Katie Jane Orton, executive buyer at Calypso gives many tips for fashions for the season.

Beautiful models, Tori Simons and Janika Roberts pose for the Royal Gazette's photographer, Nigel Richardson, at Par-La-Ville Park, Hamilton.

Ms Simons' own funky and eclectic style has ensured that she has been on the RG best dressed list for two years running.

Ms Roberts is a Saltus graduate who is going abroad to continue fashion studies and she aspires to become a fashion buyer.

Both models show us glowing looks that will turn heads at Christmas parties! "The magic of Christmas is casting it's spell on fashion again.'' Continued on page 19 Calypso is Bermuda's house of fashion Continued from page 18 "The practical styles that we find throughout the year are taking a back seat in the stores while retailers concentrate on bringing you fantasy clothes and accessories for this forthcoming party season,'' Ms Orton advises.

This year H.M. Customs have joined in the festive spirit by reducing the duty rates on clothes from 22.25 percent to 6.5 percent. Shopping away is no longer as attractive when you still have to pay 22.25 percent at the airport on goods purchased abroad.

As for formal evening wear the dinner dance season is upon us giving us chance to pull out all of the stops as far as fashion is concerned.

"Women should look like jewels amongst the monochrome of tuxedo'd gentlemen,'' according to Ms Orton.

Our business lives dictate conservatism and neutrality but during the party season we have the chance to look at our family, friends and work colleagues in a shimmering light and see their personalities shine.

"Calypso specialises in colour, bright, bold, beautiful colour. Bermuda is filled with a pallet of skin tones from pale ivory to deep bitter chocolate and there is nothing more stunning that seeing those tones accented by fire red, soft gold, warm bronze or the new fashion colours of forest green and regal purple.'' Dresses come alive with beading and sequin details or on shott fabrics which change the colour as you move.

Of course black never fades in popularity but Calypso modernises fashion's staple colour with metallic details.

"A black net skirt with a gold lining, a black dress with silver threads woven throughout. This is the way to update slimming and classic black without looking plain and conservative,'' Ms Orton said.

Accessories. Their evening dresses are often more bare than the styles we normally wear at this time of year but it is important to be as comfortable as we are stylish and shawls are the answer.

Whether worn wrapped around you to keep out the cold, elegantly draped to accent your outfit or doubled and worn as a scarf, a shawl is as practical as it is beautiful.

Solid colours have moved over to make way for the embroidered, the checked and the animal print on less expensive wools and silks. The new styles at Calypso make perfect gifts retailing from $79.95.

Ms Orton concluded: "Whatever you choose to wear the most important, the least expensive and the most flattering accessory this season is a smile.

Having fun is extremely fashionable!'' Calypso model: Janika Roberts Calypso model: Tori Simons strikes a perfect pose in the park.