Do you ever wish for a wardrobe that’s versatile enough to see you through all the seasons? Then trans-seasonal clothing, the latest buzzword in the global fashion circuit, will put an end to all your dressing dilemmas. Burning the bridges between seasons, trans-seasonal clothing will come to your rescue across regions with varying temperatures. So, investing in these garments will take you from cool climes to freezing zones without fuss. 

“Trans-seasonal fashion is clothing that can be worn any time of the year as it works well in different climate zones. It is especially relevant now when people travel so much and most spaces are temperature-controlled,” says David Abraham 
of the designer duo Abraham & Thakore. They’ve taken a cue from this global trend and created an entire trans-seasonal line.

Trans-seasonal silhouettes also help you transition from one season to another without having to change your entire wardrobe. Says Nikhil Mehra: “It is modern and wearable fashion that you can enjoy wearing across seasons.” 

Veteran designer Ritu Kumar too stresses on the viability of this trend and says that since these garments work for all seasons, they look updated right through the year. 

But, the trick for getting a trans-seasonal collection to work lies in getting the fabrics, structure, colours and layering right.

Layering plays a crucial role in Rocky S’s trans-seasonal clothing. “I create clothes that cater to the needs of my clients in different parts of the world. Layering is central to creating a look that can fit different seasons in different countries,” says Rocky S. So, he’s teamed long summer dresses with jackets and paired skirts with full-length shirts and scarves. “The key is to put pieces together that can be taken off when it gets hot,” adds the designer.

He prefers fabrics with fancy prints and hand-embroidered detailing which do not define any particular season. He’s also careful about selecting his fabrics and goes for free-flowing, fluid ones like georgettes, light silks and chiffons. While these fabrics breathe and are perfect for layering, they also provide the right amount of warmth to the wearer. 

A sharp focus on structure and layering is visible in the Abraham & Thakore trans-seasonal line. It is replete with 
tunics, long kurtas, palazzos and joggers that can either be worn by themselves or teamed with short and long 
cover-ups and jackets. The designers are primarily working with khadi, which is combined with silk and cotton cambric.
Their preferred hues include ivory, coffee and black with accents of gold and copper. Abraham says: “We’ve focused on block-printing, lamination, embroidery and appliqué work.”

In her trans-seasonal collection, Ritu Kumar is offering capes and shrugs that can be layered atop jumpsuits and long 
skirts. These have been fashioned in lightweight materials like cotton voile, jersey and georgette. “These are figure-flattering and not too warm or light, making them perfect for different seasons,” says Kumar who has opted for warm tones of brown, black, gold and classic pastels that can fit any mood or time. Embroidery and detailing like fringes and drawstrings add an element of fun to these outfits.

A trans-seasonal twist has been given to menswear too by designers Shantanu and Nikhil. “A shirt-kurta can be worn with a stylish Nehru jacket or Jodhpuri jacket in organic fabrics that work well for all seasons. Our signature angular, draped kurtas are a big hit too,” says Nikhil. He also suggests layering the look with their draped waistcoats and fitted jackets. The designers have gone for textured handloom fabrics and Indian raw silk as they are comfortable to wear any time of the year.

Neutral tones dominate their colour palette as they can be mixed-and-matched easily. So, classics like ivory, grey and military green have been paired with chocolate browns, navy and black. 

Designer Sonal Verma of the brand Rara Avis is cashing in on the trans-seasonal trend too. She’s all for light layering for the changing season. So she has paired a wool coat with a cotton shift dress and this can also be teamed with tweed culottes when the mercury dips. 

“I work with natural fabrics ranging from cottons to silks and wool. So it’s washed linens, treated cottons and light wool with a mohair blend,” says Verma.  Her colour story is all about subtle neutrals that can be played up or down depending on how you layer the look. So, a dose of grey can go onto indigos and blue and finally finish at black. “We have used leather as a material for embroidery as well as sequins,” adds Verma.

So transcend seasonal barriers and get set to rock all year round with trans-seasonal clothing.