Farewell fashion

“Dresses are in vogue in a big way this year; the most popular ones are styled straight. Another trend that has returned in a big way is floor length gowns,which are being preferred in simple,plain colours. What is refreshing is that people now prefer colours to the more cliché black. Hence gowns in colours green,blue and red are selling very well compared to black ones. Where dresses are concerned,colours are popular as well but in plain styles. Only the fabric may differ,” says Minal Mirchandani,owner of Babe,a boutique on the M G Road.

The only damper to the festive atmosphere comes from the weather. As the temperatures are dropping,so is the demand for halter necks and noodle straps. But all is not lost,as winter is making people accessorize inventively “One of the most popular accessories this season is the stole. As they are colourful,go with everything and keep you relatively warm,they are a big sell. Dressy woolen tops are also coming into the market. These look trendy and can be worn with leggings or skirts” educates Sumit Gangwani,owner of the Tick boutique.

Stoles are not the only accessory doing the rounds this season. Shoes and bags have taken a new turn and a widely different from what was ‘in’ last year. Preeti D’Souza,the owner of Swastik,in Koregaon Park lists the changes “Flats have suddenly become passé where footwear is concerned. Pumps,heels and gladiator shoes have taken their place. Similarly handbags have morphed from clutches to large ones. There is a general drift towards more bling but accessories are still subtle and elegant. Apart from the normal dresses,checked dresses and cowl-necked dresses are also selling well as these can be worn with something warmer,like an overcoat.”

Heena Chaudhari,a student and a regular at the party circles believes that most people dress according to their own styles and are not that driven by the trends “It is just about looking good after all. People wear whatever it is that makes them comfortable. From stilettos to boots,the dance floor sees everything-colours like black,white,red,blue,purple and pink are seen in plenty.” Agreeing with Preeti D’Souza she says “Accessories are mostly less,mainly consisting of delicate chains or pearls.”

Men of course,have fewer choices than the opposite sex on their platter. As DJ Uday Lamba explains,men stick to semi formals,which entail shirts and dark coloured jeans “Belts are generally the only way we guys can distinguish our attires. Nowadays belts with bold and striking buckles are becoming popular. The formal shoes with pointed ends are also in fashion at the moment. Some are more adventurous and experiment with skinny checked trousers and mufflers. For an added accessory,thin ties make a great statement along with semi formal coats or corduroy jackets.”