SHE'S BACK!; CUDDLE UP TO THE NEW SWEATER GIRL.Byline: Barbara De Witt Daily News Fashion Editor The sweater girl is back in town. She's as casually chic as she was in 1920, when Coco Chanel created her famous twinsets with pearls, and Elsa Schiaparelli knitted pullovers with trompe l'oeil effects. And she's just as provocative as she was in the '40s, when stars like Lana Turner and Marilyn Monroe wore their sweaters a tad too small. Lost in decades of power suits, baggy clothes and ultra-spare styles, the mystique of the sweater girl 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 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, also known as LACMA, is the official and world-renowned art museum of the County of Los Angeles, California, located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. . According to Gluckman, ``Sweaters are part of our fascination we're having with the '40s, and I think they're a hit again because people like the ease and neatness about them.'' Modern sweater girl Catherine Bell, the star of the hit CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. drama series ``JAG judge advocate general (J.A.G.) n. a military officer who advises the government on courts-martial and administers the conduct of courts-martial. The officers who are judge advocates and counsel assigned to the accused come from the office of the judge advocate ,'' thinks sweaters have made a comeback in fashion because of boredom with recent trends. ``Fashion is cyclical, so it's no surprise. Besides, after wearing all those low-cut dresses, it's nice to cover up in a sweater.'' As the Sherman Oaks actress tried on some of the season's newest knits for the Daily News, she 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 MacKenzie. ``Unlike her, I've gotten over that and find sweaters very feminine, especially cashmere cashmere Animal-hair fibre forming the downy undercoat of the Kashmir goat. The fibre became known for its use in beautiful shawls and other handmade items produced in Kashmir, India. The fibres have diameters finer than those of the best wools. twinsets ... but I wouldn't wear pearls,'' she says. Posing in a variety of styles, including a crocheted camisole camisole /cam·i·sole/ (kam´i-sol) [Fr.] straitjacket; a jacketlike device for restraining the limbs, particularly the arms, of a violently disturbed patient. under a matching cardigan, a zip-front cashmere sweater with a hood trimmed in mink, and a '50s-style cardigan with beading beading, n the scribing of a shallow groove (less than 0.5 mm in width or depth) on a cast that outlines the major connector. It is used to transfer the design to the investment cast and ensure tissue contact of the major connector. and embroidery, it's clear that Bell has done this before. ``Yes, I was a part-time model while I was studying pre-med at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX ,'' she admits, ``but once I got an acting job, I changed my mind about being a doctor.'' To prepare for her role on ``JAG,'' Bell says she stayed a week at Camp Pendleton and participated in what she calls a mini-boot camp. She came out with a lot of respect for the military but says she'd never consider signing up. ``It's so disciplined and demanding, and then there's the uniform. Marine green is so hard to wear ...'' Unlike real Marines, Bell's character has her uniforms carefully tailored to show her, ah, best features. And when the show's fourth season kicks off Sept. 22., you may see even more of her, hints Bell. For those who didn't realize ``JAG'' or Bell had been on the air that long, the actress explains that she was not in the original series but came in as a replacement during the second season. Then the show changed writers, networks and time slot, moving to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. For would-be sweater girls, the twinset twin·set or twin set n. A sweater set comprised of a cardigan and a shell that match and are worn together. twinset Noun a matching jumper and cardigan is a must-have, but there's other news. According to William Sung, president of the L.A.-based Bette Paige knitwear company that's been nominated for the California Rising Star award, ``New technologies such as computerized designs and futuristic fabrics have played a significant part in the sweater's newfound popularity ... and lighter-weight knits also have helped the sweater establish a firm footing as a year-round wardrobe staple.'' Television stylist Jane Mannfolk translates that manufacturing news 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,'' says Mannfolk. But Bell knows the real reason sweaters are in again. ``Guys love them,'' she quips. SWEATER STYLES UNRAVELED Angora - The fluffiest of sweaters (also very itchy) made from the long hairs of Angora goats and rabbits. Cardigan - This jacketlike sweater with buttons down the front was named for the seventh Earl of Cardigan Earl of Cardigan is an English peerage title. It was created in 1661 for Thomas Brudenell, who had been previously created Baron Brudenell of Stonton Wyvill in the County of Leicester (1628) and was an English Baronet, styled of Brudenell of Deene . Wear it tied around the shoulders or hips as a colorful accessory. Cashmere - The ultimate sweater fabric, made from cashmere goat cashmere goat see central asiatic pashmina. hair. It's sold in a variety of weights and thicknesses, ranging from two- to 12-ply. The lighter and silkier it feels on your body, the more you'll pay. Crewneck - A sweater with a round rib-knit neckline neckline The line that connects the two lowest points on the intermediate declines of a head-and-shoulders chart pattern. In an inverted head-and-shoulders formation, the neckline connects the two intermediate tops. that was popular with rowing teams. Fair Isle - A sweater with a particular design made by the folks from Fair Isle, near Scotland. It's an oldie old·ie n. Something old, especially a song that was once popular. oldie Noun Informal an old song, film, or person Noun 1. that's new again. Jacquard - A heavy wool sweater - the classic ski sweater - knit with elaborate designs. Ralph Lauren makes them every year. Jersey - The original sweater. It was tightly woven and lightweight and used mostly for sports until the '20s, when it became a major player in all fashion circles. Twinset - Also called a sweater set, it consists of a short-sleeved (or sleeveless) shell and a matching cardigan. A must-have for this fall's wardrobes. - Barbara De Witt CATHERINE BELL Born in: London; raised in Van Nuys. Lives in: Sherman Oaks. Education: UCLA. Marital status marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. : Married to Adam Beason; no children but two Italian greyhounds. Stars in: ``JAG'' (8 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS). Next project: CBS Movie of the Week, ``Cab to Canada,'' to air in November. Favorite designers: Missoni, Herve Leger, Donna Karan, BCBG BCBG Bon Chic Bon Genre . Her sizes: Size 6 dress; size 9 shoes. Hobbies: Sky diving, dirt bikes, golf, auto racing. Favorite Valley hangouts: Lannathai and Maria's Italian Kitchen. - Barbara De Witt CAPTION(S): 8 Photos, 2 Boxes Photo: (1--Cover--Color) On the cover: ``JAG'' star Catherine Bell is wearing an Easel sweater, $119, from Bloomingdale's. Her hair and makeup are by Roy Teeluck and David Sokolsky of Frederic Fekkai Beaute Salon in Beverly Hills. (2--Color) Modern sweater girl Catherine Bell, who plays Marine Corps attorney Sarah MacKenzie in CBS' ``JAG,'' shows just how far a knit can stretch in this hooded spandex-blend sweater by BCBG, $142, Bloomingdale's. (3--Color) She's casually elegant in her sporty zip-front, hooded sweater trimmed with natural mink from Saks Fifth Avenue Saks Fifth Avenue is a chain of upscale American department stores that is owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises (SFAE), a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the elite luxury department store market with Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys New Cashmere Collection, $580. (4--5--Color) (4 Color Only) Above: A Soft but shiny sweater by Bisou-Bisou, $92, Bloomingdale's. Top: Barbara Stanwyck was the ultimate sweater girl in the 1944 film ``Double Indemnity A term of an insurance policy by which the insurance company promises to pay the insured or the beneficiary twice the amount of coverage if loss occurs due to a particular cause or set of circumstances. Double indemnity clauses are found most often in life insurance policies. .'' (6--Color) Bell's '50s-style beaded cardigan is by Cheap & Chic, $295, Bloomingdale's. (7--Color) Knit suits make a sporty comeback in racing stripes by Liz Claiborne, $202, Bloomingdale's. Photos by Myung J. Chun/Daily News (8--Color) CATHERINE BELL Box: (1) SWEATER STYLES UNRAVELED (See Text) (2) CATHERINE BELL (See Text) |
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