ABC of summer 2000 fashion
By Meher Castelino

THE fashion directions for the millennium Spring Summer 2000, as shown by top designers from Europe are simple and easy to follow. Start with ‘A’ and go all the way to ‘Z’ and you just can’t go wrong.

A= The ‘A’ line — That’s right, it’s back again from the 60s when it all started. The ‘A’ line is the most comfortable silhouette that even Indian designers are using for years. It compliments all figures and eliminates sizing. Now with a blend of the 80s touch it has a new look in the year 2000.

B=Bandeux — That’s for scarves and bandanas that are not worn over the head but this time around the shoulders for those cool summer evenings.

C= Comfort factor — It’s the buzzword in fashion and has been used by designers like Wendell Rodricks for years. Home or lounge wear is chic and comfortable with palazzo trousers, hooded tops and ankle - length dresses making an appearance.

D= Draperies — Here are fabrics that have more hand work on them. It could be embroidery or prints or embellishments — they all make a beautiful effect for summer.

E= Enterprise — It’s subtle direction to the future like the Star Ship Enterprise in Star Trek with its modern purist style in fashion with clean surfaces and lots of silver.

G= Gypsum — Believe it or not but the colour of the New Year is grey and white in all its pure shades. There is loads of black too, and a dash of beige so it’s not going to be a very colourful Spring/Summer 2000.

H= The hipsack — We are talking about the bag around the hips with new canvas which is combined with natural leather. This is a new image for the waist bag.

I= Impeccable — Everything in fashion has to be just impeccable and well finished for Spring/Summer 2000 and that’s why designers are paying a lot of attention to detailing.

J= Japanese — Yes the look is still Japanese, the type Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto have popularised. It may look a bit like it was popular in the Buddhist monastery but that’s how fashion is.

K= Kaftan — This is a long airy tunics with side slits, loose sleeves which can be teamed with harem pants if you are shy to show too much of a leg.

L= Labcoats — These are not only for those scientists who work with test tubes. Lab coats are very fashionable. Worn right down to the knee in light flowing fabrics like parachute silk or nylon they can be teamed with skirts, blouses and dresses for a slightly dressy look.

M= Mini corset — Charming and romantic the mini corset is back from the medieval ages in the form of bodices or peasant blouses.

N= Nature and NASA — That’s some combination when we talk about high-tech space age clothes teaming up with the natural look.

O= O-line — That is the oval look. Oval styles, balloon skirts or harem pants — anything that is circular and comfortable.

P= Purse Belts — The waist pouch is back, but with a difference. It doesn’t cling to the waist but is in the crispest of cotton or in black or white for the safety of your money.

Q= Sqares — The spelling maybe a little weird but they are bags in soft leather in rectangular shapes with adjustable straps that are going to be the rage of the season.

R= Romance — There’s lots of it in fabrics which are sheer and soft like the ones Hemant Trivedi has used for his Spring/Summer 2000 collection which he showed at the Collection Premiere Dusseldorf show in Germany in August 99. There are varieties of lace, embroidered, tulle, as well as sequin and mirror applications.

S= Smart style — Everything has a new elegance, a new style for the high- powered career woman whether she is wearing sneakers or girly shoes with pointed heels.

T= Two-toned shades — Two-toned shades are in, so mix lemon yellow with golden yellow, or white with beige and pink with white.

U= Utility wear — Clothes have to have utility. So it is more of leisurewear where there is comfort and function.

V= Vegetal impressions — Jungle themes come to the fore in the form of juicy yellow green tones with erotic tropic shades.

W= Waxed fabrics — Fabrics take on a sheen — the thinnest layers and cloth in nylon for fresh lively styles. There could even be a blend of steel and silk but in a more feminine state.

X= Xanthipipe — It’s the name of Socrates’ wife but that is how the career woman of this year will be. Different, high- powered and very difficult to please.

Y= Yohji Yamamoto — He is the designer who has been ruling the fashion kingdom for two seasons. His fashion geometry is so popular, that you see it not only on the Far Eastern woman wearing his trends, but even the whole of Europe.

Z= Zulu — The African continent is still on the fashion charts with batik and raffia making an appearance for Spring/Summer 2000. — ANF