter by designers on both sides of the Atlantic. Tights for cold weather tend to be Wooty and cover the feet but summer s versions Are More like skin hugging leggings that end at the calf or ankle leading the feet Bare to slip into sandals or backless mules. It makes for a Cool and easy Way to dress not necessarily for the office but for weekend Wear or lunch at a trendy spot. For maximum effect the tights should be in an arresting pattern or color. The most Eye popping patterns Are by Pucci who put fashionable women All Over the world into multicolour abstract prints Back in the 1960s. Now his leggings and tights about $80 Are constantly Selling out at major shops in Manhattan. Even the venerable Hermes is doing a land office business in footless tights printed with a pattern of rocks $275. For fall some of the company a famous Scarf prints will be available in tights leggings and body suits. But not All the fashionable new leggings Cost As much As designer clothes. Barneys new York and Saks fifth Avenue have them in multicolour stripes pastel Floral and surreal abstractions by Dore Dore for $18 to $22. And Many store have hues fish net tights for about $18,50, and its mesh leggings in Black or White for about $20. Floral laces abound mostly in Black or White but Saks also has an assortment in Orange chartreuse yellow mauve or rust. The lace can look casual with a big Cotton shirt or Dressy with a Lacy sweater or silk  neither solid color laces nor psychedelic prints Appeal there Are always stripes. Michael Kors has leggings with narrow horizontal stripes in Black and White $150 at Bergdorf Goodman and Mazzura makes some with bold Black and White stripes $45 at Barneys. Charivari has Irie s Black and White horizontal stripes $120 and his Zebra striped calf length leggings $165 to Wear with Matching tops or for the less daring solid Black sweatshirts. A Model wears $64 lace leggings by Tiar. Bergdorf Goodman has Junior Gaultier s leggings in Camel and Navy stripes or Brown and Black stripes with Black patches on the seat $135. Because All these leggings and tights Are made with spandex they Combine Good news and bad news. The Good news is they offer some control to sagging Muscles the bad is they expose bulges. Women who Are proud of their shapes might top the leggings with a snug fitting tank although they might look As if they re headed for the gym. It s Likely More women will choose big tops that cover the hips. A Long tailored jacket does nicety. So does a Long Loose sweater or baggy sweatshirt. Joan Vass makes two big tops to pair with her Gray Cotton leggings a thigh Long Polo shirt in Matching Gray Cotton knit $136 and a big boxy to shirt in Gray and White stripes $135. But what promises to be the garment of Choice this summer is an oversize Cotton shirt preferably White. The idea is for it to have ten like fullness and reach to mid thigh. Women willing to try the shirt and tights look but lacking the courage to Bare too much of their bodies Are potential buyers of designer Donna Karan s drawstring Waist shirt in White Cotton $395 at Saks. It s As Long As a mini dress Chick sneaks by Deborah Hofmann new York times t this Rose sequin sneaker Sells for $s0 at Macy s in new York. He chichi sneaker May seem a contradiction in terms but not to dozens of designers and manufacturers who Are dusting otherwise mundane Canvas shoes with sequins and seed pearls or turning them out in High voltage Neon and dazzling prints. Even the classic keds Champion lace up Oxford is Selling More briskly than Ever in the United states updated in Neon Pink peach Lime yellow Blue or in Biack and White polka dots $24 to $26. Sales have boomed in the last two years because the slim shoe a complements the tapered look of leggings and Are a natural surface for kids artistic renderings said Jessica Lumsden a keds corporation spokeswoman. At All Macy s stores the glitter look in Canvas is much in evidence. Mix up designed by Beverly Feldman for Frankie and baby is a Black Canvas slip on with Gold Bugle beads and fake Onyx scattered atop a Black rubber wedge $95. Barbara made by on your feet for chinese laundry is a White sequined lace up with a seed Pearl anchoring each sequin and a toe Box highlighted by an opalescent Pink sequin Rose with Twining sequin leaves in Green $50. Moo Star a Black Canvas lace up by Beadz is covered with tiny Black beads interrupted by White seed Pearl stars and Silver seed Pearl Crescent Moons $79. Magic shoes a firm in Manhattan stocks Converse High tops in 20 shades mostly washed Neon $30in sizes 2 to 12. High tops by Van come in 30 prints including hawaiian scenes Neon geometries Small or Large checks and stripes and even dragons $46 to $50 Low versions $36 Quot our customers buy two pairs in two colors and Wear one on the right foot the other on the left Quot said Anna Hsu a store manager. If a brighter look appeals but you re not ready to glow in the dark there Are options Neon solids $20 and $23 at the Gap stores or seersucker Madras plaids and polka dots $26 and $32 at j. Crew the catalogue outfitter which has a store in the South Street seaport. Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes saturday july 7, 1990