The Arizona Republic 10/14/1998 Go Figure: Sweaters are Fashionable Again

The sweater girl is back in town. She's as casually chic as she was in 1920, when Coco Chanel created her famous twin sets with pearls, and Elsa Schiaparelli knitted pullovers with trompe l'oeil effects. And she's just as provocative as she was in the '40s and '5Os, when such stars as Lana Turner and Marilyn Monroe wore their sweaters a tad too small. Lost in decades of power suits, baggy clothes and ultraspare styles, the sweater girl mystique has been rediscovered by a new generation of designers and the women they dress, says Dale Gluckman, curator of costumes and textiles at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 'Sweaters are part of our fascination we're having with the '40s, and 1 think they're a hit again because people like the ease and neatness about them, ' Gluckman said. Modern sweater girl Catherine Bell, star of the CBS drama series JAG, thinks sweaters have made a comeback in fashion because of boredom with recent trends. 'Fashion is cyclical, so its no surprise, ' she said. ' 'Besides, after wearing all those low-cut dresses, it's nice to cover up in a sweater.' The actress said she went through a period in her life when she thought she had to dress more authoritatively, much like her Marine Corps attorney character, Sarah. 'Unlike her, I've gotten over that and find sweaters very feminine, especially cashmere twin sets . . . but I wouldn't wear pearls, ' she said. When CBS sent out publicity photos for the show's return this season, Bell was shown wearing a deep lavender sweater set. For would-be sweater girls, the twin set is a must-have, but there's other news. According to William Sung, president of the LA based Bettze Paige knitwear company, which has been nominated for the California Rising Star award, technologies such as computerized designs and high-tech fabrics have had an effect on the sweater's newfound popularity. 'Lighter-weight knits also have helped the sweater establish a firm footing as a year-round wardrobe staple, ' ' Sung said. Television stylist Jane Mannfolk said that translates into what she calls a new body consciousness. 'With the addition of Lycra, sweaters not only keep their shape better, but they cling to curves and enhance your figure, ' ' she said. However, Bell knows the real reason sweaters are in again. 'Guys love them, ' she quipped.