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Trendspotting at Fashion Week
The spotlight at LIFW is on the changing wardrobe of the working woman, says Asmita Aggarwal.
The spotlight at LIFW is on the changing wardrobe of the working woman, says Asmita Aggarwal
Kaftan on top
Everyone's sick of the kurti and the corset, so fashionistas are loading their wardrobes with kaftans, mostly in georgette. They're feminine and easy to wear, and, like Jayalalitha's cape, they cover up the problem areas.
Lycra all over
One doesn't know what came first, Gym-toned bodies or DuPont's invention, lycra. Whatever the case may be, the explosion of the fitness industry has pumped up the demand for the fabric famous for taking shape of your body. It has certain practical advantages as well: lycra is a low-maintenance fabric that doesn't crease easily.
Skirts hit high
There was bound to be a reaction to last year's super-abundance of trousers, so the skirt is back, and how! And there are as many styles as the women who flaunt them - box pleats, the crushed or crinkled look, pinafore stripes, asymmetrical hems, rag-tailed edges and even the sari skirt showcased by Ashish Soni.
Cigarette pants in
Flares are being edged out by pencil-thin pants. Designers are unanimous that these cigarette pants, sexed-up with gathers at the edges (the choori twist), make you look taller and slimmer.
Prints make mark
From digital and screen-prints to time-tested handprints, they're everywhere this year. Ranna Gill's sandblasted prints that lend an antique look to her kaftans and skirts, Manish Arora's take on animation and Monisha Jaising's graffiti prints rule the runway. With his characteristic flair, Tarun Tahiliani added a touch of drama by embellishing his digital prints with Swarovski's new-edition Xilion crystals.
