Women’s Fashion – What’s Sophisticated and What’s Hot

Winter is busting out all over with everything from Chanel's demure short little black designer dresses to Oscar de la Renta's sophisticated trailing silver gowns. These two designers thrust forward two different approaches to this season's hot outfits. Chanel has the retro sixties and seventies look; Oscar de La Renta is ethereal, romantic, heralding an age of silver. In fact, silver is an absolute must for this season.

Retro-look

The Retro or vintage look is seen in the style, cut and pattern of clothing. The A-line mini-dress, the geometric prints and contrasting colors, particularly black and white, hail back to another time. The shift dresses and shirt dresses, the empire waist lines and crop jackets are all part of this retro look.

The lengths of this look vary in accordance with the style. Knee length is common, seeming to dominate an otherwise sixty or seventy style. This makes it easier for women of a certain age. It is also adaptable to work and play.

Classic and romantic: the sophisticated look

The classic cut and flow of gowns, the sophisticated silver gowns of La Renta and the classic elegance of Marc Jacob's tailored sophistication, are aspects of the softer glow of spring and summer fashions. You find this reflected in many ways. Sleeves have shaken off their tight style in favor of the puff. They billow out from the shoulder and flutter down the arm. Sleeves are light, fluffy and flirty with lace insets. Ruffled blouses join in this hymn to fragility and femininity. Oscar de La Ranta pairs a ruffled white blouse with piping with a tiered grey skirt- very feminine look. The blouse can be alternated with something less sophisticated to wear everyday.

Florals, prints, polka dots and stripes

The one-piece print dress is this year's statement on Spring. Arrangements of black and white vie with polka dots, stripes and floral prints. You can look to prints to establishing the way into summer, as well. Floral prints, large and small, are particularly popular. Oscar de la Renta showed off a beautiful poppy print. There are also prints in roses, daisies and tulips. You can wear a garden of earthly delights suitable for casual eveningwear as well as for daily activities.

Missoni featured a strapless polka dot dress, Chloe preferred mixed fabrics. Anna Sui opted for cotton and silk voile creations, Gucci a green muslin patch print and Ralph Lauren a cotton paisley. As you can see, this spring and summer, designers offer a variety of material to choose from with an emphasis on summer cotton and soft chiffon.

The one-piece dress

Behind all these styles is a one-piece dress. Whether in black or black or white; paisley, geometric or solid, floral print or soft grey, the one-piece dress is back. It can be triangular, A-line, or trapeze in shape. It is cotton or chiffon or muslin. It is called a shift dress or shirt-dress. The focus is still on a dress.

Sportswear

The sporty look is back. It is gaining ground. For fall, the look is more prominent but for now it is making its presence felt in "little" ways. Short-shorts and one-piece safari-like short outfits are hot. While dresses are mainly knee length, shorts are high on the thigh. Denim is retreating, but sporty-type material is going mainstream. Simple t-shirts and polo shirts from designer Leon Levin are being tailored to suit the body well.

So, there you have it. What's hot and what's sophisticated. The designers have spoken, offering a wide selection for us to choose from. It is now up to you to decide what works best for you.