subject: The Fifties Home-maker In All Her Glory [print this page] Fast-forward to spring/summer 2004, and though tweed might be replaced by chiffon catsuit as the fabric du jour, there is likely to be no more profound sign of change. True, Zentai unitardhas moved on and will be offering up the zentai suit in thick beige canvas with a speckled weave effect, as shown on her catwalk last month in Milan. The overall mood, though, is still very much preoccupied with the traditional. The Fifties home-maker in all her glory is Miuccia's muse for her main line - in just the slightly twisted manner that she has by now made her own. Viktor & Rolf and Alexander McQueen, by contrast, have been inspired by nothing more challenging than the screen goddesses of Hollywood's Golden Age.
It is true that, in less than brilliant hands, such an apparently conventional take on beauty may seem dull, a spider man costume play-safe tactic in a less-than-stable economic world. Put fashion's greats to the test with it, however, and you end up with thoroughly engaging clothes.
Oh, and for those who just can't bear the idea of putting their newly-acquired tweed footwear to one side there is a suitably deranged high-summer alternative: Chanel's lace-up, wedge-heeled, peep-toed fondant-coloured boucle wool zentai suit . As total looks go, a spiderman costumes pair of these worn with a Chanel suit to match will no doubt stop the traffic. And then some.
