Festive fashion

Trends to look out for the next time you go shopping.

KARACHI:

Now is the time to look like the colour wheel barfed on you and not get judged for it. The season that gives you all the liberty to unleash the deranged gypsy within and dump the Oxford sweaters and pull-overs for something outdoorsy, expressive and not to mention easy and breezy, is finally here. And since it already feels like the sun lives in our left pocket, we may as well just bring in some joviality through our everyday wear.

For Pakistani Parveens

More and more designers have brought forward their take of the gypsy culture by fusing Balochi/Sindhi malang culture with nautical and psychedelic prints and presenting them with a modern twist. Some of our favourite lawn collections this season are Junaid Jamshed’s Lawn, Deepak Perwani Premium Lawn and Khaadi Lawn. All three of these brands have managed to find the perfect equilibrium between international gypsy and desi malang and the best thing about them is that you can afford them without having to consider the option of selling one of your arms to afford one of their creations.

For the wild child

If you work in a regimented corporate environment, you can invest your moolah in some fancy headgear. Think Roman/Greek goddesses and their extravagant wreaths and rummage through brands such as H&M, Forever 21 and XOXO for the bands that fit your head and persona. Also, a little bit of stacking every now and then works and won’t really hurt the ego of that hoity toity Japanese company your boss is planning a meeting with.

You may want to get hold of some bold-coloured shirts and pair them up with a sombre suit to create the perfect fix of colour and sophistication. Colour blocking is as constant in the fashion fraternity as the northern star.

According to pantone.com, tangerine — the colour that looks like a love child of orange and pink — is the hue of the year and people should stick to the orange-pinkish side of the spectrum as much as they can.

Laces and buckles are back, be it sandals or heels. Think dominatrix or even Xena: The Warrior Princess and get yourself a pair of uber sexy gladiator sandals in preferably brown or beige (only because they go with everything) with a hint of gold. Those of you who love to make statements with their bright shoes can sigh with relief as bright hues will stay with us despite the obvious rein of pastels this season, according to millionlooks.com.

Women who work in a dress code-free environment try everything from big flowery prints to mind-boggling psychedelic prints. Ditch your pearls and gold for jewellery made from thread, rope, bones and colourful beads (big and small). Remember pedestrian-cool. However, make sure in your efforts to look casual-chic don’t start looking like a hybrid of a bear and a dishevelled pirate.

For men

Dear men, I request you to stop buying those ‘I hula-hooped my way to Pakistan from some funky island’ shirts with big flowers and fancy buttons. Go for the good, old neon-coloured polo shirts with checked Bermudas and sport some neon flip flops. If you are the funky bloke, try looking for Rastafarian flip flops or Ed Hardy Hawaiians.

Also, the bald look is back so if you don’t care about people comparing you to an egg or a football, go clean and enjoy the breeze.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2012.