Jungle of prints

Economic gloom or boom, prints will always be the cheap and chic way to glam up your look. Taking off from last season’s floral fiesta, this season too there will be a bloom burst but the flora will be accompanied by fauna as animal prints are back, too. Other prints to watch out for are geometric, graphic, jungle and stripes.

Dare to be different and mix it all up and don’t be afraid to mismatch your prints. Take a cue from Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Colours, patterns, mood or material — no bar!

Candy colours

Whites worked for the summer of ’69 but the summer of ’09 is busily bright. The palette is all candy and cute. There is bubblegum pink with candyfloss pink, citrus sweet ’’ sour shades like lime, tangerine and everything else you can bite into in between. The burst of candy colors was seen all across the global runways for spring-summer 2009 from Lanvin to Luella Bartley, as well as in most Indian designer collections.

These colours work for all, whatever your skin tone may be (watch Priyanka Chopra in Dostana if you need confirmation). If you still think these colours are too sugary for you, stick to neutral clothes and then lift the look with a crazy coloured accessory. Bags, beads, shoes — even your nails will do. (We love a Manish Malhotra coral polish by Lakme.) But at least one element has to be juicy juicy!

Asymmetric drapes

If you’re on the A-list, you have to be seen in an asymmetric ensemble, the more draped the better. What began as a micro trend three seasons ago is slowly and steadily on its way to classic-dom. It looks pretty and it’s sexy too, without being in your face.

The most common interpretation of this trend is seen on one-shoulder tops and dresses. But don’t stop at that — asymmetric hemlines look chic too. Tarun Tahiliani and Gaurav Gupta have made an art of it. And if a sari is still the only drape you own, tsk tsk!

Jumpsuit

This fun and flirtatious silhouette is back with a bang. A rage in the 1970s, the single-piece garment has found favour with many international labels over the past year and has finally reached Indian shores. This trend might take a while to catch on here but it has been spotted in small stylish pockets off and on already. The party people have accepted the playsuit (tinier version of the jumpsuit). Way to go!

Cropped pants/harem pants

Ralph Lauren has popularized this look for summer (see picture left). It’s a very fresh look, sort of formal meets casual, that was quickly picked up by the high streets of the world.

Cropped pants aren’t turned up jeans, though. They are very chic trousers — just imagine shrunken salwars. Harem pants are the jhalla jersey pants you used to pick up from roadside stalls, except that this season’s version is non-jersey and properly pleated, and sometimes can resemble dhoti pants. These pants can carry you from day to night effortlessly — team them with a basic tee by day and swap for a metallic vest for night. Add a dramatic dimension with an eclectic choice of jewellery. And don’t forget high heels!

Killer heels

Pack up your ballerinas and learn how to strut your stuff in heels, the higher the better. It may sound impractical but who said style was simple?

Necklaces

The ‘it’ accessory continues to be the statement necklace this summer (picture right). Crazy colorful or something silver, make sure it is bold and beautiful.

Obi

Marc Jacobs wrapped his tunics and tops beautifully with these Japanese sashes. You can do too! If you don’t have an obi, try a satin sash or envelop your waist with many slim belts to create the effect.

Sunglasses

The most important accessory this summer are sunglasses.There are no rules for eyewear this summer. Anything goes, large or small hide behind them or show them off its up to you. But don’t walk out without them that’s a no-no this summer.