JOIN USA lot of us feel that if we are not in vogue, we become vague. Hence, we spend a lot of time and money keeping abreast of the latest trends.
While most fashion is sold to us as unique, simple observation will tell you that many trends are a rehash of what was considered fashionable at some point in the past. Popular brands simply rediscover the charm of such trends and alter them to serve our social ethos and emotional satisfaction.
A study of the history of fashion across the world will show that nothing is static. Experts will vouch for the fact that most patterns are essentially cyclic in nature. The world of fashion is no exception to this rule. Here are a few trends that have their roots in the past.
Brightly done nails
The double French manicure is the latest trend in nail art. After a thorough manicure (clipping and shaping of nails), nail paint is applied in such a way that the upper portion of the nail is resembles the different stages of the moon or the shades of sunrise. In the olden times, when women wore mehendi on their hands, their nails achieved a similar look. Long after the colour fades off the skin, the nails retain the deep orange hue that the nails outgrow in a crescent formation.
Patchwork clothes
Trendy outfits are, sometimes, an amalgamation of differently coloured cloth pieces. Fabrics of different designs are ripped into strips and stitched together to form vibrant tops or dresses. This kind of clothing has existed among the nomads and gypsies of the world for centuries.
Sans socks
Today, many are no longer finding it necessary to wear socks with their shoes. With brands creating shoes that allow our feet to breathe even in the absence of socks, who can complain? But if that is too icky for you, there are ankle socks that can be tucked in to appear invisible. Wearing shoes or boots sans socks was the norm in the British era. Bureaucrats and people of various parts of the country took to wearing shoes sans socks for two reasons. One, they were unfamiliar to their culture. Two, they were horrible to wear in the heat.
For the ear
Cuffed earrings that hug the contours of the ear line seems to be a popular trend of 2016. Several materials, ranging from seashells to metals and gems, have been used to make them. Piercing the contours of the ears is not an alien concept to us South Asians. Our timeless jewellery boxes can make the latest fad pale in comparison.
Keep the unibrow
Men and women who have unibrows can save on parlour visits this year because the look is the ‘in thing’ these days. Those who can’t grow a unibrow are wearing hair attachments resembling a tiny tuft to bridge the gap.
If you recall, women Qawwali singers used an eye pencil to join their brows to get that distinguished look.
Sweep back or spike them
Hair gels perhaps are sold by the pint because fashion conscious youngsters across the world cannot do without them. It is certainly fun to see them sweating over the stuck up look when our rural brethren manage to achieve the same effect with a tablespoon of castor oil. To be fair, though, the product comes in a variety of tantalising aromas, unlike the rather unpleasant-smelling alternative.
Vegan jewellery
Flowers, leaves and sprouted cereals are doing the rounds on ramps across the globe. Fashion gurus gather the bounties of nature and use them to craft accessories like finger and earrings, necklaces, bracelets and hair bands. Sometimes, even outfits are complemented with a casual sarong or a sash with natural leaves and flowers to accentuate the green look. The costumes of traditional Greek and Hawaiian folk dancers cannot be considered complete without floral garlands and tiaras. Any Indian who is exposed to this genre of vegan jewellery cannot but recollect the classical look of Sita or Shakuntala bedecked with floral jewellery.
Fashion designer Carolina Herrera once said, “Fashion has always been a repetition of ideas, but what makes it news is the way you put it together.” Truer words have not been spoken.