The New Soft Wear

Fashion goes soft for spring, with shapes and fabrics that look best when riffled by a mild Santa Ana. Among changes in the wind are looks based on one beautiful pair of pants, which could be reminiscent of the wide--leg trousers of Katharine Hepburn in the ‘30’s or the palazzo pajamas of Dinah Shore in the ‘50’s. Delicate floral prints, sensuous silks and breezy cottons are also on the soft side of spring. They are modeled by actresses Julie Carmen, who appears in Robert Redford’s new movie “The Milagro Beanfield War,” and Robin Wright, who played the title role in “The Princess Bride” and who just completed a film called “Loon.” Carmen was born in New York and Wright is from Texas, but both are right at home in body--caressing fabrics and skin--baring styles that seem to have been made for California women.

Photographed by Paul Jasmin; hair and makeup by Alfonso Noe/Cloutier; styling by Claude Deloffre and Beth Bickson/Celestine-Cloutier.