FASHION : GREAT LENGTHS

While New York, Paris and Milan have been busy celebrating the return of the miniskirt, those of us in Southern California have managed to keep things in perspective. Sure, we’ve flirted with shorter hemlines. But we also reserve the right to continue our love affair with long skirts and dresses.

“We never left long. My customers like it,” says California designer Carole Little. “It’s dignified for work and has a certain femininity about it. Besides, not everyone has the legs for short lengths, and no one should wear anything that doesn’t look good on them.”

Now it seems that the rest of the fashion world is coming around. At recent couture shows, Emanuel Ungaro unveiled suit jackets paired with long skirts. Isaac Mizrahi included full, ankle-length skirts in his “postwar Christian Dior” collection. And Rei Kawakubo, for Comme des Garcons, has dared not to bare, opting instead to cover up with slender jersey dresses.

Short isn’t dead. It’s just that long is still very much alive--and alluring.