On Top Of It

The Sun Herald

Saturday July 31, 1993

With JUDY JOHNSON

JUST when you thought you might have to stumble through summer in clogs and bellbottoms, here comes Sydney designer Peter Weiss with a laid-back look that harks back to the 70s but is pure 90s in its minimalistic way. "It's being fashionable without running the risk of being a fashion victim," says Weiss.

The method is layering - putting one garment over another to create a contemporary silhouette. A sleeveless vest goes over a mid-calf silk coatdress over a long unbuttoned skirt over longer pants, for instance. Or a scarf or shawl is draped around the hips over pants or a skirt.

"In this way clothes become accessories and jewellery isn't important,"says Weiss. Keeping up with the 90s trend of getting back to the basics, shapes are simple and colours, earthy - sahara sand, taupe, midnight blue, reminiscent of deserts and dark skies, according to Weiss.

Fabrics tend to be soft and flowing, meaning you can be feminine without looking as though you've gone to a lot of trouble about it. Shoes to complete the image? Flat leather Moroccan-style sandals or mules (those pictured today are by Franco Burroni and Elle Effe.)

You'll find the clothes at David Jones, Elizabeth Street, Sydney, Brookvale, Chatswood, Bondi Junction, Castle Hill, and Civic, Canberra, and Classic Spirit, Mosman and Chatswood.

STYLE FILE

YOU can see the work of some classy local designers on parade at The Australian Couturiers Ball at Sydney's Sheraton-Wentworth Hotel next Saturday night. Collections will be presented by Jonathan Ward, Alexander Perry, Nelson Leong and Helene Esdaile, all of Sydney; Daniel Lightfoot, of Brisbane; David Medwin and Desbina Collins, of Melbourne; Pat Georgiou, of Adelaide; and Ron Gidgup, of Perth. Tickets cost $115 and proceeds will go to The Spastic Centre of NSW. To book, phone (02) 451 9022. And on November 5, the Endeavour Foundation (supporting people with intellectual disability) will conduct the 1993 Darling Downs Designer of the Year Awards. They're open to all fashion designers and entry forms can be obtained from Narelle Kirkwood (076) 327 577