The fashion industry went in a total reboot mode during the pandemic. The last two years of the pandemic saw a sudden change in the way we dress as a fashion audience. And ever since, generic style has been somewhere between comfort-driven clothing and rich silhouettes. Embracing changed equations with fashion choices, designers and brands have been serving us with an amalgamation of new age style. Unexpected revivals, gender-fluid fashion, a refreshing body-positivity outlook and more have played a huge role in our post pandemic fashion choices. To decode more about spring and summer trends, we speak to eminent designers who give us in-depth insights about the same.
Intricate Embroideries And Prints
Gritty glamour is going to take the front row this spring/summer 2022. It will be a season of luxe dressing with laid-back style. And with the pandemic, we have understood that comfort-driven clothing can be incorporated with a touch of luxury as well. "This season expects drama and glamour in the ultra-modern way. We are looking forward to big prints with intricate embroideries this spring and summer," states designer Bhumika Sharma. Prints are like a hot-ticket for the spring season. "We will be seeing a lot of delicate and subtle prints with intricate embroideries with more pinks and mauves," she adds.
Fashion is all about accessibility as it allows people to express themselves better and we are here at the moment where choosing bright colours and styles that adds to your confidence is the ultimate key to stay up with the trends. "Embellished and embroidered shirts are here to stay and could make it big in spring and summer! For us summer is all about colour and beauty. Coloured embroidered shirts could rule all wardrobes," says designer duo Pankaj and Nidhi.
Futuristic Functional Dressing
Multipurpose fashion is here to stay. A functional and multipurpose closet is better any day. Experts predict that relaxed silhouettes and breezy lounge pieces are going to be a rage again this season. Styling that one functional piece in multiple ways will blur the lines between casual and occasional dressing.
"In the last two years, with the adaptability that the pandemic has brought in, silhouettes have also become more fluid. Silhouettes that let you be, work in or dance like a little cloud in your house. A silk cape with motifs inspired by the Nizams - it's a multifaceted piece. It can be put on over a pair of jeans when there's that urgent Zoom call or whisked away to a little weekend getaway, paired with a dress," says Priyanka Modi, Co-Founder and Creative Director, AM:PM.
"We could see a lot of mix and match clothing," says ace designer Ritu Kumar. Multipurpose fashion pieces could be a hit this season. Even when it comes to our wedding attire, we could expect the number of outfits to fall down to 2-3 from 6. "Functional and multipurpose dressing is the way ahead. For example, one piece is bought like a top and then you work it out with a pajama, pants or garara that you already have, creating a mix and match of your own style." she adds.
Less Is More: Minimal, Clean Clothing
The lesser, the better: Playful fashion doesn't need to be all extravagant and over the top. "Modern, versatile silhouettes and Indian motifs work beautifully together. Fusion, I think, can also be clean, minimal. Think monochromes, the aesthetics and power they bring in quietly. It's timeless," says Priyanka Modi.
She further adds, "Even pairing a clean-lined shirt with an asymmetrical dhoti. It is supremely transitional - perfect for a day at the gallery followed by an intimate dinner at home. Very effortless, easy and very spring summer."
Ace designer Ritu Kumar seconds the notion, "Particularly after the pandemic, people are wearing lounge clothes. Formal dressing has kind of taken a back seat."
Regional Prints
The rich fashion culture of India has its own regional touch and it is making a comeback in a way which will portray an amalgamation of western silhouettes with regional, traditional prints. "This year is going to be more organic in terms of sourcing the prints. Like the Bagh prints from Madhya Pradesh, Bagru prints from Rajasthan; it is going to be that kind of character and colour. This is what people want to wear as well because people are at home a lot, working on their computers and this kind of dressing fits well into the character," says eminent designer Ritu Kumar.
Free Fashion
With conversations about unisex closet and gender-fluid fashion, the future of styling is surely not about labelling clothes according to gender. With global stars like Harry Styles and more acing it, the aspect of fashion has become more self-constructive and inclusive. "We feel shirts are the perfect example of gender fluid fashion. This spring and summer we expect to see lots of printed shirts worn with skirts or as dresses," says designer duo Pankaj and Nidhi.
Fashion has reached a point where it is wising up to the fact that styling a silhouette is not restricted to a certain type of people. "Shirts can be rocked by women as well as men. We are looking forward to seeing shorts, skirts and shirts for both men and women. Our new collection has a lot of gender fluid shirts that can be worn or paired with anything," they add.
