Article: Paris turns right; as the conservative spring couture collections got under way, one message was clear: the waist's the thing.

PARIS -- Conservative Chic is sweeping fashion. Cynics might suggest it's because expensive clothes are bombing at the box-office, but less skeptical observers attribute it simply to the ageold ebb and flow of fashion: Grunge inevitably gives way to glamour, dressing down almost always leads to dressing up.

This Ying and Yang of fashion is even reflected in the couture, not always known for its connection to the real world. The Paris runways are -- or will be -- awash in pretty suits, demure dresses, gloves with matching clutches and evening gowns that actually look as if they're worth $10,000. Shape and the expensive tailoring it requires is all-important, with the ...

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