Marsala has hit India big time. Not the wine, but the haute red-brown hue that’s caught the fancy of fashionistas globally and has now invaded Indian ramps this season. Being celebrated as the colour of the year, marsala is an earthy shade that’s completely in-tune with the wine it’s named after. Besides fashion, colour cosmetics and the interiors business too have embraced it enthusiastically.

Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Jacqueline Fernandez recently rocked the ramps in heat-turning marsala ensembles for designers Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Anju Modi. Top designers have clearly given the colour the green signal. “This deliciously sultry hue, which is an earthy mix of red and brown, makes an instantly flattering statement, no matter what one’s skin tone,” says Nishka Lulla.

Seasoned couturier Kiran Uttam Ghosh feels that marsala is soft yet with a hint of kickass. It’s classic yet spunky and therefore appeals to the modern woman, she reckons.

Ghosh has been using the colour in two completely different ways — in combination with other hues as well as by itself. “Marsala works well with all kinds of colours and takes on a whole new dimension when combined with other colours,” says Ghosh pointing to a marsala -navy tunic splashed with bright blue flowers and layered over a clingy, long coral dress.

At another level she’s created a completely different look by offsetting a monotone marsala dress with a bronze wrap. The dress can be worn without the wrap too she suggests. Ghosh’s fabrics of choice are jersey, georgette, cotton, khadi and handloom.

Anupama Dayal too has highlighted marsala along with hues like pinks and browns in her Autumn-Winter 2015 line. She’s paired almond-coloured, loose box-pleat trousers and a hot pink shirt with motifs of Turkish carnations. She’s complemented this with a pure wool marsala cape that bears the same floral motifs. “The long marsala cape acts as a foil to the other colours so that none of the colours look overwhelming,” says Dayal.

Those looking to pair the warmth of marsala with mellow hues like strawberry ice and glacier greys should look no further than young designer Nishka Lulla’s line. It features straight-fitted dresses, high-waisted shorts and palazzos — in what else but marsala. “This earthy red colour has very warm brown tones hidden beneath it, which cloaks the wearer with a sense of strength and confidence,” says Lulla.

She’s used marsala as a strong, solid colour in her latest collection. “I haven’t used any embellishments on it since I wanted the colour to stand out intensely,” says Lulla who has used pure crepe as she believes that its texture and lustre enhances the appeal of the colour.

MARSALA MAGIC

The hot colour of the moment, marsala has surfaced in colour cosmetics too. Dab some marsala eyeshadow or paint your pout with this new hue
Take your pick from….

On the other hand, Anju Modi has elevated the colour to the stuff of bridalwear. “We’ve paired our deconstructed jackets with traditional lehengas in marsala and detailed them with quirky motifs like horse-drawn carriages, pocket watches and castles using traditional hand-embroidery like zardozi and aari,” says Modi. Her bridalwear and ready-to-wear lines have been designed in handloom and organic fabrics — silk, chanderi and georgette.

Abhishek Dutta too has used marsala as a base colour for dresses, gowns, sari gowns and anarkali jackets for women and textured bandhgalas and linen summer jackets for men. “I have used it along with jewel hues like emerald green and turquoise as these pair well with marsala,” says Dutta. He’s detailed the marsala creations with zardozi and threadwork. Dutta has used flowy fabrics like tulle, georgette and cotton Lycra for womenswear while his menswear line features linens and micro cotton velvet.

So, be it summer or the yet-far winter, you’ll make a splashy fashion statement if you decide to go the marsala way!