Lifestyles

After an explosion of bright, warm shades that jammed fashion runways and jolted us into spring and summer, we need a color break. Call it khaki or call it tan -- or mocha, brown, cream, taupe, ecru, wheat or beige -- but neutrals in the light-brown family are stepping up for the season.

"Khaki covers a wide variety of shades," says Heather Hannan, public relations manager for Macy's Midwest. "When you think of khaki, you tend to think of drab and conservative. This summer, it's totally different. Khaki is interpreted in very stylish and chic dresses, crop jackets, skirts and shorts."

Macy's flaunts the trend in summer separates in women's sizes in its "Brown Sugar by JM Collection" that teams belted light-twill capris in toffee with a sleeveless rib-knit medallion-neck tank in pebble with a brown-variegated striped three-quarter-sleeve crinkle shirt.

Accessories that spotlight sand, bone and brown, referred to as "the warm side of neutral" by Macy's, include a brown tweed straw hat by Charter Club, a ginger shopper bag in natural man-made weave with white trim by Style & Co., a chocolate bead link necklace and a chic imported champagne silk-chiffon wrap, both by Charter Club. A pair of tortoise sunglasses by Alfani completes the neutral look.

"Khaki has almost become a base color for summer to build around," says Hannan. "You can add the vibrant colors that are trendy this summer. Khaki allows your accessories to really pop."

Michele Casper, fashion spokeswoman for Lands' End, says summer khaki is a versatile color that can be paired with pastels, crisp white or ivory. The desert khaki shade turns up in everything from shorts to Italian stretch-gabardine suit separates from Lands' End -- a blazer, skirt and trousers -- that she says can transition from a tailored look for work or a job interview to a more relaxed outfit with the trousers and a special blouse for casual Fridays.

Michael Fink, senior fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue, says the most interesting part of the neutral trend for him has been the introduction of nude patent leather in shoes and bags.

"It's the newest treatment of the color," he says. "It really elongates the legs."

Fink says that even though the summer season is synonymous with bright colors, adding a neutral shade such as khaki gives an outfit a more sophisticated edge.

At Jupe on the South Side, co-owner Amanda Hall says khaki adds a special touch to navy in the nautical look that is popular for summer. Her boutique offers several neutral shades, in linen Bermuda walking shorts from Beaubois and khaki sateen capris from Soda Blu to a paid of khaki shorts with striped seersucker belt and trim from Miss Me, that, when worn with a white tank, "is very beachy," Hall says.

"Khaki is everywhere in summer sportswear," says Deborah Lloyd, executive vice president of design and product development for Banana Republic. "Right now there is a huge trend toward military and safari-inspired clothing, and these often look best in neutral shades."

Claire Dupuis, senior product trend forecaster for Cotton Inc., says the versatility of the basic cotton-twill khaki fabric is shining through for the season in a variety of apparel pieces.

"It's absorbent, comfortable and breathable, which is great for summer," she says, and some manufacturers such as Brooks Brothers and Dockers have made their khaki pants even more appealing by adding wrinkle-free and stain-resistant finishes.

Lloyd says the khaki tones will continue into fall, when they will be paired with seasonally appropriate colors such as brown, grey, olive and navy.

New ways with khaki

It's everywhere you look. Summer khaki has taken off in all directions:

From Land's End: A gathered scoop-neck dress in khaki stripe with bias-cut skirt and organza trim at the hem. $99 at www.landsend.com

From J.C. Penney: A pair of beige crisscross peep-toe pumps with a 3 1/4-inch jute-covered wedge and 3/4-inch platform, part of an "Au Natural" summer collection. $50 at www.jcpenney.com

From Old Navy: A lightweight linen khaki floral-print babydoll dress with empire bodice, pleated skirt and adjustable spaghetti straps. $29.50 at www.oldnavy.com

From Victoria's Secret: Wide-leg below-the-knee linen gaucho pants with belt in sandcastle (beige) or chocolate. $39.50 at www.victoriassecret.com

From Banana Republic: Pleated-front cuffed shorts in workwear khaki with front off-seam pockets, rear button-welt pocket and zip fly. $54 at www.bananarepublic.com

From Macy's: A Lauren by Ralph Lauren textured linen side-button skirt in Sahara sand. $149 at www.macys.com

From Gap: Canvas and leather classic bag in pebble beach with brown leather straps and trim with topstitching and metal grommet detail. $68 at www.gap.com

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