Sparkle of haute this winter

Dresses, tops, readymade salwar suits and lehangas all in chenille and chenille yarn in cardigans too. Keeping pace is velour, a fabric that has more shimmer than chenille. The feel is soft and sensuous, and so is the look. Velour lends class to clothing as salwar-suits, evening gowns, short skirts, hipsters and lehangas too.

The wow style this season (strictly for the courageous) is ankle-length skirts with a slit that goes right up to the knee or side slits. “Easier in aamchi Mumbai than in apna Chandigarh,”in the words of a Sector 11 Government College for Girls student.

Trouser suits outsell skirts in Chandigarh. “Conventional double and single-breast styles which were popular last year are out. Longer, front button tops are being preferred in lustrous fabrics,” says Shailaja Bedi of Ram Chander Sons, Sector 17. “As the season advances, the lustre is going to be more pronounced, while the colours will remain basic and solid blues, greys and the like,” she adds.

Sophistication this season is no longer associated with muted, matt shades only. As our top-notch crowd gains the courage to don Western wear, long tops in outlandish colour combinations to go with trousers – which have a dainty flare at the bottom this season are seen in every shop window.

A few days ago, a celebrated Delhi designer showed his new collection of ethnic Indian wear launched at Delhi knee-length kurtas! But never mind the long look is still in. “Silver work is in fashion more than gold and the gold work too is muted – a dull gold effect,” says Jain.

In salwar suits, nets are out, crochet is in. And what is promising to be super-duper sell-outs this season are satin and lycra velvet, says Narinder Sachdeva of Kohinoor Trends, Sector 17. “Last year, these glossy fabrics had made a faint appearance. This year, they are going to be in full bloom,” he says.

Blended satin, a synthetic material, is coming up tops – even more than pure satin. (Blended is Rs 120 to Rs 160 a metre, while pure satin goes for Rs 250 to Rs 350 a metre).

The lycra velvet too is much better than the conventional velvets – this is a stretch fabric.

For a rich look, try dress materials in micro-fabric with embossed, embellished velvet motifs. Imported laces and nets (Rs 1400 to Rs 1600 per metre) are as popular as they were this summer.

Velvet towellingand woollen jamavars for suits, in combinations are going great this season too.

In sarees, the focus is work on pallu and border rather than all-over embroidery. “This year it’s zari – delicate, understated work that spells elegance,” says Shailaja.

Don’t buy sweater with computer designs for this winter. "They’re out," says Ramesh Kapoor of Trendsetters, Sector 17. “Florescent colours are out too unless you’re less than 10 years old”.

He points to rich, glossy shenoi wool in vibrant reds, burgundy, turquoise as the fashion choice of 1998. Girls and young women will go in for woollen skirts with matching sweaters in jacket designs. And watch for mukaish work on velour tops — perfect to wear over velour hipsters for your disco nights. Last year’s animal print tops have been replaced by mix and match velour tops.