Glitter-Giggle Tops

Jeans and denim skirts seem to have become a permanent part of many women's wardrobes, but the pure proletarian look is quickly receding. The new, rather reactionary yen is to set off casual clothes with touches of camp or swank. Result: a growing trend toward offbeat tops as snazzy, jazzy, individualistic mates for the denims. During the summer this took the form of T shirts with silk-screen designs (Marilyn Monroe pinups, for example), funny messages ("Keep on Truckin' ") or advertising slogans ("Try it, you'll like it"). For fall and winter the fad is expanding by borrowing--and satirizing--glitter notions that used to be reserved for evening wear.

These sweaters, T shirts, tank tops and long-sleeved shirts do everything but give off sparks. They are festooned with rhinestones, sequins, silver threads, gold sparkle dust and paint. There are abstract designs in the Art Deco vein. Another line stresses the representational (Bette Midler's face in sequins, flowers and animals in sparkle dust). A "words and numbers" series allows the wearer to advertise her home town ("Palm Springs: P.S. I love you") or favorite athlete's numeral. For the most part, the tops are priced for the jeans wearer's budget (usually between $11 and $20). But there are other versions like Right Bank Clothing's "America" top; a confetti-like array of multi-colored rhinestones surrounds the lettering, which sells for $72.

Bit of Glamour. Some of the more affluent customers, such as Barbra Streisand, Sally Struthers and Diana Ross are teaming the new tops with satin pants, tweeds and other expensive items. The tops are also being paired with slacks and sporty blazers. "This all started as a junior-sportswear fad," says Jules Lebetkin, president of the boutique sportswear firm Catch-A-Guy. "It's a kind of trendy, rock-star flashiness that anybody can have fun with."

Says Kal Ruttenstein, a vice president and merchandise manager at New York's Saks Fifth Avenue: "The idea that clothes are amusing cheers people up. Designers were all saying that this was going to be a very classic fall. You wouldn't have expected such fashions to catch on in a year like this." Saks is now planning a new boutique devoted to spangled goods that will be called "The Treasure Chest."

Manufacturers believe that inflation makes a bit of glamour at moderate prices attractive. "What does the working girl do when she can't afford to spend money for regular clothes?" asks Ronnie Gross, president of a group of sportswear firms that includes Quips, Questions and Quotations. He answers himself: "She can either buy a lot of cheap, imitation designer clothes that don't fool anybody. Or she can go kicky, buy a flashy shirt, and say it is something for a giggle."

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