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Holiday casual
By SHARON FINK, Times Staff Writer Burnout from two years of millennium glitz. A post-Sept. 11 urge for comfort. A December without a stretch of cool weather in Florida. Those are among the reasons the nation and the Tampa Bay area have gone to a more casual mode of dress for holiday parties this year. Fashion consultants say consumers have chosen a more subdued holiday season, and are buying clothes to match the mood. From stars in New York and Hollywood to workers in Tampa Bay, you're more likely to see leggings with a sparkly sweater than brightly colored dresses at those holiday affairs. (Though the basic little black dress is always in the running.) Deborah Kent, owner of Deborah Kent in Tampa, said her younger customers like mixing fabrics by taking a sheer top -- chiffon or lace over a camisole -- and pairing it with leather pants or jeans. Pants are hot. "We're seeing more of a casual look, seeing more of pants," said Karen Agnello, agenda consultant for Stein Mart's Seminole and St. Petersburg stores. "We had dressy satin skirts, but we're not seeing people dressing up." Pants also have been big at Burdines in Citrus Park Town Center, said Sandy Koster, sales manager of ladies ready to wear. "We're not seeing a lot of dresses go out," she said. The pants are print, silk, leather, have beading or are a part of a suit that can be worn day into night. The most popular thing to wear with them is a top that makes a statement. It can give a shot of color, in red, gold or ice blue. It can shine with rhinestones or sequins, or a metallic sheen. It can be knit with sparkle. One popular top pulls together several trends. "The holiday thing for us was anything red, white and blue," Agnello said. "We had novelty tops with sequins, stars and stripes, rhinestone flags. We could not keep them in stock." -- Sharon Fink, Times staff writer
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