Slipping into a pair of basic blue jeans is almost like tucking into hot kichidi on a rainy day. Fast, convenient, predictable and oh-so-comforting. But there are days when you want more. And guess what, you can get it. Jeans aren’t going anywhere but there are lots of other trouser options that are equally enticing.
Feel like an exotic Arabian princess in a pair of roomy harem pants. Or be all avant-garde and liberated in a pair of palazzos. Go for cigarette pants and exude gamine charm a la Audrey Hepburn. Or try the boho-chic look by getting into a skirt-trouser. Capris, dhoti pants, bell bottoms, combat trousers, Jodhpurs, leggings, jeggings, printed pants, relaxed drawstring pants…the list goes on.
“The biggest fashion trend today is democratisation,” says designer Nachiket Barve. “Fashion is now mostly about styling and everyone is free to do their own thing,” he says, adding that palazzos are in vogue this season because, “They suit most body types and are the epitome of laid-back luxury.”
Rosemary, a PR consultant agrees, “Palazzos are stylish yet simple. They slim down my wide hips, accentuate my waist and work for both a day and night look if accessorised right.”
Your look depends, to a large extent, on the fabric that the palazzos are made of, says Nachiket. Linen or jersey pants look more casual than silk or chiffon and need to be paired with right tops and accessories. “Flat footwear for a casual look and heels if you want it to look dressier,” he points out.
Harem pants aren’t as popular as they were last year but they haven’t been weeded out yet, mostly because as Pavithra Venkatagopalan, a city-based entrepreneur says, “They are very comfortable especially in this kind of weather.” She has plenty of harems and palazzos in her wardrobe, which she mostly pairs with a T-shirt or well-fitted tops. She prefers flats and jazzes-up the look with a chunky necklace or elegant danglers.
According to Nachiket, printed cigarette pants, pop-coloured jeans and dropped-crotch trousers that almost look like skirts are other trendy options this season. “Youth is embracing colour, wholeheartedly,” he smiles.
“But don’t follow trends blindly,” he cautions. “Your look should also depend on your body type and the occasion you are dressing up for. It is all about playing with volume, inculcating a sense of proportion and being comfortable in it,” sums up Nachiket.