Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.latimes.special From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: STYLE FASHION Mixing It Up Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 07:26:22 EST Message-ID: HEADLINE: STYLE FASHION Mixing It Up Publication Date: Sunday November 22, 1992 BYLINE: MARY ROURKE, Times Fashion Editor Several European designers are giving their collections a decidedly ethnic focus for spring: Fabrics from Thailand and Africa, headdresses from China and saris from India all show up in the new multicultural mix. The trend is, in part, a return to an exaggerated style of dress popular during the early '70s, when Indian gurus and Egyptian pyramid power were part of the Zeitgeist. Clothing back then consisted of bell-bottom and elephant-leg pants, maxi skirts mid-calf or longer, and richly patterned fabrics from India, Africa and Asia. Today, Paris-based stylemakers are updating that look, with an emphasis on the ethnic. Valentino's wide-leg, African-print pants feature shimmering beads on sheer silk. Yohji Yamamoto sews brightly colored Thai fabrics into simple, modern shapes. And Yves Saint Laurent gives Chinese dress a French twist when he combines evening tops with gold frog fasteners and gold lame skirts. This lively fashion movement puts fresh spin on an environmentalist slogan: Think global, dress local. This article is copyright 1992 The Los Angeles Times Home Edition. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM