THIS is the time of year when American fashion magazines are full of ideas for what is commonly known in the United States as either cruise wear or resort wear.
Basically, this means the kind of clothing suited to winter breaks in the sun; for publications such as Vogue, it provides an excuse to feature impeccably toned and tanned bodies lounging around a swimming pool. Maybe there really are enormous numbers of Americans going on away on such holidays right now, all of them desperately in need of information about what ought to be packed. Or, given the dreariness of the climate at the moment, these features could simply reflect many readers' wishful thinking.
However, over on this side of the Atlantic, increasing numbers of us do feel that an escape from the depths of a dank winter has become absolutely essential. Now that sun deprivation is widely recognised as leading to New Year blues, taking a break to a warmer location during the months of January and February seems almost an obligation. Somehow, just a week far away from the grey and listless light of Europe can act as a tonic until the weather begins to improve.
Evidently, this is why so many swimwear manufacturers release their new lines in the first days of the New Year, aware that there are now plenty of women looking for something new to take on a winter holiday. As if to underline the demand for strong colour on dull days, the move at the moment is towards the very brightest of shades and boldest of patterns. Even a pale tan - which is as much as any health conscious woman should permit herself - will look well when set against brilliant pink or lime green, two of the most popular tones for 1997. The vibrancy of these colours reflects wonderfully on the skin, as well as giving your spirits a lift.
While there are always some single colour styles around, the current trend is towards either stripes or, more commonly, extravagant floral prints. Overblown tropical flowers bloom across swimwear right now, throwing still more hot shades into the mix. As for cut there seems to be greater coverage than has been the case in recent years. Compared with former seasons' styles, new one piece suits sit lower on the hip and higher on the bust, the latter often coming with underwire support. Of course, there's support of another kind throughout all swimwear today, thanks to the addition of lycra into the fabric; its presence helps to ensure a smooth line right down the body.
Last year's 50th anniversary of the bikini appears to have encouraged a revival of popularity for the two piece, which continues to have a slightly retro look in 1997. That's because the pants are very often cut to end almost at the top of the thigh rather than heading up for the waist. And again, the bikini top now frequently uses considerable material for underarms and shoulder straps. The skimpiness that used to be the hallmark of this outfit looks as though it has fallen out of favour. It would seem that there's growth in both winter holiday breaks and the swimwear worn on them.