The world is open again and designers are having all the fun this year with Y2K throwbacks and a popping colour palette.
With the wedding and travel season upon us, it’s time to put your sunscreen on and be out in the sun. And we have all the hottest summer trends for this time for you to step out in your sartorial best.
As the lockdown rules slowly started easing and countries opened their borders, design houses across the world ditched their comfortable, muted clothes showcased during previous seasons and let loose a riot of colours, prints and silhouettes on ramps.
“People are ready to experience life again, put some effort in what they choose to dress, and this sentiment has shown in designers’ work too. We saw a lot of bold colour combinations, reminiscent of colour blocking from early 2010s. Designers and consumers are ready for the bright side,” says celebrity stylist Delna Nallaseth. Here’s what you need to style yourself in.
Colour blast
Have a purple shirt and pink pants? Time to ditch that classic white shirt combo and go as bold as possible with colour contrast with items in your wardrobe. You can even add a third bold colour with your look with a pair of bright block heels or square--toe heels and a matching cushion clutch. “This season saw unusual and unexpected colour combinations. This love for colour also gave rise to bolder prints often presented in contrasting colours in the same look or as co-ords. We saw this print obsession come to Indian wear too and as many designers showcased bright printed looks in desi silhouettes. Niche designers have always done prints but this season it was more universal,” says Nallaseth. She recommends prints for occasion-wear in summer too as they add value to a garment without spending too much on embroideries or layers of fabric. “It also helps make your piece more sustainable, when it is printed with just touches of embellishment, it is cost-effective and light for summer. We saw a lot of prints in combinations such as purples and yellows, Pantone’s colour of the year Very Peri with yellow and orange,” says the stylist.
Sequins
Not just on the ramps, the MET Gala was also full of sequins this year, and something that has always been a big and often non-negotiable part of Indian outfits is a fashion favourite this season. Just have a look at American actor-singer Sabrina Carpenter’s Paco Rabanne outfit at the Gala, which Indians dubbed as a sequined lehenga-crop-top-combo on the Internet. “Sequin fabrics provide great surface interest and look fantastic for a glam night. Designers used sequins in a lot of funky colours and combinations for people who wanted a breath of fresh air after the pandemic. Internationally, it was not your usual round sequins, but ones in different shapes and sizes were used by many designers,” says Nallaseth.
Cutouts
Simple design detail such as a cutout can make even the simple white T-shirt dress look edgy. Or even formal trousers can be party-ready with a few cutout placements. “Unusual but strategic cutouts on stomach and waist can elevate the most regular piece. Think of trousers with no waistband and cutouts at the waist, which can add a touch of formalness too. Designer Rimzim Dadu presented beautiful cutwork saris with latticed pallus, which was her approach to what cocktail wear could be in India. She used many techniques such as quilting, different materials and cords to create interesting patterns,” says Nallaseth.
Bra tops
Being summer, there were bound to be outfits that would let your skin soak the sun and bra tops were huge this season in stitched or athleisure style designs. Indian designers too paired draped skirts, lehengas and dhotis with bra tops for the summer wedding season.
Retro rewind
“All kinds of denim and trouser silhouettes, especially boot cuts and flared trousers are must-haves this season. Even the wash on the denim is very retro. All your Y2K trends are back with a bang,” adds Nallaseth.
Forever resort
We aren’t fully ready to let go of our comfort it seems as kaftans are still going strong. “What you can do for your holiday is wear printed kaftans, designer Arpita Mehta showcased some beautiful pieces this season. You can wear your printed kaftans over colour-blocked swimsuits, or even a sequined kaftan for the night and be in on the trend,” says Nallaseth.