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| Metallic shimmer |
Technology, futurism, nostalgia, sports… what do these have to do with fashion? A lot. Fashion 2007 was about all these and more. t2 rewinds to the style story of the year that was.
Influences
Technology was big this year, and yes, we are talking fashion here. A variety of knitwear, PVC and patent leather were seen everywhere, especially in the later half of the year.
“One saw technology influencing fashion in a big way. Patent leather belts and shoes, PVC jackets were strong. But at the same time, there were vintage and boho elements. I would call the look boho-tech or ‘bohemia meets technology’,” says Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
Kiran Uttam Ghosh calls it “a story of opposites”. She explains: “There were lots of contradictions in fashion this year. Technology was big and so was futurism, blended finely with nomadic and nostalgic influences.”
The futuristic feel was clear in the cuts — the neckline blending into the shoulders, smooth lines… “a kind of Star Wars feel”, adds Kiran.
Sportswear inspiration — racer-back dresses, knits, feminine dresses with chunky watches and sports shoes — was evident.
The overall look was sleek and streamlined — contour-hugging silhouettes, high waists, monotones, femininity….
Says Mumbai-based designer Surily Goel: “The look was chic; there was less of funk and less of hippie elements than the year before.”
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| Leggings |
Silhouettes
The ubiquitous dress continued to rule and it promises to do so for some time to come. “The dress was in in a big way. You saw women of all shapes flaunting them,” says Mumbai-based designer Priyadarshini Rao.
The empire line was the dominant style here. “Dresses were big, particularly the empire line and the Anarkali style,” says Rohit Bal. The dress either stopped at the knee or brushed the ankle this year.
The trapeze shape was a hit, in dresses as well as tops. Tunics and corset-tops were the other key silhouettes in the uppers.
Leggings, leggings and some more leggings ruled the lowers. Paired with everything from long tops to tunics, kurtis and kurtas, these mid-calf tights were seen through the summer and beyond.
In lowers, denims got skinnier while trousers were either skinny or super wide-legged. “No in-betweens in fashion now,” points out Sabyasachi.
Harem pants were a strong trend for the bottoms, in materials ranging from lycra to satins. Churi pants and Jodhpuris were also there for all to see. Satin was a popular choice in pants of every shape.
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| High-waisted dresses and yellows were strong trends of the year Pictures by Pabitra Das |
Colours
Metallics — golden, silver, bronze and copper — were a strong hangover from 2006. They coloured wardrobes at the beginning of the year and took a spring break, only to be back with a bang in the second half of 2007.
“Metallic gold and silver were the strongest hues of the year,” sums up Surily. As base colour or surface shimmer, the metallic mood was really strong.
Yellow, red, purple, plum and pinks (mostly salmon) were the bright tones that painted ramps and racks. Sombre colours like grey, coffee, beige were also strong. Ivory was consistent the year round.
Jewel tones made an appearance towards the end of the year — starting off with the festive season and going into winter. The plums and purples deepened, along with hues of precious stones.
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| Oversized bags |
Accessories
The schoolgirl ballerina made a comeback and adorned the feet round the year, making the strongest footwear statement in recent years. The simple, round-toe shoe was kept minimal, sans embellishments. Super-broad belts — patent leather, metal-studded and more — gave shape to otherwise shapeless silhouettes. One accessory that went straight to the head was the bandanna. In bags, oversized was the buzzword. Huge hobos or super-clutches… the bigger the better. Practical, elegant yet oversized, this style staple allows you to store all your clutter and still leaves space for more. “Today’s woman doesn’t want to change bags too often. She wants a bag to carry through the day, from work to party,” says Dilip Kapur, president, Hidesign.
In jewellery, the neck continued to be the focus this year, as the ears went minimal or empty. Long strands of beads encircled the neck in complete street style.
