Traditionally trendy

With the society getting more fashion conscious, fashion and trend make an inseparable part of any celebration. When it is Diwali, the dazzle seems to attract people more than anything else. As the festival marks the peak of festive season, people, irrespective of their age group, make all possible effort to look their best. The otherwise traditionally female dominated arena of fashion and makeovers is now alluring men as well. So the market is for one and all.

From gota-patties to crystal work and embroidery, the market has it all to make a person look special for the occasion. While Anarkali suits are selling like hot cakes, mermaid cut lehngas have also caught the fancy of young girls.

Apart from the looks, what people want more is comfort and safety as well. Even designers are stressing on the comfort factor and are thus coming up with outfits that not only look good but also feel good.

Talk colours and you have bright hues of magenta, orange, yellow, and blue to brighten up the dazzling occasion. “Even boys prefer brighter hues for themselves. Now that velvet is in, colours like maroon, blue and even red are selling more. Boys also like a lot of stone work on their kurtas and indo-western outfits. Long kurtas are preferred given the ocassion,” says Nikita Gandhi, designer, More Mischief.

Not only the dresses, but the royal touch also seems to be popular as men also include a lot of junk and studded jewelry to look more ethnic and kingly.

While silk and brocade are among the favorites, cotton, as usual, is never out of fashion.

Rachna Chougule, a customer, says, “Deep red might not suit me so I am looking for a shade of red. And this time I am trying some glitter for me.”

Fab India has come up with their special Diwali collection that includes a range of tie-and-dye stuff to be mixed and matched with bright coloured tops and stoles.

For fashion conscious people, jewelry makes as important a part of the look as the dress itself. “Given the growing demand of junk jewelry, we have introduced many funky and ethnic jewelries specially for Diwali. And the response has been good,” says Anuradha Iyer, zonal manager of Fab India.

Another trend is that youngsters are not reluctant to buy whites and blacks as well.

What’s glittering

* Flowing Anarkali/Jodha-Akbar style churidar kurtas

* Lehengas

* Gota-pattees

* Crystal work

* Bright colours

* Stone jewellery