Runway report from Delhi fashion week: Colours, trends and accessories

by Yatan Ahluwalia Our wrap up of trends for Fall / Winter 2012 from the Wills India Fashion Week in New Delhi. The season’s strong looks: Nomadic world traveller and futuristic space odyssey. Five key trends for the season 1. Round & low necks: Low round necks for Indian silhouettes and slim fit, sexy low-cut sari blouses. On the other end of the spectrum, they are going to be deep plunging necklines on dresses, gowns and other western silhouettes. My tip: Shade and highlight your neck, shoulders and chest with some bronzing powder. 2. Semi structured silhouettes: The fit is going to get a lot more tapered – at least till the waist level, while the lowers will be flared. Expect to see some amount of frills and (a large amount of) flounce on skirts, kurtas and some casual trousers as well, while the slim fit on high waist pants, short jackets (with sharp collars) and modern turn up cuffs on full sleeve shirts are here and to stay. My tip: Shape up or be left out. 3. Natural prints & reflective embellishments: Birds, leaves, flowers and abstract geometric prints on shirts, tops, dresses, gowns and ethnic Indian wear. Block-printed saris are a strong trend, so are sequenced and crystal laden borders on them. Mirror work will be big and the Kutch region will become fashion’s new style influence. [caption id=“attachment_218857” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Expect to wear rich fabrics with gloss and sheen as well as materials. AP Photo”] [/caption] My tip: Choose prints that remind you of Star trek, wandering gypsies or the tropics. 4. Embroidery & self-design: There’s going to be plenty of texture on fabrics. Expect to wear rich fabrics with gloss and sheen as well as materials with contrasting coloured embroidery – yellow on red, red on grey, white on black, navy blue on white and orange on rust. Choose copper or silver over gold for traditional and ethnic clothing. My tip: Pull out, remodel and alter your clothes from the disco era. 5. The fit: The overall silhouette is long: ankle-length dresses and skirts. Full-sleeve tops worn under fitted jackets. There’s going to be quite a lot of layering too – both on western and Indian ensembles. A structured fit on jackets, shirts and trousers. My tip: Clean and buff the ankles, elbows and pamper the feet. Colours Trends forecast an extensive and varied colour palette for fall/winter. There’s going to be a strong shift to wearing a mix of cold and warm colours together. There’s also going to be an overdose of bright jewel tones. AM: Brown, beige, olive green, yellow, bright tones of pink, green and burgundy. PM: Grey, red, orange, blue, purple, navy blue and black. After-hours and festive wear: Copper is the new gold. Silver is strong too. [fpgallery id=371] The look Makeup: Black smoky eyes are back with a vengeance. Also strong: charcoal grey and chocolate brown on the lids. If you like shine, you can use metallic tones of silver and copper instead of gold. Lips will be a mix of nude shades and varying tones of red – from burnt brick to scarlet rose. Hair: Hot this season: semi structured hair with a soft feel. Curls are history while texture is now and the future of hair. No specific trend or direction for the length – there’s a heady mix of short, shoulder level or longer. Take my cue: maintain a length that you find easy to handle and that suits your individual face shape, natural features and body type. Accessories Footwear: Boots of all shapes, sizes, materials and colours. Also hot for the season: slim stilettos, open and pointed sandals and heels of varying lengths. Jewellery: Metal is back, while beads and natural materials are out. Chunky chains, bracelets and rings are all making a return too. Belts: Slim leather belts for trousers in shades of grey, brown, white and black. The overview Designers who made an impact: Tarun Tahiliani, Abraham & Thakore, Anju Modi, Meera Ali. Stalls that made you stop and look: Malini Ramani, Manish Arora and Namrata Joshipura. The name to watch out for: The very talented, original and creative Jenjum Gadi. The venue: Perfect for a trade event, but lacks the glam quotient. New this year: Off site shows – a welcome break but a logistics nightmare. Pat on the back: For the flamboyant Sunil Sethi – the head of FDCI (Fashion design council of India) who seamlessly manages to pull off one successful fashion week after the other.

Runway report from Delhi fashion week: Colours, trends and accessories

Our wrap up of trends for Fall / Winter 2012 from the Wills India Fashion Week in New Delhi.

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