1971 Campus '71

              Hippie or gypsy, gals wear their moods
Designers have dictated the fashions women will wear since the colonial days. But
this year's feminine consumers have developed their own fashion looks — many
contrary to the big city designers.
Dr. Viola Davis, psychologist at the Fresno
State College Counseling Center, says an expression of freedom in our society has entered the fashion industry.
"People want to think their own thoughts,"
Dr. Davis adds. "The don't want to be held
down — the new sexual freedom goes along
with the mini but not with the midi."
So, from a variety of life styles have come
a variety of fashion looks: hippie, gypsy,
peasant girl, Indian, and mod.
"People are starting to realize the hold
others have had on them,* says Dr. Davis.
"The trend is toward living a more simple
life... away from money and material things.
This is reflected in clothing."
"Not since Christian Dior's 1947 New Look
has a descending hemline raised such a
furor," said Time Magazine.
Chicago bumper stickers say, "Mini yes,
Midi no!"
Pat Nixon: "I think most midis are ugly,
dowdy."
Janice Sedricks, fashion designer: "Clothes
are a disguise. There are so few perfect
bodies. People aren't ready to deal unselfconsciously with their bulges. The first
thing people  scream   is how ugly the midi
is.     Well,   how many of the minis walking
around honestly look good?"
Dorothy Woo, FSC student: "I feel the
fashion world is making a 'last-stab' effort
to sway pyblic opinion and to recapture its
lost market — the youth. The maxi has definitely failed, the midi can't last and the mini
will be here to stay — whether it be in defiance of the dictates of our fashion stylists
or merely because this is part of the "naturalist' movement (the acceptance of oneself
on a person's own terms and not on everyone else's)."
One thing is for sure, if hemlines go down
far enough, women will have to buy complete
new wardrobes: midi dresses, skirts, coats;
belts and bags; higher-heeled shoes and boots.
And to go along with the new wardrobe fashion designers   say  that women will  need
". . . the new sexual freedom
goes along with the mini but
not with the midi."
smoother hair for a smaller head; a high
dog collar for a slender throat and dark legs
for  continuity  of  color.    That could mean
millions of dollars in sales.
Americans are known for taking a position
on everyissue. Fashion is no different. We've
even organized against the Great Midi Conspiracy. In Washington, it's FADD (Fight
Against Designer Dictatorship), while New
York has GAMS (Girls/Guys Against More
Skirt). "Fashion which does not serve the
people is BS.," say spokesmen for these
groups.
What many women are doing is loading up
on pants. They see them not only as a solution if they are torn between hemline lengths
but as a growing wardrobe staple as well.
Many schools and offices alike have even
changed their regulations to allow them.
What fashion designers seem to be looking
for are women who want to be first with
anything new, no matter what; women who need
to hide "attrocious" legs; women who do
things just to be different!
When you get down to the basics, the midi
has happened before. Life magazine, in 1937,
showed the Duchess of Windsor in a midi
with a button corselet. It's just a fashion
trying to repeat itself again.  Will it?
As of now, 1970-71 shows women wearing
their moods — fantasies, uncertainties and
aggressions — right on their backs. It's the
all-time fashion parade of self-expression.
As Eugenia Sheppard said, "This is the
fashion soap opera, and your guess is as good
as mine for the next installment."