The Daily Chronicle from De Kalb, Illinois • Page 21

00 HAH THRONiriP DeKnlh Illinois. Wrlniwlnv Mnv 09 I97i V' 'J owNr-o if'-' i 1 i hj ii I no fathion mystique for James Breen and Mrt. William Min-nihan, both ofDeKalb. They know exactly what to wear for where they're going. Right over to the first tee after they finish modeling for the opening day activities of the Kishwaukee Country Club Ladies Golf sea son.

nMil 1 3 I'iJ i 7 -'St ''iferl ffw 7 9 I I I I I III 4 Vl'f I ITf I As illusive as the scent-ed wafts of fresh blossoms on a warm summer evening is the fashion scene. Ready mer evenings is Sam- im uviy, oyvumui in j. I Jm itfinH- 1- Bfiiili III 1 IBuliil I I 1 modeled Jor members of the Sycamore Mothers' Club. 1 win Jr. mI' ,1 -10 "Tj-- 1- "sUV i 1 1 A 1 I' imm i I i iur I I V-0h Fashion does mean innovation and change.

Hence, its "seasonal form" cannot be said to be dependable. Dependable, though, has been the pantsuit. Born a few seasons ago, it continues to grow in popularity. Mrs. Barbara Delmont, Sycamore, modeling at the Sycamore Mothers' Club style show "wears one in good health." (Thanks to Misty Like beauty, fashion Pleasingly aesthetic, the "fashion" worn by Mrs.

Bernie Schelkopf, Sycamore, says that she is ready for a lovely evening. Bernie made her fashion statement at the Sycamore Hospital Service League early spring style show. is in beholder's eye Photos by Stauth and Ross "There is no such thing anymore as fashion because people dress according to their inclinations. They dictate the fashions that used to be dictated by the creators of fashions and were manufactured by the industry dedicated to copying from the creators. "It ierve the art of per-tonal appearance, allowing one to make an impression of what they want to seem to be rather than what they When you put it on, you open your mouth By ELEANOR SUSSEX Family Editor Almost nightly viewers of a television suspense drama or love story of sorts, or the late, late show are asked every few minutes to suspend their interest in the chase, or the love scene to watch commercials.

This may be to allow a manufacturer to unfold its ne' line of "exciting spring in carpets, cars, models to be offered, or a hair rinse! that makes natural hair look as "natural" as a wig. And in the "tempus syndrome, right now millions of scrubbed, bright-eyed children are willingly ending their school year to start those welcome vacations, when the routine scrubbing ceases for about three months. Many will be outfitted with vacation clothing purchased during frantic weeks when parents scour department stores to get the whole family ready for the round of summer social events and fun and off on the right foot at least outwardly. In all these instances, the tantalizing, now-here-now-there element of "fashion" has been summoned in an unceasing effort to part Americans from what in these days is still nevertheless referred to as "disposable" income. So what is fashion? Always an aesthetically ob-.

jective matter, fashion is totally in the eyes of the beholder, sometirries unpleasantly so. Most of the time, you can't touch it; sometimes, you can't even see it; frequently, you can only Sense it, and almost all the time, you're never sure you're in it. Experts who sell it, teach it, or interpret it to millions of Americans have been sought out for definitions. "Fashion," said the brusque president of a leading group of department stores, "is nothing but a lot of nonsense." Requesting anonymity (I wonder why) he said that the problem is that fashion is always repeating itself. "Did you ever try to sell something that is really new?" "I always believed that it makes sense not to interfere with people who are paid to do the job.

So what happened to a lot of the 'hot items' that my merchandisers and buyers got excited about? They weren't so hot." He has my sympathy. As a former dress buyer I commiserate. (Fashion, in its essence, IS most directly related to apparel). It's heartbreaking to admit that an exciting market trip (turned ego trip when you are sure you made the most judicious use of your buy money) has lost all of its punch a realization brought on when' you stand in your department and continue to see an item which (on New York's Seventh Ave.) you were sure would walk right out of the store. (You bought it across the board).

there it is with no legs at all just hanging on the rack. It is then that ydu get a spejling lesson you don't need the word is an obscenity in retaildom. M-A-R-K-D-O-W-N. So, I repeat the question. What is fashion? Arthur A.

Winters, professor of communications and chairman of the advertising and communications department of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York says it is nothing more than the extension of our personalities. "It is used to emphasize or de-emphasize one's personality." He added: "A lot of people dress up to communicate the message 'I'm better than I really am' or 'this is what I really am' or 'this is what I am really going to It is impossible for anyone not to use some sort of language in the way they dress, Professor Winters said, and the color, silhouette, pattern and fabric "speak for you before you even open your mouth." Three retailers, from different price brackets, when asked to cast some light on the fashion mystique, in unison related it to varying degrees of individuality. I jj I I Ohrbach's president Robert J. Suslow said that fashion is tantamount to "statements." Statements might be implied as to personality, character and artistic ingenuity. "Art on your back or in your home or personal life that's fashion," said George Bayliss, the new president of Bonwit Teller.

"It serves the art of personal appearance, allowing one to make an impression of what they want to seem to be rather than what they are." But whatever fashion is, it is not to be overlooked, inasmuch as the $50-million-plus apparel industry has created a five-season-a-year cycle in which fashion changes are parlayed into excitement intended to send cash registers into a frenzy. And they do. BUT, 1 have a question for the fashion experts. What is the streaker doing for the industry? More important what is he saying? 1 1 1 14,1) Trying desperately to learn the fashion language from Steve Oberg is little Matthew Spires. Steve was a part of the fashion picture at the spring fashion showing for the Sycamore Mothers' Club.

Matthew attended with Grandma Evelyn Kin-gren, Sycamore. rif I i si The "sincere tie" is lin guistic communication 1 Buildmg-area junior V-4 derstat- I executive tin Jiff MWt, ftlfSW Jsibvm MnsJ 4 Language barrier? I should say not. Mrs. Joan Grenier, Sycamore, 'communicated beautifully with members of the Sycamore Woman's Club. Her message was tent with a dress which would "speak" fashion from lunch straight through to a late night buffet supper, should the occasion demand.

The audience agreed. -a pattern. Not for Bill can hare their Empire buildings. I'm ready for the good life in the mid- i west," says the Syca more resident to the Sycamore Moth ers Club..