It's all about you!

Winter’s in the air. Keeping pace, winter fashion is also evolving but with lots of individual touches...

Winter is here, so that means glamour and the gorgeous get top priority in apparels, especially as the wedding season is also in full force. Fashionistas kept an eye on major events like the much-talked-about Deep-Veer wedding, not to forget PC’s dream-like desert wedding. This trend is applicable not only to women but also to their male counterparts as they are equally concerned about looking good. “Today, the Indian urban male is well-travelled, aware of global standards, fashion trends, and knows exactly what he wants. He’s also open to adapting to styles that suit his personality,” says designer Surbhi Pansari.

Celebrate ‘you’

In many ways, the current season seems to emphasise the person who wears it rather than a blind following of the rich and famous. Swati Bajoria from Mada Sasa fashion line agrees, “Today, women love the fact that the clothes they wear are practical and comfortable. The concept of fusion came into vogue as more women expressed their desire to be themselves; the attires should complement them and not otherwise.”

So, while though they drool over Deepika’s gorgeous wedding attire, when it comes to choosing their attire, they go for clothes that celebrate their attitude.

Agrees Stuti Modi of Afamado, one of the biggest names in plus-size fashion, “Fashion should not be limiting or restricting in any way.” Her brand has eliminated one of the biggest myths in the fashion world that high fashion is not meant for curvy women. According to her, “Fashion is all about being true to one’s self and women, whether curvy or not, are beautiful and confident. We are consciously dispelling the myth that fashion has boundaries.” To prove her point, Afamado has incorporated a number of short dresses with assertive shoulders as part of its winter collection which is an ode to 80s fashion that is making a major comeback to the fashion circuit this year.

All colours are in

The colour palette of winter fashion is undergoing a major transformation with the neons making their presence felt in the winter wears. Reflecting on this trend, Anupriya Agarwal of Azariya feels that the use of shades like lime green or darker hues like midnight blue is embraced by women who love to experiment with their style. “The millennial generation is extremely particular about what they wear, and they do not want to be a part of the run-of-the-mill fashion. For them, style is personal and they are not scared to experiment with unusual colours.”

Lately, designers have been experimenting with their cuts which borders on the eclectic, keeping the traditional emotions intact, but with silhouettes that are contemporary. The hues are bold but non-traditional. Designer Masaba Gupta, who showcased her first ever bridal collection at Shaadi By Mariott event recently in Kolkata, used bright shades of green, pink, blue and yellow in contemporary cuts which have a tinge of traditional touch but celebrate the modern woman.

Focus on specifics

Of course, with the change in the colour palette, winter fashion trends have also displayed another aspect — concentration on specifics. Be it men’s or women’s fashion, detailing is the ‘in’ thing. Says menswear designer Poonam Kasera, “Fashion should not be overwhelming. Concentrating on one single element in the entire ensemble creates a huge difference in the way you look. For instance, pintucks will be big this year.” She also swears by the mix ‘n’ match trend, which she feels is going to be big this winter. “If you want, you can pick Jaipur prints, Patan patola prints, classic tussar or a quilted bundi (waistcoat) in a bold palette and pair it up with rich textile kurta such as moonga silk.” At the end of the day, fashion should be the way you want it to be and how you want it to be.

Bajoria points out that specifics always make a designer’s product stand out. “It is heartening to note that fashion-conscious people are acknowledging the importance of detailing,” she says.

Experimentation is a must

Mayank Agarwal from Simaaya, Sasya, Siyaa observes, “It’s great to see that Indian fashion is evolving because both men and woman are making informed choices about the attires they want to wear.” He points out that one of the most significant fashion changes in the recent years have happened is in the wedding arena. “Of course, everyone loves a touch of tradition in their ensemble, but the turbans have been gracefully replaced by safas, and a blush pink bandhgala has comfortably made its space beside the classic white sherwani in a man’s wardrobe. These changes are a result of careful experimentation and a search for unique styles,” he says.

Thus, contemporary winter fashion is the perfect mix of traditional and experimental styles.

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