Textures, Fabrics, Styles and You
by Carol Knauf, Rae Baxter’s Fashions (originally submitted to YOU Magazine)
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. It has long been an axiom that the little things are infinitely the most important. Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance. The woman should wear the clothes; the clothes should not wear the woman.
The four most common mistakes women make are: following fads, not finding their own look, choosing quantity over quality, and having no organization of their closets. Mass marketing is sized to fit the largest number of women, and most women fall outside of the average size in some way and need the occasional nip or tuck to make the garment fit properly.
In the last You Magazine article, “Let’s change out attitude,” I stated I would elaborate on colors, fabric and styles. Color, I find, changes the woman more than the style she wears. It changes the way she looks, the way she feels, and the way she thinks. Color is the most personal point of all fashion. Every woman has her favorite color. This spring, you will find the classic black and white, however, navy is the next most important basic color.
Designers have shown an importance on pink, coral or peach. Lime greens are a fresh addition to a wardrobe as well as turquoise.
“Haute Couture should be fun, foolish and almost unwearable,” said Christian Lacrois, Paris designer.
Most of the clothes you see on the runways or in magazines are not wearable for most women. Haute Couture takes mixing of fabrics and textures to the extreme, almost making their fashions look clownish.
Designing classy variations of textures and fabrics gives an interesting dimension to clothes. Texture and fabric define the mood of clothing such as: silk for affluence, lace for femininity or velvet for romance. Designers use texture in their fabrics and also mix prints (ex. Dots and stripes) to add interest.
What about styles? Know when to adopt a style and when to ditch one. Don’t commit the crime of “Paris Chic”, namely, to wear a style just because it is “in”. There is a saying in France that describes this: School girl from behind, museum piece from the front! You need to pick and choose items of clothing that work for your individual body.
Most women are not aware of their beauty, just of their defects. You want to be chic but not conformist. Chic this spring/summer means to be a size bigger than your usual body size with the clingy fabrics so it skims over your lines but does not sag either.
The number one accessory this season is a scarf. Next to diamonds, scarves should be a 
girl’s best friend. Scarves are the quickest way to add color, texture and interest to clothing. Scarves can be made into necklaces, ascots, bows, belts, ties and headbands. Scarves brighten up, tone down, perk up, pick, up are a perfect compliment to almost anything you wear.
Come in to Rae Baxter’s Fashion to see all the newest in scarf designs and we will show you how to wear them.
I hope I have enlightened you somewhat on fabrics, textures and colors for this spring season. I could write a book about all the changes in the years I have been in the fashion industry.
I love the fashion business and appreciate all the people I have come to know not only as customers but more importantly as friends. It is a pleasure to serve you and a REAL pleasure that You Magazine allows me to write these articles for you.
