HIGH STREET LOOKS

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Mar 20, 2005 | by Fashion Eva Arrighi

WELL there were saris, beads, buttons, wild bold prints, tassles, sequins, coins, extravagant embroidery, tie dying, japanese obi belts and bells (but no whistles) on the catwalks for Spring/Summer 2005, and more than a few of these diverse cultural references were playing out in the same outfit most of the time. You can take all this as worthy nods to cultural and ethnic diversity, tribalism and the influence of exotic global travel, but if truth be told, designers are probably just indulging their magpie-like tendencies a little more than usual.

Hot orange and baked desert tones top the trends that will cross over with ethnic jewellery - especially bangles and huge necklaces - being the key pieces to update your wardrobe with; the corsage is withering on the tweed if you know what I mean.

Africa and Turkey appear to be the hottest destinations, although an oriental influence was present on the runways. Mostly it looked a bit tired although McQueen's excursions to Nippon were sublime.

Obviously not really a look that's going to go down well with conservative Daily Mail types, but for the rest of us more open- minded folks, if you are willing to actively embrace a diverse and vibrant ethnic crossover, I expect lots of jingling of bells, clacking of wooden beads and an eye-popping selection of prints on your back very soon.

Orange crochet top, pounds-25, Miss Selfridge; orange ruched panel top with tie back, pounds-12, Warehouse; ochre/brown print linen skirt, pounds-120, Fenn Wright and Manson at House of Fraser, John Lewis and Jenners Scoop-neck jersey with brown tie-neck detail, pounds-28; orange silk knit V-neck, pounds-48, both Jigsaw; red wooden beads, pounds-18 each, Warehouse; red leather thong necklace, pounds-12, TopShop; brown chiffon dangling bead/sequin scarf, pounds- 22, Monsoon; woven belt, pounds-25, Pepe Jeans at House of Fraser; brown and orange tie-dye tiered ruched skirt, pounds-28, Dorothy Perkins; red suede moccasin, pounds-34.99, River Island Orange v- neck cardigan, pounds-25; tiger print dress, pounds-45, both Miss Selfridge; tan leather belt with disc, pounds-29.99, River Island; African beaded belt (worn as necklace), pounds-25, House of Fraser; red glass necklace, pounds-10, Wallis Black silk top with coin detail, pounds-35, Warehouse; orange and brown patterned print wrapover skirt, pounds-30, TopShop; agate necklace, pounds-65, Jaeger; cowrie shell belt, pounds-18, Miss Selfridge; black wedge sandal, pounds-44.99, Schuh

LIFE'S A RIOT

Seventies prints, a bit of ethnic charm, strange combinations of strong and murky shades mixed with a dash of eccentricity all come together in the quirkiest trend of the season

MIUCCIA Prada's Riviera summer 2004 collection was so influential it almost single-handedly turned everyone else in fashion on to ladylike mode. So trust the chameleon of fashion to then turn her back on the trend she's largely responsible for to head off on a Fifties/Seventies-inspired flight of fantasy in her collections for Prada and Miu Miu. With a mainly ochre/orange/brown/ rust colour palette, it's not to everyone's taste, but there is a certain youth- quake charm to these ensembles that may look quite terrifying to anyone who remembers the wallpapers and duvet covers that seem to be serving as this season's pattern inspirations. But you only have to look to Consuelo Castiglioni's collection at Marni for a certain homespun battiness that doesn't come with an upper age limit.