FALL INTO FASHION WITH COLOR, STYLE

For the adventurous and fashion-conscious, the fall and winter season has ushered in vestiges of a generation past with the revival of the `60s look.

From bell-bottomed jeans to tie-dyed T-shirts and platform shoes, parents might think they're suffering flashbacks as they peruse their teenaged children's closets.

"A lot of the look has returned to the '60s," said Stephanie Vickery, sales manager at the Body Shoppe, now at West Park Mall but soon to move to 118 N. Main. "Not only are we seeing the return of bell-bottoms, but long vests are popular, as are the shoes.

"Platform shoes and clogs are really popular right now."

Even the jewelry is reminiscent of days past, Vickery said. "There are a lot of chokers and cameos coming back."

But if you draw the line in fashion at re-donning clothes you are embarrassed to have worn 25 years ago, don't despair. It's not a look that's likely to last.

"It's really popular right now, but I think it will go out as fast as it came in," said Vickery.

Diann Newell, owner of the Hansel and Gretel Shop at the Town Plaza, agrees.

"The '60s look is not going to be here but just a season," Newell said. "In my store, there might be young people who like the look, but mothers are still buying the clothes, and I don't think they really like it."

The "grunge" look for young men, on the other hand, might endure longer.

Made popular by "grunge" bands that saturate trend-setting MTV, the look features flannel and denim -- oversized shirts layered with baggy, hooded flannel shirts and sweatshirts.

Phyllis White, senior merchandising manager for men's wear at JCPenney, said grunge is in for young men.

"I do not see young men's getting near as faddy as the juniors as far as the bell-bottomed jeans and such," White said. "I think that peaked and died real quickly.

"But I think with the young men's, the hoods and flannel are going to be OK for a while, but the real faddy '60s look hasn't even hit yet."

For the more conservative, stylish buyer, the western influence remains strong, Vickery said.

Denim with feminine touches such as lace are popular this year. As far as hemlines, anything goes.

"This year, the fashions are done so that women can wear any length that looks good to them," Vickery said. "Long is still real important, and there's still a lot of short out there too.

"As far as colors, the dark, kneaded colors are popular; the browns, grays and olives."

Hats also are part of many women's wardrobes this fall. Any type of dress hat is OK, and a lot of women are wearing baseball caps, she said.

In men's clothing, "fleece" wear is popular with all ages. Sweat shirts and T-shirts with sports logos continue to sell well, as do shirts sporting a "Loony Toons" motif.

That's right, cartoon characters are in.

"I look for the holiday to be big in that area with the younger age group," White said. "Of course, jeans are still by far number one."

Fashion jeans in navy blue and spruce green are a good look this year, and in mature men's wear Dockers wrinkle-free dress casuals continue to sell.

The biggest change this year is in dress shirts and ties, White said.

"We're going back to a woven shirt replacing a lot of the knits," she said. "Also, silk is good at holiday.

"For a dressy image, the white dress shirt is back after we went through phases with the pinks and burgundies. Now the white dress shirt looks very good.

"And ties are going to be a big holiday item again. Ties have taken on a whole new perspective in the past couple seasons."

White said ties have switched to more traditional patterns in "toned-down" jewel colors.

"The deeper wines, spruce greens and burgundies all come out in the new ties," she said. "And the Loony Toons ties also are popular."

For children's clothing, flannel plaids are big this year. Newell said denim also continues to sell well.

"We're selling a lot of long shorts and colored stockings, and leggings are still popular with the big shirts," she said. "Dresses are about any length from above the knee to about three inches above the ankle."

Newell said both dark and light denim are popular.

"And we've never had plaid flannel before," she added. "We have it in sporty looks as well as dress-up.

"Another thing that's new this year are sunflower prints. I think it will be more popular in the spring, but it's also out for the fall."