It’s a wrap!

Wrap skirts and dresses, echoing the conservativeness of a pencil style and the playfulness of a slit option, are riding a big wave of popularity

A little leg never hurt nobody, right, ladies Well, one of the perfect ways to do so is by wrapping yourself in a completely wearable silhouette. Say hello to the trend of wrap skirts and dresses. Echoing the conservativeness of a pencil style and the playfulness of a slit option, this geometric silhouette with an asymmetric hemline is creating waves, if the street-style set has any say on the subject.

“The prime advantage of the trend lies in the fact that the wrap shape looks flattering on all figures,” says designer Gautam Gupta. He points out, “Design giant Diane Von Furstenberg was the first to introduce this style to the world of fashion. And the wrap dress was created in 1974 when Furstenberg, who had launched her design career two years previously with a cotton jersey shirt dress and a ballerina-style wrap dress, hit upon the idea of morphing the two pieces into one garment. She almost sold off five million wrap dress pieces within the next two years. Back then Newsweek even called her ‘the most marketable designer since Coco Chanel’. Soon, it became a rage and a symbol of women’s liberation in the 1970s and was associated with the glamour and natural self-confidence of the designer herself. The designer herself had appropriately explained the style once: ‘the wrap dress is the most traditional form of dressing: it’s like a robe, a kimono, a toga. It doesn’t have buttons or zippers. What made it different was that it was jersey; it made every woman look like a feline’.”

This season’s version of the wrap isn’t quite so defined. So you are fashionably spoilt for choice, says designer Karn Malhotra. “It really doesn’t matter where your hemline falls, as there are a myriad number of designs catering to different body types in the market. From miniskirts in wrap styles, options with a side bow, origami-like styles in punchy prints and multiple layers to midis and the knee-length numbers. Thigh-high slits with a strategic wrap to the skirt too is a popular option,” he shares.

Talking about different prints, patterns and ways to pair them together, designer Sakshi Relan, advises, “Marry a bold skirt that has a different pattern on the top with a simple top, jacket and accessories to create a fun mix and match look. Or if you want to focus on a work-appropriate style then try a navy skirt instead of black which will be just sharp as the darker hue. For all those looking for an ultra-chic option, the window of suede fabrics is open with a palette full of attractive hues. You can pair them with a lightweight white top. To set your style further apart, try a contrasting or mismatched patterned belt to cinch at the waist for an even more interesting take on the trend. The quirkier the belt the better and make sure to fasten it carelessly to give off that effortless vibe.”

Since the USP of the wrap skirt/dress revolves around the idea that it easily suits all body types, Dubai-based Indian designer Shruti Nijhawan explains the various approaches that women can take: “If you’re an Apple you will look fantastic in high-waisted flouncy wrap skirts because the waistband will hit at the smallest part of the torso and flare out over the stomach, masking the mid-section. If you’re a Banana, you can go for body-conscious mini wrap skirts since a form-fitting skirt will emphasise any curves you do have, and the short hemline will show off your slim legs. And if you’re an Hourglass, pencil wrap skirts work best for you as it will accentuate your curves while smoothing out your thighs.”