OXFORD - It may be winter, finally, but residents at Oxford Greens got a little taste of spring at the facility's newly opened clubhouse last week.

The emerging pinks, greens and whites were part of a January 22 fashion show and tea organized by fashion consultant Andrea Ward in cooperation with Arlene Farrell, lifestyle director at Oxford Greens.

Andrea, whose background includes working in the fashion industry in Manhattan, operating her own retail stores in New Haven and being a personal shopper, was promoting her latest fashion venture, "Essentials by Andi Kamel."

The collection included sportswear, novelty wear and spa clothing by Co&Eddy, ready-to-wear by Yansi Fugel, summer whites by Frances Francis, soft dressing by Fat Hat Factory and slinky and sexy outfits by Carilyn Vaile.

What can fashion-conscious women expect to see this spring?

"Green will be popular in many variations, especially earth greens including moss and grass," Andrea told her audience of around 40 women.

Browns, particularly milk chocolate, pale blues, pastels, pink and white also will be big shades in fashion, she speculated.

"We're showing a lot of summer whites in linen and viscose; it's fresh, crisp and gives clothes a new feel," she noted.

For those who like conservative colors like navy, rest assured that it's making a comeback but in a slightly different shade. The new navy fabrics will have black undertones.

"It's more sophisticated - the new black," Andrea said.

That the colors of fabrics have become so much more interesting is not surprising considering that automobiles and even household paint colors also have evolved to new tones, Andrea said.

Think about the color swatches featured now at hardware and home improvement stores. "It's exciting," she added.

In addition to fresh, lively colors, women can expect to see more textured fabrics, including jacquard.

The embossing, a look that was demonstrated in a yellow, asymmetrical jacket worn by resident Nancy Chere, lends great depth and dimension to an outfit, Andrea said.

As for fabrics, linen is popular, but only for those who don't mind a wrinkled look.

"It does crease. That's what linen is about, wrinkled, but not messy," she said.

As always, cotton also is big, especially in spa wear and shirts. A fashion basic for all women's wardrobes will be a white shirt.

"It's a novelty item that's definitely a must," she said.

Another versatile fabric is tencil, a cloth made from the bark of trees.

A two-piece pink dress, made of tencil by Fat Hat Factory and modeled by resident Alice Liang, featured a fluttery skirt with an elastic waist and an over-the-waist top.

Testimony to the trend toward soft dressing, it slithers on the body while providing comfort and ease, Andrea noted.

Whether a woman is a size 4 or 16, she should accentuate her shape, Andrea emphasized.

She said women, especially when they are full-figured, often try to cover themselves up with big boxy tops when, in fact, they should wear jackets that curve in at the waist.

"It's all about how you balance your silhouette," she said.

While there is no specific "right length" for skirts and pants, and no obvious proclivities toward long or short this year, for most women, at the knee or just below the knee is the best length for a skirt.

"It's professional and polite," said Andrea.

In casual clothing, longer lengths also work, especially when worn with sandals in the summer.

For pants, women this spring and summer will have a choice between capris, bicycle and ankle length. The last are particularly versatile in that they can be worn with backless flats, sandals and even boots.

Andrea's collection of Yansi Fugel designs, premiered at Oxford Greens, included sportswear and suits geared for the modern woman.

Minimalistic, but striking, the clothing bridges the market between high end and better sportswear lines. Featured was a khaki jacket with toggles, paired with matching trousers and, a second time, on model Janice Catalano, with a contrasting dark skirt.

To accessorize her outfits, Andrea had some of her models wear jewelry by Sophia Ferrero, a hot new designer from the Midwest. Ms. Ferrero's pieces typically are fashioned of semiprecious stones and gold chains.

Andrea paired the more casual outfits with jewelry by Luna Designs of Barbados, mostly neckpieces made from tropical flower seeds. The whimsical designs and vibrant colors look fabulous with cottons and linens and have a casual summery feel, Ms. Ward noted.

Other models in the show included Genevieve Bielanos, Tinker Jacquette, Brenda Bartel, Lisa Bailyn and Judy Craig, all residents of Oxford Greens.

Flowers for the event were arranged by Dell Martin, also an Oxford Greens resident.

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