Ponchos Power Fuels Fall Fashion
(ARA) - When it comes to fashion
"must-haves" this season, it’s hard
to top the poncho. Once dismissed as clothing for hippies,
this 70´s-inspired design has now swung back into
style as a sophisticated -- and diverse -- element of
cool weather style.
The poncho’s appeal isn’t hard to understand:
it combines the visual interest of a smart accessory
with the warmth of outerwear, in a simple, over-the-head
look that’s as sexy as it is easy to wear. Though
some fashion observers have heralded the poncho as "the
new pashmina,” it’s actually far more versatile
than other types of wraps and shawls: it can replace
a dressy coat, blazer or jean jacket, and looks great
with everything from cuffed jeans to mini-skirts.
The current poncho craze started
picking up steam this summer, with a colorful wave of
open-weave crochet styles. These lightweight toppers
became a common sight everywhere from beaches to nightclubs
and on the streets, as well as in fashion spreads and
in photos of celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Michelle
Branch, Alicia Silverstone, and Kate Moss.
Now for fall and winter, the poncho’s
popularity is being fueled by fresh interpretations
in a broad range of colors, weights and fabrics. Bernardo,
a leading outerwear-maker on Seventh Avenue, has created
a collection of ponchos that includes everything from
patchwork wool to rabbit fur and even suede that can
be safely machine-washed. "The poncho can be worn
so many different ways and it makes such an individual
statement," says Bernardo president Stuart Pollack.
"So we decided to offer ponchos to match many different
moods and personalities."
Color makes a major statement
for this season, as illustrated by Bernardo´s
suede poncho, a simple split-neck design that comes
in 11 different shades -- and also delivers the practical
appeal of being safe to machine-wash and -dry at home.
For women on the cutting edge of fashion, fur provides
another bright option, in a knitted rabbit design featuring
such attention-getting tones as kiwi green, lilac and
hot pimento. For a more tonal approach, Bernardo features
a contemporary take on patchwork, combining cool shades
of charcoal and gray in a longer-length poncho bordered
by a rich tasseled fringe trim. Besides their trend-right
looks, these ponchos also provide a surprisingly affordable
fashion option: the suede styles start as low as $99
retail, while the patchwork wool is around $139 and
the fur tops out at just $199.
According to fashion experts,
the poncho is more than a temporary fashion phenomenon
-- because it answers a real need for all kinds of women.
"The poncho offers a welcome change from the many
body-fitted items that have dominated the fashion news,"
explains leading trend forecaster David Wolfe of Doneger
Creative Services. "It is non-challenging to all
figure types and certainly comfortable. The poncho is
one of those fashion fads that becomes a real fashion
staple with staying power in a woman's wardrobe."
To learn more about Bernardo´s ponchos -- and
the rest of its collections for Fall/Winter, visit www.BernardoFashions.com.
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