THE TRADITIONAL Indian costume of salwar kurta undergoes trials and experimentations to suit the needs of the present day women. Keeping in mind the season, style, comfort and demand, the designers too come up with newer looks of the costume, not to mention the retro style that keeps reappearing every few years. So its once again the time for anarkali kurtas or frock style kurtas that give a chill feel with its flowing cut, just right for the hot sultry season.
This variety of kurta, worn alongwith chudidars and jeans too, comes in printed, plain and mixed patterns in both cotton and silk fabrics. Apart from floral prints, ethnic designs in contrast colours like black prints on shades of brown or white or say golden coloured prints on shades of green are really popular. But the colours are not limited there. There’s a whole lot of Indian cotton shades of purple, pink, yellow, white and black that is in vogue.
The embroidered ones are not as popular and the same goes with heavy work or embellished kurtas when one picks them for formal or casual wear, specially for summers. However, the kundan work that is a part of frocks and western tops is seen in kurtas that are worn to marriage receptions or parties.
Coming to the cuts, the summer collection of designers has brought back the much loved frock styles into this segment of female garment. The style today is slightly different than the authentic frock style, the frill being much less. But the name is derived from the stitching pattern and the cuts of the hem of the lower part and also the division made at the chest that completely resembles the traditional anarkali pattern.
To give the modern touch, the styles of neck have amazing options that one could choose from. Design on the upper half seems to be a common choice as most pieces come factory made with this pattern. Sleeveless or sleeve with the length mostly being two inches below the knee appears to be the trend. ‘‘I wear a printed chudidar with a dupatta of the same print for a single or bi-coloured frock style kurta but it looks great without a dupatta with say a white chudidar or plain tight jeans,’’ says a style conscious Alka. Ladies are found wearing them to work or while shopping, coaching classes and so on. Available in readymade forms at Pantaloons, the half stitched ones (with either sides open to suit individual measurements) are aplenty at Kim’s Exclusif for Rs 2000 onwards. One just has to get them stitched as per one’s body. panda.namita@gmail.com