Fashions from Liberty House modeled by Tania de Jesus
Sheer fabrics, softer styles
By Nadine Kam
and brighter colors spice up the
wardrobe for spring
Assistant Features Editor
Star-BulletinWith spring comes the desire to lighten up -- from purging the home of junk, to swapping heavy, dark-colored jackets and skirts for brights and sheers. Liberty House will send the season's top looks down the runway Thursday when it hosts it's 25th annual fashion show, "Top Cream."
The show was sold out shortly after it was announced here last month, but we don't think anyone should be left in the dark about spring's most important trends.
By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
A three-button poly-stretch
jacket in taupe ($228) is paired
with a side-slit mini skirt ($86).
Worn beneath it is a taupe
and gray muted sheer floral
camisole with crystal bead and
mesh trim ($110). All by Laundry.
"It's more a season of personal style than fashion dictates," said Lavina Wong, Liberty House's director of fashion and special events.
Following one's own fashion sense means allowing personality quirks to show through. Wong said the result is sometimes contradictory pairings of hard and soft pieces or the mixing of innocent and sexy.
"There are so many options and the newness and technology in fabric has made it possible to be fashionable and comfortable," Wong said. "Some of the old polyesters could stand on their own -- they were almost bulletproof -- but the new manmade fibers are durable, they wear well, they feel good. They have all the advantages."
Here are the Top 10 pieces you need to make the transition from the old to the new:
1. A bared dress. Whether you choose a short or long slip, column or tank dress or halter-style dress, a long, clean line in pale or vibrant colors is what you want.
2. A new skirt. For once, length is not an issue. Instead, look for details such as sexy slits. The center back slit is old hat. Look for one set asymmetrically in the front, or one on each side of the skirt. Skirts may be cut on the bias and fall at the ankle. Sheer overlays may reveal an inch of a "slip."
3. Soft jackets. The starched look is out. The new jacket is unstructured and may be cropped or long. Stretch fabrics lend an ease to movement. Wear jackets unbuttoned to allow a peek at a camisole for a contrast of masculine and feminine.
By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Pewter ankle-strap stilettos
in calf leather by Richard Tyler ($300).
4. An easy, drawstring waist pant. Made of lightweight gauze or linen, these are perfect for relaxed weekends.5. High-heeled sandals and mules. Arches be damned. Pointy stiletto heels make for high style, towering -- or teetering -- at a good three to four inches. You'll want to practice walking before you go out, and maybe keep a set of sensible shoes in the car. They won't take the place of your platforms but are perfect for a special evening on the town.
6. The wrap. Asymmetry and draped fabrics lend interest to skirts, tops and dresses.
7. The knit top. Twin sweater sets hark back to an innocent "Leave it to Beaver" sort of era. Look for lace trims and crochets.
By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
An asymmetrical wrap top
in garnet ($135) is by DKNY.
8. Anything white. Wear this color from head to toe for a clean, fresh and modern look. Wong says white shouldn't be relegated to mere accent status.9. Anything sheer. Skirts and camisole blouses are given near-transparent overlays of romantic floral or exotic print fabric.
10. Anything embellished. Sheer tops may come with bead work or velvet trim, while embroidery on skirts and tops may reflect a folk art influence. Even shoes don't escape detailing. A slide with a chunky heel provides a blank canvas for an embossed design.
By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Bright in their cases, the colors
are soft and sheer on the face.
Toning up the face
Cosmetics slip down on the sheer side
By Nadine Kam
Star-BulletinAfter dutifully donning nudes and neutrals for two years, women have finally surrendered to color. We're talking brights and pastels as varied as a passel of Easter eggs or gemstones, yet poppin' fresh and futuristic.
At Yves St. Laurent, international makeup director Terry de Gunzburg, creator of the spring palette that will be worn by Liberty House's "Top Cream" models, said that new chemical technology and new pigments have made this "future generation" of color possible.
While the colors appear bright in their cases, on the face they are soft and sheer.
De Gunzburg, in an interview from Paris, said that her company's "In Love Again" special edition makeup collection sold out within a month after being introduced in France.
"Of course we rushed to make more. We didn't expect to sell so much. The customer is definitely ready for color.
"Women are learning to accept color as fashion accessories," she said. "I'm always changing colors. I'm not a beauty victim but I like to play with color the same way I might change a scarf or earring."
Yves St. Laurent's "Majorelle" compact for eyes ($45) features four colors from cobalt blue to fresh mint. Lip colors ($24.50) range from a luscious "Orange Crush" to mouth-watering "Watermelon."
De Gunzburg recommends the sunny "Marrakech" compact for eyes, with warm colors of sunflowers, cloves and saffron, and the "Bamboo" compact (both $45) for lips.
For Asian complexions, she recommends the combination of "True Violet" compact for the eyes and "Orchid" palette for lips, with the colors of grapes and tropical flowers.
There'll be no need to shed your spring wardrobe of colors when Yves St. Laurent's summer colors arrive.
"I hate it when we have to throw out the old and buy everything new. Of course, in the industry we need that," de Gunzburg said, but she has gone out of her way to build in adaptability.
Taking her inspiration from a simple strand of pearls, de Gunzburg has developed a line of iridescent, reflective cosmetics that can be worn over any makeup to give the colors subtle shine and sparkle.
"They will be tremendously new and extremely beautiful," she said. "It drives me crazy because I always want the newest colors."
