I've always believed that a trend is a trend just before it hits the street. Once everyones cottoned on,its ready to be dated. But sometimes you meet something thats so clever,its immediacy is attributed to plain common sense. Bright neons are that thing this year. Sure theyve been around for a few seasons. Especially in fluorescent denims-meets-white-tee that E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E seemed to be wearing. But to see how pop has wonderfully upgraded to couture and high fashion (Oscar de la Renta,Rag & Bone,Burberry and Gaurav Gupta),you cant help but nod in approval. Moreover,the monsoon is my favourite time of the year. It may be hard to notice but the breezy weather lends so much relief from our sultry style-dry summer,this is actually when we start thinking fashion. Or unknowingly,begin to indulge and experiment. Deepika Padukone wore a haute neon sari recently to a Chennai Express promo. With her hair pulled back in a high pony,she looked the quintessential Menaka of the Monsoon. The neon sari is all the rage among the Bollywood style set (yes,their numbers are growing). Thanks to Manish Malhotra,whose love for shocking pink and mango,supersedes all seasons. On his Lakme Fashion Week runway,Priyanka Chopra dazzled in an acid yellow sari with an orange border and a grey bra-blouse (another MM insignia). For the same show,Kajol wore a grey sari with bright borders and a full-sleeve lace blouse. If Malhotra may have started the rage,Masaba Gupta owns the neon-accented sari now. The talented young designer teams her wallpaper prints with vivid accents and has an unrelenting fan in Sonam Kapoor,the most fashionable among the Bolly lollies. Neons have only reminded us of Japanese guests at Manish Aroras shows or the pop-mad 80s that we were only too happy to grow out of. But the Indian womans penchant for colour is insatiable (parrot green,rani pink,firozi are Indian names). Diana Vreelands oft-used Pink is the navy blue of India is the favourite fashion quote of Indian fashion magazines. Moreover,Maharashtrian women have long worn brightly hued saris,oft times much more vivid than the Punjabis phulkaris. It warms my heart to see college kids near my home (and this is a government-aided medical college,not some swishy SoBo school) wear luminescent jelly slippers bought from the street-side of Linking Road for as little as Rs 200. It sure cheers them up as they make their way through a 7am sludge after the nights downpour. A pop of bold matte colour on the lips,with the hair pulled back and waterproof makeup,was seen on all the runways in Europe. For the colour-shy,a bright accessory (a bracelet or a handbag) serves as a chic accent. Its happy enough not to miss sunshine on a rainy day.
