Tecno workmanship lends new shimmer to old world crystal beading. Makeup for this modern diva is either white-skinned, with creature of the night eye-shadow, or demurely pink. The preferred hairstyle is long and pinned up. The look of luxury was in the air with sultry velvet, sleek satin and soft furs dominating the collections for next fall shown last week by designers at New York's semi-annual fashion week extravaganza. Fashion experts, many of whom see design as a reflection of the public mood, say we may be seeking things in the clothes we wear that we otherwise don't have. "It means even if we're not rich, we like to feel rich. Those who are, can look rich, and those who aren't can look rich," said Wendy Liebmann, president of WSL Strategic Retail consultants. To look rich in next fall's fashions, consumers can scarcely find a designer who does not indulge in luscious textures and decorative design. Last week, Oscar de la Renta delighted his high-end clientele with embroidered sable trim coats, nubbly tweeds glinting with silver sparkles and bejewelled sweaters with fur collars. Bill Blass decorated silk cocktail dresses with sable trim and wove silver metallic thread through tweed jackets and coats, while Carolina Herrera evoked a jet-set ski trip to the Alps, with sporty cropped jackets in dark sable and reversible mink of chocolate and gold. Fur was simply everywhere in shawls, stoles, shrugs and sweaters. Douglas Hannant dyed a mink hooded halter vest an eggplant hue, Jeffrey Chow coloured a fox capelet cinnamon and Michael Kors unveiled a show-stopping mink poncho in lavender. Chaiken showed short fur stoles over nude mesh tops, and shrugs were popular with Vera Wang and Narciso Rodriguez.
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