Sheer Pleasure

India is no stranger to sheer clothing — sheer saris have been a favourite in Bollywood for years. Tawadey believes this is because sheer is synonymous with femininity. “Sheer is delicate,and it has a certain romantic air about it,” she says. Moreover,with chiffons,georgettes,net,tulle,mulmul,organza,silk and linen lending themselves well to this trend,sheer garments can be easily crafted from a variety of fabrics.

This apart,sheer also scores high on utility. Dongre says that a sheer jacket worn over a sleeveless or a strappy dress makes the ensemble more formal. Barve,on the other hand,emphasises that working a look with sheer can be a tricky thing. “In our country,the diaphanous chiffon sari is vintage stuff,and the idea is to tantalise. But too much of it can make it look vulgar. One must then know where to draw the line and a great way of doing it is to go for layering,where a sheer coverup is thrown over an opaque garment,preferably in a contrasting colour,” he says. For Tawadey though,a sheer back works beautifully for an outfit. “I personally think it is far more sensual than showing décolletage,” she says.

Slipping into a simple sheer outfit also doesn’t necessarily mean one can go overboard with the accessories. So while Thampi believes that the odd statement neckpiece can up the glamour quotient by a few notches,Dongre warns that an overall minimal look works best with sheer. “Pair an asymmetrical dress with a transparent clutch and you have achieved your ultimate chic look,” says Thampi. Barve,however,adds a word of caution — do not let sheer alone dictate one’s ensemble. “A sheer outfit doesn’t have to be worn with a Perspex clutch and a pair of lucite platform heels,” he says.