The Awesome Sisters

TAS gets you Indian Fashion Designer Deepika Govind to share some fashion and style tips to look your best!

’70s bohemian:

Pleats: Able to be worn softly or with an edge, pleats are at the fore in 2011 with the cut being carried effortlessly from spring in autumn / fall.

Flared trousers: There’s a lean away from the dominance of the slim cut  – with skinny pants now so common that they no longer make a statement and with the come back of all things 1970s, it was inevitable to see the re-emergence of wide leg pants and flared trousers.

The Maxi Dress: Taking its cue from spring / summer 2011, the longer-length still rules as maxi dresses and maxi skirts continue into autumn / winter 2011. Naturally it’s heavier, but perhaps not in cloth in so much as it is in colour.

40s glamour revisited - from structured day dresses, cocoon skirts, pencil skirt and jacket combinations and mid-length skirts alongside cinched waists, skinny belts, fur collars, , pearl necklaces, three-quarter length leather gloves and mary-jane heels

Designers also gave a nod to the 1960s and 70s with brightly coloured and monochrome shift dresses, oversized buttons, extended collars, pussy-bow blouses, square block colours on dresses along with long sleeved silk maxi dresses.

Jumpsuits are the new favourite party piece – a laid-back evening option, nonetheless glamorous

Texture, fluidity and focus of movement : A 360 degree view of a garment. In simple terms, the back and side view is just as important as the front. This is demonstrated in clever cuts with 360° twisting, pleating and draping, along with futuristic laser cut contours.

Other Features: Rounded shoulders, pleats, plunging necklines are dominant features. Sheer continues to hold its glamourous sway. Straps, capes, boned corsets along with sheer and leather panelled dresses were either dressed up for night, or dressed down for day time.

Coats: Long and lean, knee-length and ankle-length floor gazaing coats or jackets abound. The perennial winter military trend is still with us with double-breasted coats tied smartly at the waist and the usual military detailing. Quilted jackets are still popular while the cape goes mainstream. There is also a move towards 70s-style ponchos.

Dresses: When it comes to dresses, the maxi is still with us, but is more prevalent in evening wear and less in day wear, compared to last season. It’s jeweled, sequined encrusted and draped, with semi-precious placements and in soft tulle and liquid sheen. See a lot of lace too, with lace trims and overlays on dresses and skirts.

Prints: Dots baroque, bird cages; photographic flowers at , broken glass; glittering spring flowers; enlarged feathers ,panthers, or pen and ink swirls…anything goes. And with so much emphasis on print, embellishment and texture play – think velvet, lace, jet embroidery and appliqué overlays. Silhouettes have simplified and purified.

Accessories, footwear, bags : Berets to beanies to caps. Knee-high boots. Brightly printed and ombrey dyed scarves  and stoles abound.

Fabrics : A lot of sheer is in, so silk chiffon and silk Georgette have a strong presence as overlays. Other luxurious silks like brocade, silk ikats, silk taffeta, dupion, crepe de chine are widely used in collections.   PVC, leather and lace were all used to add a glamourous touch.

Colors : Vibrant, the bright colour blocking story of spring / summer continues.

Jewel tones (ranging from sapphire to citrine, emerald to ruby) continue to have a presence but what is sweeping the runways and wardrobes of the bold and beautiful is the bright monochromes or colour blocking – be it in dresses, skirts, topwear , tunics or kurtas. Honeysuckle pink to bright fuchsia, coffee liquor dark brown, deep teal, ember glow to scarlett, phlonx – a magical deep purple, burnt sienna, bright aquas to electric blues are predominant.

There is a certain romance to this season’s palette- colour harmonies are a mix of hot and cold, bright and dark, light and shade.

Style Tips:

Whatever the trends dictate, choose a style that suits and complements your figure and personality.

Comfortable and relaxed, as you do not want to look like you spent hours concocting this look ; relaxed to the point of nonchalance.

Balance is key – don’t mix too many colours –. Something bright on the top can be balanced with a staple neutral as bottom wear.

Let there be one striking element in your ensemble  – too many will distort the look.

Use the right accessories but be careful not to overdo it.