JOIN USFrench-inspired fashion is the vogue
Grammer of Ornament’- designer Pankaj and Nidhi’s collection for Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014 brought ‘baroque prints’ into limelight recently.
Though the trend has been popular in international fashion circuit from 2012 onwards, Indian fashionistas are still getting a hold over it. Thanks to Bollywood celebrities like Deepika Padukone, Diya Mirza, Priyanka Chopra and Vidya Balan who have already flaunted the style in award shows and parties, baroque has become a vogue in last few months.
“Baroque is inspired from the renaissance period. It may have originated in the 17th century during the renaissance period, but it has made a comeback within the fashion realm,” says fashion designer Pankaj.
“In our designs we have used a three dimensional appliqué technique resembling sculpture in marble, fine fresco like silk embroideries, precision mosaic work echoing the startling beauty of Pompeian mosaic ceilings and print artworks inspired by medieval church facades. The colour palette even ranges from quarried whites, pearly grays, sunny yellows and ceramic blues in fabrics such as double jerseys, translucent tulles and iridescent silks beautifully highlighting the designs,” he says.
Interestingly, baroque patterns which are firmly back on the fashion agenda are reminiscent of vintage Versace. Baroque’s fashion renaissance popped off in the late 1980s, when Milan-based Gianni Versace turned the Italian artistic tradition into wild pop art, replacing the angels and cherubs of Italian frescos with gold chains, Medusa heads and leopard skins printed on shiny silk. Everything in the Versace moment was big and brash, especially the supermodels like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelisita who rocked the bold prints best.
Even Dolce and Gabana’s collection, ‘the tradition of Sicilian baroque’, last year, was inspired by the French fashion. The clothes were the absolute top-end of the luxury market with intricate workmanship and expensive detailing. The gold embroidery on capes, coats, skirts and boots was designed to recall baroque mirrors and frames. Prints of angels and cherubs and patterns inspired by dining room tapestries also featured.
Baroque prints give a classic look to tunics, pencil skirts and jackets, and do enhance the glamorous look in pants or shirts. Though this look can be
a bit overwhelming, it is appropriate to wear these baroque fashion styles with more toned down accessories to really create an overall sense of awe when walking around town.