Hey Guys
It’s the new season… and as the fashion cycle takes its turn, here’s a list of the most interesting, wearable trends that I’ve spotted at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/ Festive 2017… straight from the ramp!
Now you know that I’m not always the first to stay ahead of the ‘trend’ curve, but the list that I’ve put together here are things that I’d actually, possibly like to wear! So here goes…
TREND 1: CORSET BELTS
We’ve seen waist-cinchers make a huge come-back these last few months and this time, they’ve been taken up a notch and been paired with not just western streetwear, but luxurious Indian sarees as well! (For curvy women like us, things that help in creating a ‘slimming’ illusion is always welcome) 😉
TREND 2: KIMONOS AND CLOAKS
If it was capes last festive season, it’s their more elaborate cousins that took the ramp by a storm this time! Kimono-inspired coats and cloaks were seen aplenty… especially in collections from Nikita Mhaisalkar, Sonal Verma , Sonakshi Raj and Rina Singh among others.
Kimono inspired outer layer
Show stopper Sonal Chauhan wearing a Kimono inspired outer
Model wearing a cloak with silver metallic details
TREND 3: ASSYMETRICS
If perfect symmetry is the definition of classic, new age designers like Sonakshi Raj and Sohaya Mishra (of Chola) decided to bend the rules in various directions.
Designer: Sonakshi Raj
TREND 4: UNISEX CLOTHING
In my last post abount gender neutrality in fashion, I spoke about binary collections and unisex clothing and their overall implication on society… and behold! This season we saw not just one but several designers introduce ‘binary’ or unisex collections on the ramp! Most notable among them being Antar Agni, Indigene and Sayantan Sarkar.
TREND 5: FESTIVE COATS
Imagine a typical sight at an open-air winter wedding in North India…
At the start of the function: Women dressed impeccably, gorgeously in the most glamourous of outfits, braving the weather with their heads (and heels) held high!
Few hours into the wedding: Same women, shivering and teeth clattering, trying to delicately hold shawls and light scarves so that their dress with all its cuts and designs is still visible… but trying not to die of cold!
Post mid-night: Same women wrapped up and blanketed in shawls that have no match with their previously glamourous attire, praying for the pundit to finish soon so they can run home n get warm.
Anyone who’s attended an open-air winter wedding in North India would agree that these festive coats, are much needed!!
TREND 6: SKIRT TROUSERS
Yes! You read that right! Back in the 80’s (I think) there was this huge trend in the west of wearing skirts over trousers! Well, this isn’t exactly the same, it is in fact, a much more glamorous version of it!
As seen in collections by Sonakshi Raj and Hardika Gulati, this version has beautifully constructed trousers (or jumpsuits) with a large flowing maxi-length skirt, attached only at the back. Now that’s pretty damn dramatic!
TREND 7: METALLICS AND METALLIC EMBROIDERY
Metallic finish on fabrics was seen aplenty this season at the Lakme fashion week. Gold and steel Metallic finishes on fabric with self-ribs like in collections by Amit Aggarwal showed us a future perfect picture… (something about them reminded me of Jetsons).
We also saw a lot of designers like Nikita Mhaisalkar, make use of metallic wire embroidery and silver embellishments that made a minimalistic yet grand statement.
Brand: Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta
TREND 8: RUFFLES
Ruffles have been in trend all this summer and they’re back this season as seen in collections by most designers at the Lakme Fashion week WF 2017. And they’re not limited to sleeves or skirts… they can be found anywhere!
TREND 9: CAPE SLEEVES
Dramatic Cape-sleeves were seen in collections of Hardika Gulati, Sonakshi Raaj, Sonam & Paras Modi and Nachiket Barve, which eliminate the need for a dupatta by adding that flowing drape-like effect to the outfit!
TREND 10: SHEERS AND SOFT NET
Soft net and sheer is back this season in both Indian and western-wear. Be it floral embroidery on sheer like in collections by Ritu Kumar and Manish Malhotra, or sheer lehengas with metallic highlights like those of Nachiket Barve, we’re all for see-through this season!
TREND 11: ART MEETS FASHION
Gaurang Shah painted relics of Ajanta & Ellora onto fabrics using Kalamkari, and Neha Agrawal showed us motifs of Madhubani on her garments! From traditional art to fun and fancy doodles… Art meeting fashion isn’t just a trend this season, it’s a phenomenon!
Hope you enjoyed reading this.
Do leave a comment below and let me know which ones your favorite trends are!
Loads of love
Sonal
