Sheer madness

With sheer panels being the rage right now, designers say it’s best to keep it simple

It’s time to play a little hide and seek with your clothes. After all, sheer panels are everywhere and in every possible fabric too.

With many celebrities like Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Malaika Arora Khan and others being spotted wearing sheer outfits, the fashion community feels that it’s a refreshing facelift to regular attire.

Designer Rahul Mishra, who has always used sheer panels in almost all his collections till date, says that the juxtaposition of sheer and opaque panels does wonders. “I love working with organza, Indian handloom, khadi and sheer. Having sheer panels at the hemline or waistline or the shoulders gives a modern and fluid look. In fact, it’s one of the signature elements for our collections. They look really good in jackets, saris, tops, skirts, etc. so you can experiment quite a bit. The ultimate beauty of fashion is to make it wearable, and sheer-panelled outfits do look chic,” Rahul adds.

However, some do point out that it’s not a classic trend because it doesn’t work for all body types. Designer Rick Roy says, “Sheer is badnaam for being a cover-up for fat arms or legs. It’s important to balance out the sheer in an outfit. Since it’s not a strong element, an entire sheer outfit would be over the top. You can mix and match an opaque top with a sheer skirt and vice versa.”

But most designers agree that this one is strictly for Gen Next. Designer Dev from the Dev R Nil brand says that it’s quite sporty and a breakaway from the regular mould. “Being bold and brave is so big internationally that they have pushed showing off your body to another level. Now, it has trickled down to being a bit more massy too. Sheer dresses do add to the glam quotient for eveningwear. However, you need to be fit and toned to carry it off, otherwise excess flab or cellulite could get highlighted. Also, if you’re not careful with the design and tailoring, there could be some wardrobe malfunctions. It’s better to keep it simple, otherwise it may look tacky.”

To avoid being uncomfortable, Rahul advises that before taking a final call, it’s better to try out your outfit while sitting because the posture is different. “If it’s an ultra short skirt, it will rise two inches higher while you are sitting. So settle on its length beforehand,” he affirms.