It’s time to ruffle a few feathers, albeit in a good way and with oodles of charm. If you are looking for some fun, feminine and luxurious outfits for the party season, add feathery details to your ensemble for an extra fancy touch. Regarded as one of the most outstanding trends of Fall/Winter 2019, the trend indicates that glamorous feather embellishments and extensions are here to stay and now is the best time to flaunt it.
Internationally, designers like Marc Jacobs, Roksanda, Mary Katrantzou, Erdem, Givenchy, Ralph & Russo, Moda Operandi, Richard Quinn, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino and many more have already showcased the real and faux feathers on sleeves, red carpet gowns, dresses and jackets to push it as a big trend for autumn. Whereas, Indian designers are still experimenting with fine feathers on blouses, skirts, boleros and Western outfits to make a mark. Designer Shilpi Gupta, mentions that feathers add an elegant drama to winter wear, and she says, “The trend has received a big yes from all kinds of brands this season. For detailing, one can use feathered cuffs, hemline, collars, jacket, etc to add a subtle impact. While for accessories, it can be used to highlight bags, earrings, footwear, and bracelets.”
One can even go a bit overboard by wearing ruffles and feathers together, suggests designer Anushka Bajaj, who believes that feathers have become a part of everyday fashion, raising the curiosity and style quotient. “Feathers add interest to garments by adding a wispy colour or as rosettes to highlight. Real as well as faux feathers are a lot of fun and can be worn in a variety of style. They add up to aesthetics but overdoing it might be a bad idea – put it around the neckline or on the sleeve and that’s more than enough.,” she cautions.
While the trend is fun and flirty, do keep in mind that the life of feathers is not much so as a consumer it is best to use it modestly. Designer Ridhi Mehra feels that feathers add a touch of luxury and lightness to the outfits, but she points out, “Feathers are best used on sleeves, on a short cape, the shirt placket, and armhole area. One can opt for ivory or pastel-hued faux feather detailing, and keep the accessories chic and minimal. Avoid outfits with feathers too close to the under-arms as it might end up discomforting you. And, don’t be afraid to do the occasional shimmy for some fun boomerangs in glam feather outfits.”
One social media one can easily find some of the known A-list Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities as well as international fashion bloggers pairing solid coloured dresses with feathered capes/jackets as they rock street looks, airport diaries, and red carpet dos. Delhi-based fashion experts Samiksha Chopra and Sonali Kapur think the trend has a lot of international appeal to it, and they highlight, “These embellishments can be used to give a twist to your Indian outfits by adding a unique glamour quotient. Detailing with feathers is definitely a cool idea –— it gives an ornamental appeal to any style or ensemble, making the piece of accessory or clothing more fancy or whimsical. It will be a big trend for the season, so invest in some quality pieces that can be paired with various outfits without looking too overboard.”
