The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

SUPPLEMENT TO McHENRY PLAINDEALER - PAGE 15 - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1978 A confident new femininity marks designer collections There's a new look of feminine confidence to fash­ ions for spring, 1978. Despite all the earnest talk and the well-meaning manu­ als that counsel the working woman to adopt a "busi­ nesslike uniform" in the style of her male counterparts, this season's trends are anything but uniform or unisex. **=• Instead, women seem to be evolving their own style of authority dressing, and it's a look that says a little sweet talk never hurts. The trend is away from the tried and true to the softer and looser in melting shapes, natural fabrics and delectable details. Even the classics are sweetened and softened with luxury fabrics, frostings of lace and downright pretty colors. "Occasion dressing" is back in favor--different looks for work, for evening, for exercise and for casual times. Loose, easy shapes let the body move freely. Light fabrics slide over the figure. Sexiness is subtly naive. Cosmetic colors--the pales and the neutrals--are softly flattering. For every action, of course, there is also reaction, and the punk fad provides far-out fashion for people who dig unmatched earrings, safety pins and broken watches. The feminine focus is so gentle, the best ensembles seem just to happen. How­ ever, appearances are decep­ tive. TTiere has to be hard- headed planning behind that soft silhouette, because the head-to-toe picture needs careful coordination. Longer skirts need delicate shoes, sometimes flat heels and toned-in stockings. Fab­ rics and textures have to be blended with the right soft accessories. Hang loose is the watch­ word for spring. Linings, paddings, facings and but­ tons are phased out wherever possible. Patterns and tex­ tures mix playfully. Fluid shapes are bloused, shirred and gathered. Hemlines are dropping to flatter the ankle. A big, loose blazer covers all. Spring checks THE SOFT SPORTS­ WEAR TREND is inter­ preted by Queen Casuals in this fresh blue and white check blouson jacket. It's teamed with a polyester permanently- leated skirt. Wear-Dated y Monsanto, the polyes­ ter jacket is also available in red and white, and green and white combina­ tions. Jacket, about S25; skirt, about $17. t The interest comes from a subtle hint of the body mov­ ing freely beneath a volume of featherlight fabric. Spring dresses can be sweet and simple with loose uncluttered shapes or frosted with flirtatious feminine de­ tails. The newest boast clean lines, easy construction and luxury fabrics like silk crepe de chine. One favorite is a scarf dress in sheer cotton that can be worn many ways and also works as a top over pants. Another is the fancy-free blouson, in an airy luxury fabric like cotton gauze. Sundresses come out in tropical prints or delicate feminine florals with lacy trim and flounces. The balloon-shaped mini-dress is another warm weather look. Flowers and laces make the sweetest looking dress­ es. The big print dress is a mini-floral with a Liberty look. Tiered, lace-trimmed skirts are popular. The alter­ native;: clean, sleek and slim. Coverups often are coor­ dinated with dresses: big blazers in matching fabric or shawls in color-keyed prints. It adds up to lighthearted, spirited fun--a word fashion hasn't heard for awhile. The message is: live a little, relax, and let new ideas happen. Middle Age Middle age is the time when the gleam in your eyes is just the sun re­ flecting off your glasses. -Acorn, Stockton, Cal. True Restraint Will power is having the same ailment a friend has and not mentioning it. -Globe, Atchison, Kan. A L "SKY-CHUTER," a 250-foot-tall parachute drop, will allow guests to experience the thrills of sky-diving, without jumping out of an airplane. The attraction, the world's tallest thrill ride, will be new in 1978 at Six Flags Over Mid-America, the 200-acre theme park lo­ cated just west of St. Louis. surgeons Look! Levi's' Panatela* Goes Quartet The new compatibles! Four perfect parts of Dacron® polyester doubleknit -- a wrinkle-shy Visa® fabric that machine launders and stays bright! Wear them all together or have em separately. His in popular navy, brown or tan. Blazer 36-46 reg., 40-44 long $45 Vest sizes S-M-L-XL $17 Slacks, waist 32-42, S-M-L inseam: Solid colors .. .$16 Plaid $18 189 I6S6 9 'masir naiQH L ̂J 4400W. RTE. 120 McHENRY, ILL 385-4100 DAILY 9-9, SAT. 9-6, SUNDAYS 10-5 $45 $17 $18 $16