See-saws irk me. Only because my OCD self can’t bear to see them resting lopsided. On numerous occasions, when no one’s watching, I’ve found myself surreptitiously trying to balance them. I’m particular about plenty of things — shoes must be kept aligned, things must be perfectly stacked, glasses on coasters have to be at a particular angle... and yet when it comes to fashion, asymmetry has its biggest fan in me.
I think the appeal lies in the lack of uniformity — there’s something so liberating about it. My favourites include single-sleeved and one-shouldered tops — they are classy with a rebellious vibe — skewed necklines, and dresses and skirts with erratic hemlines. As for pants which look like one leg has been rolled up — that’s where I draw the line. Mismatched shoes and uncoordinated earrings are fascinating as well.
Which reminds me, back in school, I wore earrings that weren’t even a pair. One week it was a cricket bat and ball, the other a hammer and axe, once a duck and hen... interestingly now, brands such as Claire’s stock sets of mismatched earrings. I’ve seen lipstick and nail polish, shoe and sock, burger and pizza and some abstract shapes of varying lengths and colours.
Asymmetry is not a new trend. It made its grand entry and graceful exit many a time. Asymmetric necklines were a recurring theme at the Spring 16 shows. In a combination of cold-shoulder, ruffled and cowl necks and almost non-existent backs, they made their appearance in collections from Versace and Lanvin to Dior and Christopher Kane. It’s not limited to cuts and silhouettes alone. Patterns and prints too can play a role in adding a touch of asymmetry to your ensemble. For someone who likes layering, this style of clothing is great to be incorporated into your wardrobe.
During the IPL earlier this year, AB de Villiers darted around the field in contrasting sneakers — neon green and candy pink if you must know. And I distinctly remember an RCB fan worriedly enquiring if the opposition team had something to do with it or if his corresponding pair was wet. Well neither — AB was just being trendy! Remember the hullabaloo Helena Bonham Carter caused when she attended the Golden Globes a few years back in a startlingly contrasting pair? And Zayn Malik went hiking in shoes that seemed more like an accident than a well-thought-out exercise in mismatching.
And then there’s Aneeth Arora, who put in enough thought to come up with a line of socks, where each set comes with three socks — two identical and the third in a different colour or pattern. With checks, dots, hearts and stripes, these were part of her Amazon India Fashion Week 2016 collection, where she paid tribute to Pippi Longstocking. A perfect way to start for those taking determined baby steps towards this trend. And the scatterbrained can boldly step out any way they like and pass them off as looks from the runway, for now.
