FUTURE FASHION WILL BE CASUAL, COMFORTABLE

Judy Jetson won't be the cover girl for any clothing magazines in the near future.

Area clothing store buyers and owners said 21st century fashion will be easy to wear and easy to care for in coming years, which means Judy's supercyber look won't be in style.

"Clothes will be casual, comfortable and easy to care for because that's where our lifestyles are headed," said Lynda Gant, manager of Sandy's, a women's boutique. "We're just all wanting our lives to be easier, and that's what our fashion's going to reflect."

Gant said all fashion is extremely cyclical, with a general recurrence of a particular style every 10 years. Only small changes are made when they return, mainly in fabric style and color. Classic looks also remain in style longer than more high-impact styles.

"The only difference between what you had in your closet 10 years ago and now is the fabric," said Janis Hill, a clothing buyer for Hartford's. "The basic style might be there, but there will be some subtle differences in fabric, cut and color."

Hill said that fabric will have a big impact on fashions of the future. The fabric industry is so far ahead, she said, they probably already have the fabrics of the future designed.

"Without knowing what fabric will be popular, we don't know what fashions will be popular," Hill said. "This season we are seeing the majority of fabrics being washable, because that's what consumers are demanding. There are so many new combinations of fabric to choose from, and it will only get better in the future."

Fashion accessories like shoes and jewelry also have cyclical recurrences. Hill said accessories are generally bigger and chunkier during more casual trends, and they get smaller and daintier as trends move to more refined and businesslike styles.

Gant said the level of health consciousness will also influence styles. When fitness interest is high, styles are shorter and closer to the body. When it's low, more emphasis is placed on longer and looser styling.

"When our body's look healthier, we're going to want to show that off," Gant said.

Both Gant and Hill said no one can truly predict fashion of the future, because the trends change so quickly.

"I think the future is ... we'll all be wearing clothes," said Hill.