This fall,
everyone has
his or her
version of the
little black
dress. The look
is usually sexy
and short.
French designer
Valentino's
version is in
beaded black
velvet. He
emphasizes the
beautiful
beadwork by
teaming the
dress with a
shiny gold-
colored evening
jacket.

French designer
Yves Saint
Laurent puts a
cropped silk
jacket and soft,
ruffled-collar
blouse over a
draped tartan
skirt.

items as colorful Pucci-type prints, bi-
color and color blocking, and sheath
dresses. There is even a hint that hot
pants are on the horizon, but that's
not a subject for a family magazine
like this.
Real Emilio Pucci-print silk blouses
have become a status symbol but if
you don't happen to own one, then
updated versions by designers like
Christian Lacroix and Gianni Versace
will do. Bi-color and color blocking
(two or more colors, not patterns)
appear on short, swingy coats. And,
taking their cue from Pierre Cardin,
who originated it, designers like
Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld and Claude
Montana show their versions of the
sheath dress.
International Ethnic — Yves Saint
Laurent leads the way with his Scot-
tish Highland-inspired tartan skirts
teamed with gold-embroidered black
velvet jackets and topped by feath-
ered velvet hunting caps. Scotland
isn't Saint Laurent's only source — he
also draws from Russia for outfits that
mix bright silk prints and velvet jack-
ets adorned with gold coins and
tassels.
Key aspects of the International Eth-
nic trend are inventive mixes of color-
ful patterns and fabrics; simple
shapes with lots of decorative detail

FALL '90 15