It’s time to set aside your denims. With the mercury level soaring high, your summer clothing needs to be comfortable as well as stylish. Skirts, palazzo pants and slack silhouettes are the mantra this season. Indian wear for women has just gotten more casual and experimental, with long flowing hemlines, bold bright prints and blinding colours. The straight fit is out and the frills are here to add some thrill to the wardrobe.
“Roomy and comfortable silhouettes have been uniform across work and occasion wear collections this time. The idea is to add more flair to whatever you wear and yet retain the light casual feel,” says Mumbai-based fashion designer Suvrat Anand, who has recently ventured into women’s wear from being an exclusive men’s wear designer. “There is always more scope for experimentation with women’s wear. More of detailing like darts on the neckline and ducts and piping along the hemlines are the highlights this season.” His collection includes monochrome frocks or dresses with bold and minimal surface embellishments. While the silhouettes look western, the design retains an Indian sensibility in all his ensembles.
“The loose fit is in. The concept of body-hugging clothes is out for once after a long time,” sighs Namrata Kedar, a fashion blogger. “It started with the maxi dresses that surged to style this spring. The reflection of that can be seen in the Indian wear collections also. The fall has become more slouchy yet grand and elaborate.” She also notes that designers are giving out more of asymmetrical cuts. And it’s not surprising to see the tail cut anarkalis and kurtis dominating the shelves.
The trend has also caught up the discerning divas of Madurai. The city has got a number of boutiques offering fashionable Indian wear for women, the latest being the Biba store that has opened in Anna Nagar. The brand has brought in a range of kurtis and salwars with heavy gathers and frills. Most of them are tail-cuts. There is also a range of khaftans with bold block prints.
The colour palette this summer includes radiant hues of blue, pink, yellow, orange and green. The blacks and browns have taken a back seat and white has become the new bright. Work wear collections are all in white base bearing bright coloured prints and patterns. The prints have become more retro and botanical. “The usual flower-power and polka-dots are no more in fashion,” informs fashion stylist Surbhi Gupta. “Pop-art-inspired prints are big this time around. Auto-rickshaws, cars, goggles and even cycles can be seen in all colours upon white body of the dresses.”
The typical summer fabrics like cotton and linen have been clubbed with lots of laces, gauzes and nets. “Nets look great in any season. It adds drama to the outfit as slight skin shows within a concealed look. Nets when used in sleeves or over the neckline enable air circulation and keep the body cool,” points out Namrata.
“I have used nets as draperies in my dresses,” says Suvrat. “When used on sleeves and on the back, they give a trendy casual look to the whole dress.” Designers are also incorporating laces at the hemlines, cuffs and blouses.
