Summer is here; time to rearrange the wardrobe to beat the heat. It is the season when one bids goodbye to those figure-hugging attires and tight, slim jeans and embraces the coolest outfits.
Changing wardrobe according to weather conditions has never been on the priority list of Malayalis. However, experts say it’s changing. The current generation is stylish and health conscious, and feels it’s worth spending on clothes, or perhaps they believe it is the need of the hour.
“Fashion sense and awareness of people have changed a lot,” feels Rajeev Peethambaran, celebrity designer, who recently launched his own clothing label Rajeev Peethambaran. This change struck him during the recent flea market held in Kochi. “I post photos of my collection on Instagram. During the flea market, many who came to my stall enquired about the ones I posted on Instagram. Not just that, communication with them helped me realise their depth of knowledge about fashion. These days, they specifically ask for cotton,” says Rajeev.
Airy and comfy are the two terms that define summer fashion. Rajeev, who created a ‘breathable’ summer collection says, “Cotton and handloom are used to make attires with minimalistic designs. When it comes to shades, earthy tones have been used.”
Anu and Reshma of Mannath have used cotton and muslin fabrics for their collection. “We have done a collection of checks, stripes and floral in pastels,” says Reshma.
Kurtas, short tops and palazzos, everyone’s all-time summer favourites, are there in almost every designer's collection. The relatively new entrant is the dress. It is available in short and maxi styles. It has been there in the market, but was not worn by all.
Rajeev Peethambaran
“There is a good demand for dresses now, especially among teens and young persons. People are open to experiments other than kurta,” says Reshma,
who has introduced a budget-friendly collection so that everyone can afford it. “We are also working on an anarkali collection.”
Rajeev also agrees with the demand for dresses. “It is trending now,” he says. “It is because it’s very comfortable to wear,” he adds.
Nidhi James
Another factor that makes the dress a favourite is its multi-use nature. All one needs to do is aesthetically pair it up. In Rajeev’s opinion, shirt dresses, a variant of dress can be used both as casual and party wear. “Wear it casually during normal occasions. Accessorise a bit and it would turn into stunning party wear,” he says.
“One can create one’s own style by doing mix and match. For instance, pair a palazzo with a casual top and jacket, it would look good,” he says.
So what are the styles youngsters are opting for this summer? Nidhi James, third year Fashion Technology student at St Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, knows it well. “In our campus, we wear long (maxi) dresses along with white shoes and a sling. White shoes are a hit among us now. We have shelved jeans and other tight attires this summer. It is because we get very sweaty these days and tight clothing may cause rashes on the skin. The reason for choosing long dress for college is that it is easy to carry off and they are allowed on our campus,” she says.
“When we go for events outside, we choose short dresses. Chances of sunburn is there, still we prefer them as they are very airy. We also sport off-shoulder tops. We dress up according to the occasion,” she explains.
Saree is also a popular choice. Rajeev, who did a collection of sarees, says, “There are youngsters who ask for sarees. My mother was the model for my saree collection. There have been enquiries for that design,” says Rajeev.
The brighter side of summer is the increase in people’s fashion know-how.
It is a good sign that people understand the effect fabrics have on one’s body and consider dressing up for seasons as a part of their lifestyle.
