After a whole year of being locked up and living in pyjamas, we are all ready to welcome in the summer. After being constrained to limited spaces, the social and travel calendars are fast filling in and it’s time to catch in on the trends and get set to sport your trendiest summer look.
Spring Summer 2021 fashion trends are spunky, cool comfortable, but very chic. Here are a couple of trends to follow whether it’s a trip to Dubai, Maldives or Goa or even an intimate gathering with friends for a weekend resort getaway.
Co-ord Sets
It is hard to find fashion inspiration after spending a year at home. Put together a matched pant suit set while heading out with friends or change into a trendy crop top or bralette with high waisted pants when headed to a party. Scoring high on comfort, this no brainer outfit is easy to wear, yet very high on the versatility in-dex. Payal Singhal’s latest collection is a perfect inspiration if you are trying to put together the perfect co-ord look.
Track Suits
Instagram is full with the tracksuit trend as every actor and influencer sports their latest airport look. This is a trend for everyone- keep it simple, sport your midriff with a crop sweatshirt, go wild with tie and dye colour play or layer in with a sequenced ensemble. The Masaba collection with Deepika Padukone took the internet by storm a few days ago and exactly the trend you should look for this season.
Crop Tops
With the 90’s look making a comeback, the crop top reminds us of the ‘Spice Girls’ days but this time the fashionistas are not showing off their entire midriff and making it easy with the high waist culture. A crop is the most versatile piece to own and invest in some good ones, as this can be paired with a sari for the summer wedding, thrown in with a flow skirt or a pair of shorts. Faintly fitted or completely, minimalistic or covered with rhinestones, this is a fashion trend that is here to stay.
Kaftans
Kareena Kapoor can sure to credited for this trend that originated in the Middle East and North Africa and symbolises a Bohemian lifestyle. An alternate to a woman Pj’s, this trend is now making it to runways and resort wear across the world. Puja Jolly, who owns Studionile, says, “Most designers are adding their unique spin on it with textures, embellishments and prints. It is a fuss free sil-houette that spells comfort and the easiest piece of garment to dress up with ac-cessories or layer to make a style statement.”
Puff / Balloon sleeves
Every designer and high street brand is playing around with the sleeve this sea-son. The trend that originated on the runways in 2018, has continually returned season after season making it one trend that is here to stay. The balloon, ruffled, puff, Victorian and the leg-of-the-mutton— the detailing is in the sleeve.
Gayatri Khanna, Creative Director, World of Gaya (www.theworldofgaya.com) says, “After the year we have had, the summer trends are all about being practical yet upbeat and cheery or as Marie Kondo would say, clothes that “spark joy”- refreshing prints, vibrant colours and flattering silhouettes. In terms of silhou-ettes the easy-breezy flared or fit and flare styles that can effortlessly translate from day to evening looks will be in trend. The feminine and flirty ruffles are also in style. The wide legged pants which are both comfortable and stylish are also a trend that will continue from the last season. A culotte is an interesting variation of the same. Summer pantsuits in light-weight cottons are also a celebrity and fashionista favourites. In terms of colours, a vibrant and bright colour palette will be in style for summer 2021. Whites are always a summer favourite.”
Naina Satish Lengade of Label Pāramitā states, “The ongoing global pandemic has certainly stirred the fashion trends for 2021. The new working from home routine had unveiled some bold and stylish designs. Designers infused their own person-al aesthetics and visions a lot more than usual. Some focused trends include ex-treme comfort clothing suiting the work from home lifestyle including long flowy silhouettes. The wide leg baggy trousers have replaced the skinny crop pants. Oversized super comfortable voluminous silhouettes like sweatshirts and boy-friend jackets invented lounge dressing. Other distinct trends include bralettes paving way for midriff flossing worn with super comfort trousers and jackets also including folk inspired coats. Bling never seems to go out of style creating nothing less than a disco, play dress-up kind of feel. Monochromatic trends showing its way through elegant, non-fussy blocked styling.”
Talking about the Spring Summer 2021 trends, designer Reshma Kunhi states, “As Covid has taken a hit throughout the world people have moved to sustainable and organic clothing this SS21. The Make in India trend is a big hit this season. The all-White look is always in fashion in spring summer as well as this season another colour which is dominating is pink, apart from yellow and grey. Pre-Covid days, people were looking for fast fashion, but now again the trend is shifting back to the earlier days, where people want value for clothing, more of handcrafted clothes which are made by Indian artisans are in demand for occasion wear like weddings and festivals. Colours like white, offwhite, pinks, yellows, greys, camels, nude, blues, mint greens, metallic colours are all in fashion this season. Cuts like low rise skirts and pants, exposing your midriff are trending with cut out detailing in clothes, voluminous shoulders, puff sleeves, long flowy floor length gowns, netted clothing, corset and croptops, loose baggy pants, V necks, sexy backs and athletic clothing are all trending this summer.”
Reshma adds, “Floral prints, stripes, polka dots and checks are the prints to look out for this spring summer too. Colourful trench coats are a trend to spot this season, be it on denim and croptop or team it up with your saree. Monochromatic clothes are also here to stay. Cape on western or Indian outfits are also a trend to follow this season. If you’re looking for an Indian outfit trend, then go for light weight lehengas, gathered Kurtis, draped skirts, ruffle sarees, floor length gowns and Sahara bottoms that are in trend. Fashionable belts and trendy masks are accessories in demand this season.”
Men’s fashion Designer Paresh Lamba shares, “While it’s been a quiet year for the fashion world, this season has unveiled seriously bold and stylish designs.
This notion translates into bright colours. Also, strong symbolic pattern such as floral and abstract prints have made a comeback. Large and in-charge blazers, bold blue bags, and sleek face masks dominated Fashion Weeks over the last few weeks.”
Anu Shyamsundar, Business Director and Partner and Sounak Sengupta, de-signer, House of Three state, “Light weight handloom cotton mulmuls and Chan-deri’s in whites, earth tones and big floral prints. This season is all about back to basics, restarting from scratch on a clean slate. It is also about mindfulness and standing up for each other in a pandemic crisis.”
According to designer Namrata G, “These are the ruling trends this summer:
– Monochrome, New bralettes, Tie ups in tops (long strings), Floor length maxi dresses, Baggy pants/ palazzos, Capes, Sequins and Cut outs in dresses and the classic stripes. Also, well-crafted garments are the new summer trends. Less is more! Bralettes are the new inner.”
Designer Masaba Gupta shares, “Summer ’21 is an escape into the time we ate candy all day, had priceless conversations with friends, listened to crazy music, when everyday was a celebration and time stood still. As nostalgia sinks in, let’s relive our stories in Masaba-land where our resort wear collection will transport you to another era and where nothing is ever boring. Driven by comfort, inspired by luxury resort ’21 is for versatile escapist silhouettes like kaftans, easy breezy shirts, cover ups and fusions separates can be worn as sets and separates. FDCI and Lakmé Fashion Week are like home to me. Showcasing at the joint Phygital edition is truly special for me and even more so because of our collaboration with boAt. Last season was the beginning of our journey, which will now culminate into the showcase of my latest resort-wear collection. I’ve always believed that ‘music’ and ‘fashion’ are two elements that can transport you to the future and also give you the chance to reminisce the past. My latest range is inspired by and interprets the effect music can have on one’s mood. The one thing that I can promise everyone is that this showcase will transport you to an era where nothing is ever boring.” The collection “Summer 21” took the audience through typical Masaba – land where resort wear was the star in the wardrobes and fashion was very adventurous and far from boring.
Manish Malhotra, Bollywood’s most loved fashion designer’s latest couture line presents a joyful celebration of moments where social connections and the natu-ral cadence of human conversation take centerstage. It inspires a sense of remi-niscence and reflects upon the transient nature of time. “I wanted to bring to-gether a new composition that is balanced in its heterogeneous elements much like the NEXA colors. Where everything exists. The collection is created on the ethos of tradition, but inspired by the present, the new world. A collection that sits firmly with the pandemic-induced preferences but also relatable to our aes-thetics and our loyalists.” “We need to re-write the idea of design, which is not bound to a similar thread of uniformity. Each garment is a new and individual visual expression and explores a possibility of a free monologue, thus establishing a discerning connection with the wearer,” explains Manish Malhotra. He adds, “We’ve kept the range expansive with kalidars, lehengas, gowns, jackets, shararas, kurtas, palazzos, dupattas, and signature blouses that fits diverse palettes and occasions. The collection is hued in sorbet and blush shades of bright pink, lilac, grey-blue, beige-gold, powder blue, metallic gold-silver, black-white among many others. It travels from deftly embroidered pieces to two-toned color-blocked silhouettes that journeys from staid classic aesthetics to a more dynamic new-age look of the contemporary times. The embroidery is unexpectedly sharp in geomet-ric orders, giving it an entirely new dimension to the traditional craft of zardozi.”
Designer duo Shantanu & Nikhil’s #SNSafari a collection, reinforces the celebra-tory & blithe spirit of the brand. An idyllic backdrop of ‘celebration on the move’, a travel-inspired undercurrent & a newfound tandem between folk and funk, #SNSafari is a celebration of oneself, of the journey and of the destination. In-spired by the notion of gaining ground amidst the humdrum of life, and exhibit-ing a sense of tranquility through chaos, #SNSafari depicts a structured yet con-trolled madness, bringing order to disorder. The collection draws inspiration from millennial musings on the move, adding an exhilarating hint to one’s luxury get-away wardrobe featuring unique design details for both men and women. Earthy tones, unconventional silhouettes and signature S&N by Shantanu and Nikhil attributes like off-beat details and bold drapes take the centerstage in a calming mélange of safari-chic styles. From asymmetric kurtas and cropped jacket shirts for women; to open cut sherwani’s and structured shirts with Nehruvian details for men, #SNSafari is a fun gamut of ultra-modern styles.
An ode to our mother’s garden, is what the talented design duo Gauri & Nainika have worked on. “Spending an entire year in quarantine has made us feel rooted and grounded, reminding us about the joys of life’s simple pleasures, making us feel so much in tune with nature- having a slow paced life, seeing the sunsets, watching the trajectory of the moon- from new moon to full moon, being in awe each and every time of its beauty, from observing the stars to beautiful clear skies (which we were fortunate to have this time), cooking fresh organic home grown salads and vegetables, and most profoundly spending the mornings and evenings in our mothers garden, resplendent with flowers of all varieties, observing and relishing them, the trees, the foliage, from last spring to this. Seeing flowers bloom from saplings to buds to a proliferate flower bed, being so much a part of the process was stimulating and stirring to say the least. Delicate textures, plenty of shirt collars, playful shorter numbers to the more demure calf length ones, bows and flower textures synonymous with the brand will be found in the collec-tion. Easy trapeze cuts and feminine frock dresses all belted in romantic bows, goddess gowns in chiffon that flow with a gentle sensuality and the brand’s signature billowing ruffles that are so loved by all are among the collection highlights.”
Designer Anamika Khanna who showcased her recent collection at the opening show for FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week said, “My collection is a collaboration of art and textile and will be an homage to the fact that what is created will one day perish. What is left behind is legacy, and what matters most is what you do with it.” Anamika’s collection aptly called “Timeless the World” was inspired by the many quick changing feelings and emotions that one goes through. From casual comfort wear to fashion luxury, Anamika kept nostalgia as well as tradition in mind as she paid homage to Indian heritage. It was also a creative merger of art and textiles as Anamika brought her versions of the fabrics that will create a trend during the coming season.
Color Story by Dee, a Dubai based crafted in India and retailed globally, brand retailing eclectic, stylish RTW ensembles, has unique outfits for the season. Tribal Thumka” is all about Ankara (African wax print fabrics) fused with Indian fabrics like Ikkat, Bandhani, Chanderi, Raw Silk. “African and Indian aesthetics has always been a source of inspiration through my travels and my roots. This sea-son, influenced by questions of the fashion industry’s ethics, and survival in the pandemic, we have used fabrics sourced from India and Africa (Ghana, South Af-rica & Angola) merged with conscious methods of production to create exclusive and contemporary pieces, vital to every woman’s wardrobe. We have created en-ergetic, bold and feminine silhouettes which are snazzy, fun & functional.The 100% eco-friendly fabric keeps you cool in hot climates and warm in cold cli-mates. The lively and bold ankara fabric prints are not only fun to wear, they are unique, and add colour to your life!,” states the designer, Color Story by Dee.
So, go ahead, look them up and order the latest in spring-summer trend and make a splash when you step out next.