NEWS IN THE OLD ART OF CONCEALMENT
NOW THAT BIKINIS HAVE GONE AS FAR AS THEY CAN GO, AND PANTS ARE STRETCHED TO THE SPLITTING POINT, THE DESIGNERS OF BEACH CLOTHES HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REVERSE THEIR FIELD. SO THIS WINTER THERE IS A RENAISSANCE OF CLASSIC FEMININITY. SWIMSUITS ARE COYLY SHIELDED BY BEACH DRESSES, OR ROBES SHROUDING THE BODY FROM HEAD TO TOE. DRESSES REAPPEAR WHERE PANTS REIGNED UNOPPOSED—AND EVEN HOSTESSES ARE WEARING SKIRTS. THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT LAUNCHED THE BIKINI AND DECREED SLACKS FOR WOMEN THE WORLD OVER NOW SEND US THE CLOTHES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES FOR THE CURRENT RESORT SEASON AND COMING SUMMER IN AMERICA. MADE IN EUROPE, ALL ARE AVAILABLE AT U.S. STORES
LIKE A LADY OF THE LAKE AT THE VON ECKERMANN ESTATE NEAR RIPSA, SWEDEN, EVA BURNETT IS WRAPPED IN AN AFTER-SWIM ROBE STYLED BY ALICE TOPP-LEE OF NEW YORK, HANDWOVEN IN RIPSA. COUNTESS VON ECKERMANN DESIGNED THE FABRIC, TAKING HER COLORS FROM THE FLOWERING FIELDS OF SWEDEN.
IN THE SUNSET GLOW OF SAINT-TROPEZ, ANNA MARIA POETA WEARS A SILK SHEATH EMBROIDERED WITH A GARLAND OF SILK FLOWERS. THE DRESS IS FROM THE COLLECTION OF LYDIA DE CRESCENZO OF ROME, WHO SPECIALIZES IN SOPHISTICATED SPORTSWEAR MADE FROM NATIVE FABRICS AND NEEDLEWORK.
ON THE COOL GREEN COAST OF SWEDEN, MISS BURNETT WALKS THE ROCKY BEACH IN A VON ECKERMANN HANDWOVEN WOOL SKIRT AND CLASSIC MAILLOT BY JER-SEA OF SWEDEN. VON ECKERMANN CLOTHES, IN TRADITIONAL SWEDISH PATTERNS, ARE EVEN MORE POPULAR IN THIS COUNTRY THAN AT HOME.
ON THE CARLTON BEACH IN CANNES, FRANCESCA ROMANA SIMONINI HIDES HER BIKINI UNDER A DEMURE COTTON BEACH DRESS AND BONNET, FROM EMILIO PUCCI OF FLORENCE. PUCCI, WHO HAS SOLD THOUSANDS OF BIKINIS IN HIS SHOPS IN ITALY AND CAPRI, IS NOW DEDICATED TO COVERING THEM ALL UP.
FOUR PHOTOS
GORDON PARKS
WHERE TO BUY
All the clothes on these pages are available at Lord & Taylor, New York. The Von Eckermann after-swim robe ($110) is also at Bullock's Wilshire, Los Angeles. The Lydia of Rome embroidered silk dress (about $150) is at Neiman-Marcus, Dallas, and the Von Eckermann beach skirt ($60) is also at Bullock's Wilshire. The Pucci dress ($45) and hat ($15) on the opposite page are available only at Lord & Taylor.