Designers tell SHAlINI SAKSENA that this summer, loose fitting clothing, Boho and rainbow colours are in
The spring-summer fashion trends are already out and most designers in India have already showcased their collection during the lakme Fashion Week that took place in January. Those who follow the trend already know what is trending, in terms of cut, colour and prints. But those who have not, here is a sneak peek on what one should in one’s wardrobe this summer. However, one should not confuse fashion with fashionable.
“Fashion is not related to a fad; it is versatile and flexible. From prêt to couture, designers are making clothes that are more and more wearable so that people can just pick up the look from the ramp directly. Being fashionable would not necessarily mean that the person follows fashion. There are a lot of people who have their own unique fashion statement and are known to be fashionable,” Ranu Bathwal, CEO-founder of Pop up Galleria (a virtual exhibition gallery), tells you.
The global summer trend this year is all 1980s. The looks have been recreated. “It is more subtle with a mix and match of colours. Pink is a hot seller. Prints are in with butterflies, stripes and checks in vogue. While these are more for people in their 18-35, it doesn’t mean that women in their 40s can’t pick it up. Such women can pick up tunic dresses that can be teamed with palazzos or wear it like a shirt dress since they are versatile,” Ranu says.
No summer wardrobe is complete without a selection of light and breezy summer dresses in a variety of floral prints or solids. As you head out for a summer holiday, pack in the special split dress, layer as you like. “Flaunt that dress in fabrics and cuts that are summery and easy to wear — perfect for the hot and humid season. Even better is the dress, split down the middle, side or across. Split dresses are comfortable, they’re stylish and, best of all, they are trending. Opt for the coolest prints and colour-block ensembles. The top crush now is short dresses with summery prints that show off your figure beautifully. Bright solids too are guaranteed to add that extra dash of chutzpah to your look,” says Kamakshi Kaul, vice-president Design at Max Fashion.
She also tells you that the one can pair floral printed vertically split dress with skinny denims; add shades and a hat. Another style is to layer a solid coloured dress with a long floral jacket for a day out.
Kolkata-based designer Divya Sheth’s love for natural dyes is easy to gauge as she tells you to go for clothes that allow your skin to breathe, given the fact that she loves to work with indigo and brick red. “Since I work with natural dyes, my choice is limited. So it is indigo, brick red, haldi yellow, ivory and olive green. I also work with Kalamkari — this is mainly in black or grey. It doesn’t matter what the colour palette is today as along ads they are classic colours,” Sheth says. She adds that what makes grey special is that with so much information available on the Internet and given that people are becoming fashion conscious, they know how to use this colour in their wardrobe. “They know that they can use it with some make-up. They are educated enough about how they can use it given that grey is such a sophisticated colour. Then there are checks and stripes. Checks have always been in fashion. If you are a safe player, you may want a checkered blouse with denim. If you are more flamboyant, you can wear check bottoms as well like a Madras check,” Sheth opines.
For Siddhartha Bansal from Delhi it is silhouettes it is Bohemian for this season. The easy-breezy, loose fittings not entirely constructed are in. They are a fad because they vibrant and fun. Any one who is young at heart can wear this style. Anything that is fun is what one should look at in 2018. Therefore, rainbow colours are in fashion,” he explains and adds that while fashion is all about what makes the wearer comfortable, designers always try and give a twist to a look.
“Show dresses are very comfortable since one can wear in different ways and look different as well since it give a Boho look. If it is high tea, pick a show dress and wear it with a belt; if it is just a morning outing, wear it with denim,” Bansal says for whom fashion is all about style.
“People usually consider style with fashion. But they are two different things. A stylish person is someone who can carry a clothing with a lot of panache. She may have picked up a piece of clothing from a street market and yet look fashionable,” Bansal says who also tells you that while it takes time for a trend to catch on in India as opposed to the international market, things are changing with various social media platform where people go and look what the trends are for a particular season.
For Sheth, must colours in one’s wardrobe this summer has to include indigo and ivory.