Top Designers Reveal Some Ideas to See Us Through the Spring

Sex appeal ruled the runways here as the Spring 2000 collections came to a close Sunday with saucy silhouettes from Chanel, Christian LaCroix, Balenciaga and other designers.

For sure, runways sizzled with hot pants, minis, jewel-encrusted bra tops, and dresses and evening gowns in sheer fabrics and sensuous designs with plunging necklines and revealing backs.

So seductive were the clothes (read: transparent) that many of the fashion press worried--until the last collection was shown--about photographs that would never see the light of newsprint in their family newspapers.

But a sigh of relief could be heard when Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel presented a collection of sexy separates Friday that were more about femininity, not nudity. Included in his lineup were lace tank tops, black satin pants, chiffon shirts, silk viscose camisoles and triple-fly black jeans.

Models hit the runway in hip Lycra quilted jackets and shells in white, fuchsia, tangerine and yellow, which were teamed with cuffed denim shorts. Liquid crepe de Chine skirts danced on the runway in abstract floral designs. Some were pleated, others were elegantly tiered in both short and long styles. And still others came in printed snakeskin--a hot trend.

Evening wear included oversized cotton shirts worn with satin bell-shaped skirts, sequined asymmetrical tops and black jersey dresses, ruffled and slit on the side. Accessories included clutch bags, stiletto heels and Lagerfeld’s new twist on evening gloves that resembled oven mitts, practical for the woman hosting a dinner party.

Never one to shy away from mixing colossal prints in his ensembles, LaCroix paired a floral-printed chiffon top with a floor-length striped skirt. In another, he combined a polka-dot sleeveless top with a bold leafy print skirt.

Those same leaves were on T-shirts and jersey dresses. Bustier tops with tiered organza skirts--short and long--reigned on his runway. Pretty silk flowers--some embroidered with crystals--adorned skirt bottoms and tops of long-sleeved knit jackets.

Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga put his models in skin-tight jeans, cotton pinstriped shirts and distressed brown leather skirts and cropped pants that all looked modern and comfortable, but not innovative. His chemise dresses looked retro and upbeat but were in desperate need of Cling Free.