Elegantly lustrous without going over the top with showgirl sequins and embellishment, a minimal dose of jewel tones is highly-prescribed: plush purples, deep blues, ruby reds and emerald greens. Creating a chic look does not require an exorbitant display of skin under the new smart manual. Boat or scoop necks and stand-away collars remind us that a swan-like neck, the swift and almost precisely calculated movement of one’s wrist and the regal, if not statuesque stance guarantee more than a second glance. Hemlines, similarly, are crafted architecturally to guarantee a silent allure that emphasizes one’s curves instead of overpowering. While silhouettes are very reminiscent of ’50s feminism and a strong affinity for minimalism from the ’90s, mastery over tailoring is highlighted through fabric selection. Tweed, silk, taffeta, brocade and lace add texture to pieces that remind us of the exquisite young women from Finishing School. The look is about restrained panache, intelligent style and a paired-down sophistication. Tartans and florals also play up ensembles providing the perfect balance between nostalgia and modernism.
The look is anything but contrived or frigid. After all, this is the new millennium. What this trend proposes is a more grown-up, astute and streamlined approach to modern dressing, appropriate to the letter. These numbers give new meaning to the phrase "picture perfect." This is the anti-thesis to the pole-dancing, nightcrawler disco queen figure celebrated in seasons past. Fashion once again flips through the leather bound pages of the manual that gives one the A to Z in decorum.