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New Washable Leather Fashions
(ARA) - Suede and leather are coming on strong this year. From designer runways to the
pages of the top fashion magazines, suede, shearling and leather have all emerged as
absolute must-haves for the style-savvy. And with all the choices in sihouettes and
colors, there should be something for everyone.
This year's focus on looks in suede and leather is very much a
real-world phenomenon, thanks to new machine-washable styles that make these fashions
easier to wear and care for. Where concerns about stains and high dry cleaning costs used
to make many women think twice about adding suede and leather to their wardrobes, the
latest looks turn these skins into true fashion fabrics that can be worn every day and for
every occasion.
Leading the way in this easy-care innovation is Bernardo
Fashions. Last year, this New York-based company launched a collection of
machine-washable, machine-dryable suede outerwear and sportswear, which became an
immediate best seller. The firm is following up this success by rolling out the market's
most extensive collection of all-washable products, including the fashion industry's first
machine-washable leather apparel, as well as fresh faux shearling looks that are both
machine-washable and machine-dryable.
The quality of these Bernardo Washables have earned them an
exclusive endorsement by Woolite Fabric Wash, making them the only leather and suede
apparel allowed to carry the trusted Woolite care hangtag.
"Women love leather and suede," says Bernardo president
Stuart Pollack. "But traditionally, they've also thought of them as expensive,
high-maintenance items. Now consumers have a new freedom to wear leather and suede as a
practical part of their everyday wardrobes."
Retail experts have highlighted easy-care suede and leather as a
particularly important trend this year. "Washability has to be seen as one of the
leading edge categories in terms of performance," notes Gary Fritschi, merchandise
manager at The Doneger Group, America's leading independent buying office, which advises
hundreds of top stores across the country. "It offers a real advantage that consumers
care about, and that will only become more important in the coming seasons. Of course, the
appeal isn't based only on this added feature," he continues. "It's also a
matter of offering the right fashions."
That point is well-illustrated by Bernardo's collection, which
features clean, modern styling and the start of a movement towards less fitted, and
sometimes less structured, silhouettes. After nearly a decade of skinny, sculpted looks,
the pendulum has started to swing, and the time seems right for designs with a bit more
volume and a little less constricting cut.
To be sure, there are still plenty of body-conscious choices, and
there's nothing extreme about the new proportions: in on-the-rise styles like blouson
jackets, blazers, barn coats and A-line skirts, the look is still clean and well-defined.
With this comes a new and welcome note of comfort. Shoulders relax a touch, jackets loosen
up, and skirts acquire an easy sense of movement.
Color is also a critical element, as seen in Bernardo's
eye-catching spectrum of fashions. This season, machine-washable, machine-dryable suede is
offered in a dozen new choices -- over and above more than 10 previously introduced for
spring. The palette ranges from vivid shades of sea blue, grape and ruby, to the
best-selling earth tone cigar, and neutrals of sand, chamois and taupe. Machine-washable
leather highlights deep fashion tones like currant and brick as well as the essential
black, while faux shearling is focused on traditional natural shades.
Key directions evident in the Bernardo Washables
collection include:
Frontier Exploration: Fall's latest looks harken
back to the frontier in such styles as supple suede jackets, riding-inspired A-line skirts
and faux shearling greatcoats that are warm and rugged.
Age of Innocence: A romantic revival is evident
in suede collectibles, distinguished by Old World embellishments and handcrafted touches
like leaf-print embossing and embroidery rendered in regal tapestry tones. A
floral-embroidered button front jacket strikes a poetic mood, particularly when paired
with the new ankle-length suede skirt.
Sharper Image: As a counterpoint to fall's
softer looks, streamlined leather styles marked by sleek tailoring and a modern edge are
available. These shapes are attention-getting, yet not confining: there are fitted blazers
with crisp lines and a sharply-defined shoulder; trim pants in slim and Capri styles; and
a new cropped version of the favorite scuba jacket. Of particular note is the return of
the pants suit -- pairing a two-button blazer with wide-leg pants -- and a practical
standout in machine-washable leather. Another suede favorite borrowed from the boys: a
double-breasted notch collar coat in a three-quarter length.
Bernardo Washables are available at leading stores nationwide,
including Nordstrom, Macy's, Marshall Field and Rich's; for more locations, visit
www.bernardofashions.com
Courtesy of ARA Content
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