Bow-tying skills put to test for spring

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Mothers of little girls and professional gift wrappers have a common edge in the spring fashion arena. They are skilled at tying bows.
Trend-conscious women will need the talent if they want to follow the lead of their favorite designers.
In the spring runway shows, wrapped kimono jackets made the point at Donna Karan's DKNY. Bill Blass' Michael Vollbracht added little bows to the high waists of slim sheaths reminiscent of the early '60s.
And Oscar de la Renta and Donna put full fledged not-to-be-missed bows in the center of raised waists on dresses and tunics. Karan ran ribbon through the back of her dresses so that they fit closely in the front and full from the back. On the downside, in the absence of stylists and personal maids, women may have to allow extra time for dressing.
The bow is a youthful addition probably favored most by those women long past wearing hair ribbons and sashes.