Shabiha Nur Khatoon
Fashion changes, much like the seasons. However, ethnic wear is timeless in its appeal and fashionistas who love to accentuate traditional attire with bold layering are embracing the jacket like never before
Traditional wear comes to the rescue of women who are often confused as to how to dress up for a particular occasion. Be it a job interview, an office party or an informal evening get-together, ethnic wear stands out in its timeless appeal.
No matter how quickly we get hooked to trends, once in a while all of us love going back to our roots. Traditional attire connects us to our cultural roots. Whether saris, ethnic suits or lehengas, they all look chivalrous as well as dazzling with an extra ounce of glamour being added, thanks to the ingenuity of creative fashion designers. Gift yourself an extra ounce of glam by decking up in fabulous traditional attire.
Madhusmita Panda, who showcased her latest collection at the Bangalore Fashion Week recently, says: “People are experimenting wildly and it is only possible to make a statement with an individual touch – mark of an unmistakable sense of identity. Jackets or blazers in soft textures from across the spectrum of fabrics, right from denim to leather to embellished ones, are in trend. Interestingly, jackets can be teamed with Indian wear; it hardly matters whether it is an office or party look. People are stepping out of their comfort zones to try something different by playing with layers. For example, women usually opt for leather jackets with a floral maxi dress or long kurti and sari.”
The jacket style which is common on the runway on which we see models in lehenga gowns and jackets is elegant. The designer adds that whether you have a short or long jacket, pairing it with Indian wear is definitely ruling the ramp today.
Fashion designer Roshan Kumar Sahoo is of the view that beauty is all about attitude. “When you want something stylish and at the same time don’t want to overdo it, you have to add the right amount of shine with a little bit of handwork to get the perfect look for an occasion.”
His boutique, Posh Affair, which he describes as an oasis where traditional and contemporary styles meet in a dance of fusion, offers beautiful and exclusive designs.
Dwelling on the jacket style, the designer says: “Compared to long jackets, short jackets are in. A long jacket with the sari is a slightly bold move as the layering has to be perfect and it shouldn’t look overdone. Remember, layering is not everyone’s game.”
Warm Jackets
Short
The short jacket is popular among college-goers. Layering a printed or an embroidered jacket can work wonders to a simple dull kurta giving you a smart and ethnic look. And the jacket also proves to be the perfect alternative to a dupatta. The short jacket works as a magic wand on the traditional Indian sari.
Embellished
Add a royal touch to your outfit with embellished jackets that are priceless.
Long kurta style
The long kurta style jacket is a perfect option for winter and its USP is that it covers you well while giving you a pretty look. Playing with contrast colours will surely make you stand out.
Peplum
Teplum jackets are trendy and seem to have caught the fancy of fashionistas. One can try it to look beautiful while being minimal at the same time.
Embroidered
Jazz up your simple wear with the art of working raised and ornamental designs in threads of silk, cotton, gold, silver which speak volumes about your taste and style. Play around with colours and fabrics and pair them with different outfits and look different every time.
Celebs glow
Tinseltown beauties have also been spotted sporting the trend, wearing a jacket with Indian attire. Since they are all fashion idols, we love what we see and tend to inculcate the styles. Alia Bhatt donned one during the promotions of Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya and Sonam Kapoor wore a lace sari with an embroidered jacket by Anamika Khanna at Cannes 2013.
