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Fling with spring

As extreme cold gives way to pleasant weather, sartorial layers come off, and the fling with the spring begins — read gossamer-thin, hand-spun Chanderi dresses, ruffled sarees, pastel palette, boho-chic vibe! One’s fashion persona is one’s own, but in case you’re looking for some tips, here’s your fashion inspiration for this spring.

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Swati Rai

As extreme cold gives way to pleasant weather, sartorial layers come off, and the fling with the spring begins — read gossamer-thin, hand-spun Chanderi dresses, ruffled sarees, pastel palette, boho-chic vibe! One’s fashion persona is one’s own, but in case you’re looking for some tips, here’s your fashion inspiration for this spring.

Cut to spring

Free-flowing, asymmetrical, frilly, florals in a retro-chic template is what one will see more of this time around. The silhouettes and cuts will be a continuation of bell and flared sleeves, pleated skater dresses, detailing of embroidery, and embellishments such as design patches on denim, breezy dusters, and collared blouses will be theme of the season. Ruffled saree that made a comeback last season is here to colour your spring sashaying.

Correct colours and pattern

In ethnic wear, motifs remain delicate, flaunting light embroidery with staples such as handloom cotton and hand-woven separates. Good Earth Sustain designers vouch for trends leaning towards kalidar kurtas, chogas, kaftans, overlays, breezy odhanis, printed farshis, linen, and slim pants that marry comfort with style. Inspired by the freshness of spring, there’s an abundance of graphic hand-block prints in pastel colours such as aqua, jade, mist and mogra, linen pants and block-printed sarees fashioned out of soft cotton voile, khadi muslin, Chanderi and Kota fabrics. The 18th-century Mughal style motifs and flowers in ethnic wear are touted to be the rage this season. Handloom fabrics such as Chanderi, khadi, linen, matka silk and jersey in soft hues of pale pink, mint green and ivory will rule this season.

Experimental pastels have also trickled down to the festive and bridal mood boards. “Summer brides will see lots of bright pastels like mango yellow, pinks, olive green and ivory, depending on how one styles it. When it comes to Indian wear, one can pair dupattas with different kurtas and palazzos or pair printed sarees with contrasting blouses to ensure longevity of various garments,” shares designer Abhinav Mishra.

Pastels will be ruling this season, living coral, as expected, will be the rage, as will be the spring-themed embroidery of birds and trees. Cheek by jowl with these colours is a close array of similar hues.  Varun Bahl adds to the list: “Old rose, pistachio, duck egg blue, ochre, olive, faded mustard, and pearl grey, with an emphasis on ivory as a base tone to highlight the softness of this pastel palette.”

In so far as the motifs are concerned — it’s a resplendent garden of Eden, with the designers rightfully inspired by the abundance of flora and fauna of the season. Plautin’s Simarjeet Gurm shares her prediction of colours and motifs: “This season, we are utterly inspired by tropical birds like the flamingo, cranes and beetles and exotic flowers like hibiscus and daffodils. The garments with organza and Swiss cotton will rule the spring and summer season with classic embroidered silhouettes like pleated kurtas, flared trousers, puffed organza sleeves, adding the much-needed drama to staid garments.”

Faux pas

While most street fashion or casual trends are not ruled by fashion pundits or the ramp must-haves, yet there are standard picks of designers, of strict no-no this season. Mishra suggests avoiding “thick fabrics like velvets, synthetics and heavy silks”. He recommends staying away from darker colours like black and navy blue and, most importantly, keeping the make-up minimal and natural.

The laissez-faire to-each-his-own fashion approach finds a supporter in Bahl, who believes people’s dressing at large is independent of the so-called trends or what magazines or websites say any more. “People are dressing according to their personalities, and brands are giving them a multitude of choices each season,” says Bahl. “The only thing to avoid next season — or any season— are clothes that make you uncomfortable or make you feel like you don’t belong in them. If you get that feeling from any garment, don’t buy it. Because when you’re comfortable in any piece of clothing, your confidence will shine through. And both you and the garment you wear will look like a million bucks.” 

Trends and creativity are oxymoronic in nature. However, nothing is set in stone and thankfully fashion leaves scope for individual creativity. 

Upcycling fashion 

There’s economic and environmental aspect of investing thousands, if not lakhs, on updating one’s wardrobe every season. How about upcycling clothes, that, too, on a budget? Gurm calls fashion cyclical and clarifies the concept of ‘newness’ in fashion doesn’t refer to the premiere of a trend, but rather its revival. For a piece of clothing that doesn’t come with an expiry date, she recommends investing in staples and classics. “Cheaper alternatives to high fashion are readily available online and keeping track of deals and discounts always proves beneficial,” says Gurm. 

Bringing out one’s personality and styling the clothes in a way that you shine rather than the brand’s tag is another way of spicing up the spring! Bahl vehemently opposes any presence of a rule that says you must buy new clothes every season and also considers thinking about making any garment ‘relevant’ according to new context as incorrect. “The only relevant context is your sense of style, your body, and how much you enjoy wearing what you have bought. The most stylish people often re-wear clothes from various times in their lives, some even decades old. It’s the relationship you have with any garment that matters, nothing else,” says Bahl. 

Keeping the obvious base elements the same as one’s style stamp, playing around with drapes, colours, layering and accessories can change the look of the same garments. “You should also review the existing ensembles in your closet and expand your options with accessories. Styling existing outfits in a different way is both creative and fun,” adds Gurm. Investing in slow and revivalist fashion is the way ahead — be it for spring or summer, or any season for that matter.

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