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LONDON (AP) - It's all about big stripes and pretty, unfussy sun dresses at Jasper Conran's spring catwalk preview.
They're horizontal and vertical, wide and thin, sometimes put together in the same outfit. But they are far from jarring, thanks to the muted colors and neat, clean lines of the clothes.
Conran's forte is in elegant contemporary styles, and his show at Friday's London Fashion Week was no exception. Cotton and linen skirts were full, sometimes belted or pleated, but always hit just below the knee. Some of the dressier frocks feature sheer, appliqued organza overlays over a simple dress shape like a bandeau A-line.
The stripes on the knit tops, dresses and skirts were featured in ivory and faded pink, blue, grass green or lemon, and that prettiness is topped with white floral lace, applique flowers and a starched white collar that appeared on pretty much everything. Long flowing kaftans with softly colored prints finished off the show.
Conran's new collection may not be very experimental, but it is eminently wearable. It's easy to imagine women wearing any of his dresses on a summer vacation _ though more likely in a country club or in a chic city like Paris than for a rustic break in the countryside.
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