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A walk on the wild side

No one really wears the outrageous outfits that parade up and down fashion show runways, but it's easy to spot the trends behind the flash and fur.

By SHARON FINK
Published November 26, 2005

[Times photos: John Pendygraft]

As a whole, this outfit looks like something that belongs in a modern Doctor Zhivago. Butbreak it down into its pieces -- pants, tunic top, ropelike belt, fur-trimmed floor-length coat, heels and purse -- and there are items that will work in any wardrobe. The pants are simple and classic. A purse -- right now with grommets, in metallic or with a bit of fur -- is always a fast, easy way to update. Go for the coat in a shorter length and cut way down on the fur trim.

	Sparkly black, good; skin-baring halter top, not so good for many women, who can make this dress perfect for them by adding a bolero jacket, a shawl wrap or a capelet.

The runway is fashion's biggest fantasyland. Which is its blessing and its curse.

From the annual tours of the world's fashion capitals to local fundraisers, runway shows are showcases for designers, trends and outfits to make your jaw drop (due to appearance, price or both). They get people talking about fashion.

Usually to say: WHO would wear that stuff?

The thing to remember is that the runway hasn't been a consumer-friendly display of how to keep one's wardrobe fresh for years - if it ever was. The trick is to break down runway presentations into useful elements.

A runway show that Tampa's Saks Fifth Avenue store put on for a Museum of Fine Arts benefit Nov. 16 at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg shows how to do that in three easy steps.

Runway Breakdown Step 1: Think about the trends that were shown.

Many of the outfits in this show were tight-fitting and skin-baring, geared mostly to women age 15 to 30 - very few of whom were in the audience.

What was in it for the rest of us? Consider the trends reflected in the individual pieces that went down the runway, not necessarily how they were put together. There was denim, baby-doll tops, jackets (short and long), fur, skirts (full to narrow, knee-length and below), tight-fitting cardigans, the dreaded bohemian look, belts with the ends hanging down from the waist, black and white, gray, halter-top and spaghetti-strap evening dresses, sparkle and shine.

From that list, pick what you like. A fitted dark denim jacket or vest is a versatile piece that can give a subtle funky edge to dressier occasions. A black-and-white-checked jacket that ends at the hip can be a wardrobe staple. Take a jewel-dotted evening gown with spaghetti straps and pair it with a jacket, wrap or capelet to provide the coverage most women over a certain age want.

Runway Breakdown Step 2: Deconstruct a look into its individual elements.

Don't ignore the outfits you think are too bizarre to wear. For example, the outfit pictured is made up of pants, a tunic top, a ropelike belt with a hanging end, a fur-trimmed floor-length coat, heels and a purse. The pants are simple and classic and reflect the neutral color palette coming for spring. The coat might work better in a length that won't send you tripping down the stairs, and for wearing around here, cut down on the fur. The big lapels will lose some oomph without fur, but they'll still make your waist look slim.

Runway Breakdown Step 3: Look away from the runway.

What the audience is wearing can be just as instructive as what goes down the runway.

Many women at the benefit, sponsored by the Museum of Fine Art's Stuart Society, were in classic, often colorful, skirt-and-jacket suits with Chanel and St. John Knits vibes. One woman paired a blue denim vest with a bright, full, ankle-length skirt and white top, an outfit that smartly reflected the boho trend while avoiding bad '70s references.

Maria Harvard of St. Petersburg paired a burgundy taffeta-like skirt with small ruffle decorations from Banana Republic with a simple black knit tank top for an all-purpose, casually dressy outfit. Stuart Society president Joann Barger wore a satin twill dirndl skirt to knee, bustier top and jacket, all in red, from the Worth Collection line that is sold at home shows. It's a bold statement together and breaks down into sharp accent pieces for other outfits and occasions.

So there's no reason to dismiss runway shows as irrelevant. You just have to know how, and where, to look.

- Sharon Fink can be reached at 727 893-8525 or fink@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 25, 2005, 09:00:07]