KOCHI: Summer is officially here and it’s time to welcome the warmer days with a spanking-new wardrobe. Hand-spun fabrics, soothing hues and quirky prints - we know the basic rules but you always need some extra zing to rock the summer scene.
The city designers say that with some simple-yet-striking tweaks your cottons and kalamkaris will look incredibly stylish.
Elegant six-yards in pleasant pastels is what Sheila James of Czarina recommends. “Light-weight and airy material like cotton, kotta, chanderi maheswari, bailou and organza are ideal for the time. Bring in some exquisite prints or moderate embellishments and you are summer ready.
Jute net and soft silks are other options that give you a very classy and contemporary look,” she says.
At her boutique is a solid collection of kotta saris, kurtis and salwar suits designed at different places sporting different kinds of handwork. Since there are a handful of varieties within kotta, the choice seems enormous.
Ask her about the trending palette and she says, “It’s usually pastels during the season. But we have introduced a range of bright pastels instead of the dull, routine ones. We make sure that the regular peaches, mauves and lavenders come with a fresh tonal polish.”
Heavy handworks take a backseat this season as ‘cute and delicate’ is the buzzword. “The work has to be soft and subtle in sync with the material we use. Most of the summer fabrics won’t take heavy handworks,” adds Sheila.
There are certain things that a scorching sun can’t ruin during the summer months- yes, festive events and weddings. Maithri Srikant of Vedhika has the perfect solution for it- her line of feather soft silks. “We have curated a very exclusive range of silks. Veda, our light-weight festive collection, features more than 100 exclusive designs in hand-woven kanchi soft silks,” she says.
Vedhika’s summer collection features everything from casual to formal to festive wear in fabrics that can breath. “Our design team has come up with a a range of cotton anarkalis in different cuts. They can be worn on both casual and semi-formal occasions and each piece is created in house,” she says.
They also have in store an array of smart prints in asymmetrical cut with some lovely embellishment. “Handwoven supernets and kottas with designer blouses are another combo trending this season.
Tonal embroidery is something that fits the summer style where three or more shades of the same colour are used. Mirror and zardosi go with cottons, and even the chamki work is seen making a comeback this season,” adds Maithri.
A normal double-toned anarkali may not sound very appealing to the fashion- forward crowd. But opt for a kerchief cut and throw in some mirror work to heighten the oomph factor, says Krishna of Nila.
She adds that you can make your summer statement with a breezy palazzo and crushed-cotton shirt, or you can go for anti-fit silhouettes, another popular pick of the season. “You can also experimenter with dainty whites, a wardrobe staple that never goes out out of fashion,” she says.