Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!tamsun.tamu.edu!mtecv2!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Newsgroups: usa-today.trends,americast.usa-today.trends Subject: trends Wed, Aug 26 1992 Message-ID: Date: 26 Aug 92 08:21:15 GMT Organization: American Cybercasting Lines: 124 Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com 08-26 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update Aug. 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network YOUTH FASHION IS IN THE JEANS: Denim shows its colors and stays true blue in back-to-school wear this fall. And the Western look is roping in the younger set, with plaid a fall perennial. Those guidelines hold from grade school to college, as child and teen styles continue to mimic adult looks. "Kids don't want to look like kids, they want to look more like adults," says Monet LeMon of Talbots. (For more, see special Fashion package below.) P.M. DAILIES BECOMING HISTORY: One by one, in a steady stream that's become almost a flood in recent years, afternoon newspapers have been dying. Last month, it was The Spokane Chronicle. Next month, it will be Oklahoma's Tulsa Tribune. Changing reading habits brought about by busier lifestyles, altered work schedules and working mothers all have contributed to the demise of some afternoon daily newspapers. TWENTY MOVED TO A.M. LAST YEAR: The Newspaper Association of America estimates that about 20 newspapers switched from publishing afternoons to mornings last year, and at least 16 have done so already this year. Others, including papers in San Diego; Richmond, Va.; and Durham, N.C., merged weak afternoon newspapers with morning editions. KODAK INTRODUCES PHOTOS ON CD: Eastman Kodak, looking for ways to boost film sales in the face of competing technologies such as video cameras, is promoting machines that store photographs on compact discs. The machines can display photos on a television set or personal-computer screen. When consumers take film to be developed, they'll be able to choose whether to pay an extra $20 to store photos on a Kodak CD. CUTTING HORSES ON CUTTING EDGE: Cutting, in which a participant on horseback keeps a calf away from its herd, remains relatively unknown outside the South and West. But it's gaining popularity, althought it takes money to compete at the highest levels. Among the sport's more well-known converts: "Batman" star Michael Keaton, PepsiCo board member Jim Milner and supermodel Christie Brinkley. ACCESSORIES BOLSTER WARDROBE: Accessories are key to completing the fall wardrobe for preteens and young adults this year. This season's look includes silver-tipped belts and cowboy boots to highlight the Western wear trend, and platform shoes and thick-soled oxfords for fashion-forward teen girls who fancy longer skirts. The right accent piece helps personalize the latest fashion trends, fashion experts say. GOSPEL GETS FUNKY: Singing old-time hymns driven by the funk styles of Prince and James Brown, choral groups are not only making a comeback - they've never been so hip. Gospel artists call this hot sound new traditional music. Gone are the metronomic drum beats and the lone organ. In their place: synthesizers, electric bass and lead guitars, Tower of Power-inspired horns and funk drums. ELK ANTLERS ARE GROWING INDUSTRY: U.S. elk antlers are worth big bucks to Asian healers who believe the fast-growing racks contain rejuvenating ingredients that can perk up a sluggish sex life, lower blood pressure and relieve stress, neurosis and insomnia. The USA jumped into the commercial market only within the past 10 years. Today, about 1,000 U.S. ranchers devote all or part of their spread to raising elk. LIBEL AWARD AMOUNTS SKYROCKET: The average award to plaintiffs by juries in libel trails reached $9 million the past two years. A Libel Defense Resource Center study shows that's up from an average libel award of $1.5 million dollars in 1980 through 1989. News organizations say they're concerned about mega-awards such as a $58 million award against Dallas TV station WFAA last year. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON FASHION: KIDS FOLLOW STYLE QUICKLY: No longer does it take two years for a trend to trickle down from adult to kids' wear, says Mary Jane Benedetto, vice president of children's wear, Federated Merchandising, the fashion and buying arm of the 200-member Federated Department Stores group. Today, "the (size) 7-14 customer wants to wear what the junior customer wears two days later," Benedetto says. GUESS IN ON THE ACT: Guess Kids offers its status-conscious young wearers a line of sueded denim shorts, skirts and jeans ($40 and up), and Bloomingdale's serves up a $280 girl-sized black leather-skirted suit. Denim takes center stage as "the key fall fabric" for everything - jeans, rolled-bottom shorts, vests, dresses, shirts and skirts long and short, says Carol Edwards of J.C. Penney. WESTERN LOOK ROPES IN KIDS: Basic blue is king, but colored denim is making inroads, especially in hues like hunter green, pumpkin and purple. Other fall looks grabbing the fancy of kids and teens alike include the Western look with cowboy- and Indian-themed woven shirts, chambray tops, fringed jackets and Aztec prints and oversized hooded jackets, anoraks and serape-print outerwear. KIDS HANG LOOSE: Casual lives need hip, loose, comfortable clothes, and guys especially are finding that look in baseball shirts, long, baggy shorts, varsity jackets and colorful fleece and nylon activewear featuring sports logos this fall. Sometimes athletic insignias give way to social commentary, such as "Peace N The Hood" and "Educate to Elevate." (End of package.) Trends & Marketing Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM