A Summer of Content

Mumbai’s second edition of Gucci- Bottega Veneta- Jimmy Choo troika has just opened here. But each shop,with its sales finished now,is vying for one’s attention with brand-new goodies at their windows. With so many trends appearing on all our favourite shops,it can all get a bit overwhelming,if not confusing. But especially after a bitter winter (yes,in Mumbai too),a new summer wardrobe is the cri du coeur .

Summer is always safe to play with colour. This year is all about bright,vivid shades,even neon hues. Whether it’s coral tops (DKNY),teal dresses (Zara) or lime green pants,pastels are nowhere in sight. Mix your colours and create your own colour blocking,look at the Gucci adverts and you get the picture.

Like in life,this summer is simply black-and-white. Right from Balmain to Armani to Miu Miu,B&W may not be very inventive but it’s always chic. Not a frequent summer staple,so up your cool quotient with this wave.

Asymmetrical hems are everywhere — Cue to Namrata Joshipura to Myoho. Shirts and dresses,which are shorter at the front and longer as they circle to the back,bring playfulness to the silhouette.

Laces and sheers still abound,thanks to Sarah Burton’s wedding dress for Catherine Middleton as well as the rising popularity of Erdem. Last summer,lace only showed up in bits and pieces,this time around it’s the entire ensemble. French Connection’s lace shorts are coquettish and cute,and international beachside cities are wearing gossamer T-shirts with printed lingerie. Only for the very brave.

Missoni zigzags are everywhere since their September tie-up with Target. While we wait with bated breath for dear Angela to open her first India store,and hopefully bring her stunning daughter Margarita with her,let’s indulge in some retro prints. Alexander McQueen and Diane von Furstenburg have sent some remarkable prints to Priya Chatwal and Charu Sachdev’s Mumbai store,Kitsch. Try animal motifs,florals and nautical,or even all of them at once.

Some more favourites are the mid-calf skirt,as shown by Atsu and Priyadarshini Rao,and a man’s shirt,to be worn with belted shorts or trousers. The belt is big this season (cheaper than bags or shoes and such an important accessory) — it nips the waist in and makes any ensemble look like a studied fashion statement. Obi-inspired belts,like at Tarun Tahiliani,are also popular.

Long,soft tunics with narrow trousers are the global salwar-kameez if you please. It is fashion’s nod to the rising Middle Eastern and Indian markets.

Invest in a superb swimsuit instead of rehashing your old one,May after dull May. Shivan Narresh are India’s only swimsuit designers,but Zara has fun bikinis as does Quiksilver,the fabulous new Australian surf label.

Wear all of the above with vivid Kolhapuri handmade leather slippers from Colaba Causeway — they come in pink,turquoise,green,yellow,red and anything that suits your fancy.

Make April the coolest month.

namratanow@gmail.com