Dressing it Up

As old as the tradition of pujos may be, there is one thing that keeps changing every year8212; fashion trends. Some things like the traditional Bengali tant may be the eternal fashion symbol, but for the fashion-conscious youth of today, it8217;s not enough.

Chiffons and velvet sarees, digital printed kurtis, skirts that double up as sarees 8212; city8217;s designer brigade is lining up an unusual collection this Pujo

As old as the tradition of pujos may be, there is one thing that keeps changing every year8212; fashion trends. Some things like the traditional Bengali tant may be the eternal fashion symbol, but for the fashion-conscious youth of today, it8217;s not enough. Most want something that can be traditional enough to be worn to a pandal but also funky enough to be worn to the pub. Agrees Kolkata-based designer Vivek Kumar, 8220;Youngsters today want something that can serve a dual purpose and to meet such demands the spaghetti dresses are perfect.8221; For the uninitiated, he explains the concept behind the spaghetti dresses8212; something that is a combination of the western sensibilities as well as the eastern, a dress that can double up as a kurta and can be worn over a churidar or patiala. Perfect for the demure look that woman prefer for pandal hopping and the western look that they favour for nights out.

Nets, claims Kumar will be big this year but it will not be the sheer variety, rather, he emphasises, that foil printing and bold prints on them are what will turn heads. Kumar is not the only one swearing by prints on dresses, even Abhishekh Dutta feels that nothing is more fashionable than digital prints on t-shirts, men8217;s shirts and even kurtis. 8220;And if you want to be different I suggest embellishing the prints with some embroidery. I am still partial towards the tunics this season that can be worn with leggings or without it. Team it up with a colourful stole. One thing that is so last season are the kalidaar kurtis that have been done to death,8221; feels Dutta. But most surprising this pujos is the gowns that are making a come back in fashionable wardrobes.

Agnimitra Paul8217;s pujo collection has been partial towards the gowns that she calls 8216;murmur ke na dekh8217;. Her black velvet gowns will have Indian motifs in front and colourful layered texture at the back. 8220;Velvet is really big this year and even my sarees will have a touch of them along with chiffons and net. The sarees will have velvet in the upper portion, chiffon in the lower portion with chiffon sarees,8221; says Paul.

But for those who like to keep it simple, georgette sarees in muted tones are still in vogue, feels Pali Sachdev of the Monapali duo. 8220;More than the pujos, what we have kept in mind while designing the collection is the autumn season that is neither too hot nor cold. So warm tones are what will rule as far as colours go,8221; says Sachdev. Their collection also has a lot of salwars and patialas that can be worn with short kurtis. Certainly no spaghettis, their collection is for those who like to keep it simple yet elegant.

The best news however, is for those who dreads draping the nine-yard cloth, designers have invented the readymade sarees that can be worn as skirts with the pallu and pleats pinned on top to make them look like traditional sarees. 8220;People like to wear traditional attires during the festive season but today8217;s generation are not very comfortable in sarees, this is the perfect alternative, intended to keep everybody happy,8221; says Dutta.