Think of wrap dresses and you think of Diane von Fürstenberg, the lady who showed the world how to elegantly slip into this figure-flattering silhouette. What started off as a jersey-dress fad in the 1970s, has now become a timeless silhouette. It has again taken over runways and streets and is all set to recreate the 70s magic. The wrap dresses have now graduated into faux wrap, wrap tops and skirts of all lengths and there’s the skort (shorts and a skirt combined) — one of this trend’s many variations. “Wrapping as a design detail allows an added dimension to an otherwise flat-patterned silhouette. It allows the designer to play a bit with the body in a sculptural way and the extra yardage allows the body to relax, besides adding an element of comfort that we often don't pay enough attention to,” says designer Payal Khandwala.
While some may fear that the wraps are a bit too figure-hugging for their taste, the truth is, with its pleats and gathers, a wrap is safer than most of the silhouettes out there and is much more comfortable. It was the symbol of women’s liberations in the late-seventies for a reason! “A wrap dress is very versatile,” says fashion stylist and consultant Allia Al Rufai, “You could wear a printed wrap dress on the beach or a chic wrap dress for everyday; it can also be translated into a great silhouette for night time depending on the fabric and style of the wrap.”
Wrap tops
A wrap top is the perfect way to look slimmer without even flicking a finger. Traditionally, wrap tops and dresses were always made to accentuate the curves, but with the trending of slouchier fits and faux wrap, there has been an essential change in the way people see wrap-tops. Rather than being complicated garments that you always have to tuck and tie, wrap tops are now much more comfortable.
Depending on your body type, you can select how you want the pleats and knots to go on your top. It not only hides all the flaws that you want to keep hidden, but also accentuates your curves in a rather flattering way. Plunging necklines to neatly draped V-necks, cropped, front-knotted shirts to kimono wraps — you can take your pick. Wear your printed wrap-top with a print co-ordinated skirt/legging. If you are going for a solid colour, have some fun with colour-blocking in a slightly tailored look.
Wrap dresses
When Diane von Furstenberg popularised the “Feel like a woman, wear a dress” campaign, she certainly was talking about wrap dresses. Wrap dresses came back to fashion with a boom after Kate Middleton donned one by Issa for her royal-engagement. From Princess Diana to Michelle Obama to the girl next door, a wrap dress finds its way into every closet due to its versatile look and easy appeal. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that you can find a wrap dress for every body type and every occasion. While an ankle-length maxi wrap would take care of your beach-style, a shirt-style wrap dress in basic colours can be your go-to office wear.
The faux wrap is a boon for the clumsy ones who absolutely cannot tie knots and tuck pleats.
Skort
This forgotten trend from the 90s is the latest addition to the wrap’s trend-list and is taking the fashion world by storm. Fashion bloggers all over the globe have had their share in making this Zara SS-13 trend into a fashion sensation. With a ‘skort-post’ on almost every fashion blog, that’s enough testimony to the garment’s appeal, which has majestically made its way into SS-14 as well.
This little piece of cloth, which looks like a wrapped skirt in the front and shorts at the back, is a perfect blend of sporty and chic. A far cry from the sporty-skorts of the last decade, the skort now comes in a more finished and elegant look. Wear it with a blazer or an oversized tank-top; a skort matches just any look.
Skirt
Forget the ankle-length wrap-arounds with ethnic prints and drawstrings which make you wonder if you are wearing a skirt or a lehenga. SS-14 has labels like Emilio Pucci, Balmain, Missoni and Burberry Prosum presenting wrap skirts with a twist — a thigh-high slit. From structured leather skirts to breezy sarong-like tulip silhouettes, wrap skirts will leave you spoilt for choices this season.
“Wrapping fabric engages the wearer a bit more and the designs can often be wrapped in more ways than one. This way, the wearer lends her personality to the garment and makes it her own. For the kind of customer that is not intimidated by an element of surprise, wrap silhouettes will always be evergreen — an extension of their style and creativity,” adds Payal Khandwala.
