STYLE : FASHION : Mixing It Up

Several European designers are giving their collections a decidedly ethnic focus for spring: Fabrics from Thailand and Africa, headdresses from China and saris from India all show up in the new multicultural mix.

The trend is, in part, a return to an exaggerated style of dress popular during the early ‘70s, when Indian gurus and Egyptian pyramid power were part of the Zeitgeist. Clothing back then consisted of bell-bottom and elephant-leg pants, maxi skirts mid-calf or longer, and richly patterned fabrics from India, Africa and Asia.

Today, Paris-based stylemakers are updating that look, with an emphasis on the ethnic. Valentino’s wide-leg, African-print pants feature shimmering beads on sheer silk. Yohji Yamamoto sews brightly colored Thai fabrics into simple, modern shapes. And Yves Saint Laurent gives Chinese dress a French twist when he combines evening tops with gold frog fasteners and gold lame skirts.

This lively fashion movement puts fresh spin on an environmentalist slogan: Think global, dress local.