Straight jacket
When the weather is nippy yet not too chill to demand a sweater, a jacket is the best bet. Unlike the thick, lined jackets made for boardroom brainstorming sessions, there are plenty of un-lined jackets in cotton and linen doing the rounds. In sober shades of beige, off-white and olive green as well as bright leaf greens and mustard yellows, there are cropped and regular-fit jackets. Throw the cropped ones over tees or camisoles or pair the regular-fit jackets with shirts for a formal look. Short jackets are great on petite frames while regular women can opt for longer jackets that have a slimming effect.
Let the skin breathe
Formal wear brands have inundated the retail sector with colourful, flimsy shirts in viscose, georgette, rayon and even the long-forgotten polyester. These are great options for those travelling as they are crease-free but if you’re going to be out in the city during the day, these viscose blends may not be the right choice. Of these, shirts and tops in cellulose georgette are a better bet because they let your skin breathe.
Uneven are the hemlines
From tees to kurtas, we’re being introduced to outfits that are shorter in front and longer at the back. These hemlines have been popular abroad for a few seasons and have now made inroads to Hyderabad. Designer Aditi Bhoopal Pradipak who recently unveiled her collection of such tunics says, “It’s a trend that dates back to the Victorian era where the front hemlines were a tad shorter than the back. Like any other trend it has returned with a variation. The high-lows are famous for their feminine appeal and the dramatic trailing hemlines. It’s an edgy yet understated silhouette that can easily be dressed up or down with a simple switch in accessories and footwear.” She recommends wearing these tunics with heels to accentuate the flowy hemline. While the silhouette suits most body types, they are ideal for taller women. She suggests flowy fabrics such as chiffon, georgette or French lace in pastel shades for the day and neon pinks, bright corals or electric blues for the night.
More, the better?
Last weekend, one of the outfits designed by Vikram Phadnis for his fashion show in the city had a model sporting a pair of palazzo pants with long kurtas. This silhouette is turning to be an oft-repeated one of late with several designers welcoming this structured-yet-voluminous look. The Lakme and Wills Lifestyle Fashion Weeks saw quite a bit of these. “The silhouette works better for taller, slimmer women and the volume works well for this season,” says Phadnis. Longer shirt-like blouses are also being teamed up with lehengas this season, allowing you to either do away with dupattas or choose one in contrasting shades.
