LETS GO AHEAD HAPPY-- MOODS AND TRENDS FOR 2017 -- Anu PD

Well 2017 is here! 2016 took us through some mind-boggling and unbelievable events and experiences! All of that will definitely change how we perceive our lives and the future. World-events hugely impact trends and style. Here are some outcomes--

·         The Trump-card, Brexit, increase in natural disasters, rising terrorism, concern for the planet, conflicts, have all brought immense uncertainty for the future, with them. As a result, Up-cycling and Re-cycling will gain importance this year. Silhouettes will reflect an individual’s personal spiritual experience

·         Apart from these gloomy influences, the world has seen appreciation of culture and tradition as also, awareness and acceptance of beliefs and lifestyle choices. These have resulted in fashion referencing both traditional costumes and new directions like Gender-neutral clothing. In India, with demonetization pulling at us like puppets on a string, the evergreen saree will still come to the rescue when a woman needs to dress for an occasion! Both natural fabrics and new-age fabrics will gain popularity.

·         Travel too, has inspired fashion by showing us a confident, minimalist face this year. Cross-cultural references will show up in daily-wear and occasion-wear. Urban-mermaids and space-warriors will be the inspirations with metallic-effects and graphic prints.

These are some big trends that will take us forward this year.

LAYERING

Budgeted fashion can use layering for changes in weather, for different times of the day. Versatile Capes and Drapes in Neutrals and Black would be right through the day and season. Layering in these colours works, since most women have a colourful winter wardrobe.
Take elements from the summer wardrobe forward by making them part of winter layering. Experiment with how to pair and layer-- for a red-carpet look, button-on a ruffled Trail-corset garment and wow the onlooker! This year, I am going to style even my sarees with layers of garments.
Getting to that get-together at a restaurant or night-club, right after work, can bring on some anxiety. Capes and Drapes would be on point for layering, whatever be the base garment.

GO GREEN

Green is the colour of 2017, amidst great universal concern for the planet and environment. I am deeply committed to the cause of Green or Slow Fashion and in support of the colour and all the inspiration of “Green”.
Fresh green is on the international ramps— so match Mint or Lime Green with White, Aqua or Yellow for a summer day out. You can carry off most shades of green with Red, Gold, Black and any Neutral for a wintry ensemble; pair it as part of an ensemble, layer shades as separates or use it as a one-piece garment.

INDIA MODERN

With the hashtags #IWearHandloom, #IndiaModern and #IndiaCool trending everywhere, traditional weaves and crafts have gone up the high-fashion scale. Mixing western garments with Indian ones is redefining the way women will wear their long kurtas, dupattas and sarees. Silhouettes are further tweaked. Wear your long kurtas as belted dresses with jeans or with short slips underneath. To up the style-quotient of a saree, try different ways of draping this year. Collars, Shrugs and Jackets also work well to give a boho-chic twist, even to our traditional-wear sarees. Wear your short kurtas with sarees and your blouses with strappy dresses.

SOME OTHER TRENDS

On international runways, some other trends for 2017 that leap out are-- the evergreen Flower-power, broad Waist-Cinchers, Ruffles everywhere, Criss-cross and Seaside Stripes, which can all be modified for formal outfits also; Hibiscus prints, folk-lore and crochets for Resort looks.

MORE COLOURS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

Red, Green, Gold and Black as festive colours can also be a great set of colours to dress up your office neutrals or black. Khaki, shades of Yellow, lovely Pinks and Fresh Greens will be big in the New Year.
I want to believe that in this New Year, conflict, hardship and concern for the environment will bring good folks together in a desire to work for a common purpose of life. As consumers, people must cease to indulge in consumption of “Fast Fashion”, support a green economy of fashion with a purpose, wear clothes that are versatile and finally, within trends, create their own personal style with confidence. So let’s go ahead happy!