Couch couture seems to be an appropriate term for an avid lover of luxury, but the pandemic has cajoled most of us to depend on our smartphones. Now the small screen is satiating big desires as each one of us is searching for that sliver of hope, amidst the clouds of unpredictability. We’ve realised we need to make an effort to dress to feel happy, for that dose of optimism.
What’s new is the change in dissemination and communication. Fashion films have altered the way we look at the style sphere. Everyone with a smartphone gets a front-row seat and the proverbial velvet ropes have been far removed, creating both accessibility and awareness. The key now is creative storytelling and being able to reach out virtually to an audience that is looking for something that bridges the gap between need and fervent desire. The digital medium has democratised not just viewing but also buying as social media gives you myriad options offering transparency.
As the pandemic brought with it severe restrictions over two years that are set to continue into the foreseeable future, fashion has taken the reverse route — loosening the grip on the waist. ‘Easy’ became the buzzword and kaftans floated as freely as oversized shirts and breezy palazzos.
‘Made in India’ remains the motto, woven wonders are making a play with millennials. Textiles have been marching their way into young women’s wardrobes, adding a touch of rootedness to everyday dressing. As we grapple with new realities, ‘think free’ is the voice of the nation. Our KUG easy-breezy kaftan dresses over loose pyjamas or the saris you can simply slip into have made slouchy chic the fulcrum of our dressing.
And if we are talking about Indians and their accomplishments, we have Leena Nair as the new CEO of Chanel, a first for us in fashion .
Age as they say was finally reduced to just a number, with clothing crossing the rubicon, serenading everyone with the same dexterity. Elon Musk’s mother Maye, at 73 ,the achingly hip new face for many brands, managed to charm with her graceful curves as ageless is the new cool. Even as we mourn the death of writer, feminist, fashion icon Joan Didion, we will never forget what she said: “Style is character”. Can we ignore fashion icon Iris Apfel who turned 100 in 2021? In fact, we welcome her in a signature over-the-top mood with an H&M collaboration, and a voluminous organza jacket that we will lust after just like her dynamite jewellery and eternal optimism. As you grow older your clothing gets sharper as does your intellect so in some ways it is directly proportional. Should clothes be bracketed?
The lockdown gave us a fitting answer.Interestingly, 62.5 per cent of India’s working age population is between 15 and 59, and they believe in the power of conscience buying. They care about their significant purchases, who is making it and where it is produced. Sustainability or conscious buying was the biggest tour de force this season, with ecological farming, leaving no carbon footprints and minimising environmental damages becoming the silent voice of the ensemble.
However, this doesn’t imply that you can’t bring the shine on — dopamine dressing or the need to dress ‘colourful’ to be happy in a world that is battling depression and anxiety seemed to be a popular option in 2021. Sequins added irreverence, as some even preferred it for the day — imagine glitter, metallics and sparkle for lunch with friends. High-rise sequinned pants took centre stage along with jumpsuits. Unusual bright colour stories were in focus. Our shiny yet subtle rose gold lehnga ticked all the boxes.
Though the applause went to ‘reuse revolutionaries’, as what you need now is chic over classics as the economy shrinks, consumers are becoming discerning buyers. It wasn’t just denim that got a new avatar but also your lehngas that were refurbished out of your grandma’s saris. Do ensembles have feelings? Certainly, as they come with sharply cut slices of memories that can be appliqued to zari borders, making you feel surrounded by the warmth of your family. Reversible jackets made sure you got versatility in your dressing as you opted for mix and match over fleeting trends.
The biggest money spinner, haute couture, I believe now a $50 billion industry in India, saw the most potent change. The heavy duty zardozi made way for relaxed, no-fuss silhouettes. Everyone said cheers to the new beginning as the intelligent bride chose being cerebral over OTT gota-patti. As a result subtle brocade, dexterous draping and the vanishing need for hectic embroideries narrated a story in rich beautiful hues intermingled with painterly motifs in digital prints. And as most pledged to dance the night away not to be floored by the restrictions of cancans, lightweight beauties in crepe and Chanderi no longer weigh you down! Lehngas have friendly pockets to allow a night of hands-free jigs rather than being a crystallised mess. It’s personality over embellishments, as each lehnga reverberates with old-world charm, but channels a new-age ideology in its functional tailoring.
But who says the drama is over? We love to court fantasy so welcome veils and trails — a symphony of grace, and it adds a modern twist to traditional ethos. An upgraded version of the dupatta gives you the freedom to dress it up or down. In these times, if you are looking to make an eye-popping entrance at an intimate wedding without looking over the top, all you need is a ruffled trail to announce ‘I do’.
1. Grey’s Anatomy
With Ultimate Grey becoming the hue of 2021, team it up with sunshine yellow to keep the clouds at bay.
2. Drama
In these times, if you are looking to make an eye-popping entrance, at an intimate wedding without looking over the top, all you need is a ruffled trail to announce ‘I do’.
3. Effortless drapes
Everyone said cheers to the new beginning as the intelligent bride chose being cerebral over OTT gota-patti. As a result subtle brocade, dexterous draping and the vanishing need for hectic embroideries narrated a story in rich beautiful hues intermingled with painterly motifs in digital prints.
4. think free
As we grapple with new realities, ‘think free’ is the voice of the nation. Our KUG easy-breezy kaftan dresses over loose pyjamas or the saris you can simply slip into have made slouchy chic the fulcrum of our dressing.
5. dopamine dressing
Dopamine dressing or the need to dress ‘colourful’ to be happy in a world that is battling depression and anxiety seemed to be a popular option in 2021. Our shiny yet subtle rose gold lehnga ticked all boxes.
6. Jean-Code
Keep it loose and comfy.
7. Block it
Mix the unexpected — bubble gum pink with yellow.
8. Ageless is the new cool
Elon Musk’s mother Maye (left), at 73, the achingly hip new face for many brands, managed to charm with her graceful curves as ageless is the new cool. Can we ignore fashion icon Iris Apfel (right) who turned 100 this year? In fact, we welcome her in a signature over-the-top mood with an H&M collaboration, and a voluminous organza jacket that we will lust after just like her dynamite jewellery and eternal optimism.