What you see is not always what you get. Though there have been some fashion winners and losers, only some of the clothes will actually make it into stores and eventually to the consumer's closet.

The first thing to remember about fashion shows is that they are entertaining - a parade of over-the-top designs on beautifully made up creatures - not exactly a venue for basic, shirts, skirts and trousers. Designers use these showcases to position their brand for the press and give retailers an idea of what they stand for that particular season. Consequently, fantasy pieces are used to convey concepts, not motivate sales.

INFLUENCES:

Mixed 60's/70's high fashion trends combined with youth movement make-it-yourself; Pucci/Gucci/Studio 54 crossed with psychedelic

Woodstock/Carnaby Street/"Laugh-in" pop style/Marimekko® and Vera® prints in Brights.

Asian - Chinese/Japanese references in color, print, texture style: Colorful Orchids and Poppies with Verdant leaves and Bamboo/Origami

construction of fabrics with wrapping/draping/pleating/tapes holding tiny micro pleats/tucks/gathers reminiscent of early 80's Japanese

innovators. Cherry blossom motifs fro prints and embroidery.

Color

Jewel-tone Pastels - not as intense, these stand-alone or mix with Bright and Neutral/Pales.
Pure White/Sandy Neutrals and Pales/Exotic Darks are grounds for accent Bright and Jewel-tone Pastels.

Summer prints are coming on strong in bold motifs. On the street and at parties, they are replacing timid blossoms. You'll see sprays on skirts worn with solid tops; tributes to Surrealism (a lobster), Pop Art and Op Art (optical illusion courtesy of two fabrics moving against each other); and 1950's-style Scandinavian Modern prints.

The Pucci prints of the 1960's and 70's have exploded into huge patterns, one a sophisticated African print. Stripes swirl around the body. The Art Deco leaf returns . A man's suit combines animal prints. Fresh color mixing: gray, black and yellow.

PRINT: Dots

Coin dots/Jumbo dots
Undulating dots on dots/Dimensional dots
Big/Little dots scattered
Bubbles
Big/little white pigment dots on pastel ground

Florals

Clearly outlined Pop Art Florals
Blurred roses
Water Soaked - bright pretty colors - white grounds
Color ground floral
Almost photo printed - clear flower-heads huge scale
Clear center of flower surrounded by petals
Vera flower renderings/treatments
Dainty garden floral allovers
Vegetable-colored cleaner 60's tropical shapes
Poppy prints/Cherry Blossom prints

Leaves

Over-scaled lush tropical leaves
Island batik shapes, blurred palm leaves and fronds

Geometric

Pop Art types/60's super-graphic looks
Circles, squares played off each other
Big and small sizes of shapes combined

PRINT: Squares

Not even, with square spot of another color every so often
Boxed-in squares
Pop squares

Paisley

Newest Oversized - Blown out
Pop art paisley
60's brights - gypsy types and more typical paisleys in hot color combos

(Continued on page 23)