If you’re packing for your holiday and believe that all you need are swimsuits, shorts and flip-flops, then get ready to be arrested by the fashion police. With the resort wear trend officially making its presence felt in India, even on the ramp, its time to spruce up your vacation wear.
Vacation variety
Resort collections are high on the wearability factor and the focus is more on comfort than style, although this hardly means it’s any less fashionable. And while brands across the world have been regularly featuring a line of easy to wear clothes for the gliteratti to wear on holiday, Indian designers too are catching up with this trend. In a country where there is no stark change in climate throughout the year in most places, the tropical weather makes the perfect setting to pull off resort wear all year round. The recently concluded Lakme Fashion Week was sub-titled “Summer/Resort”, showing just how appropriate this trend is for a country like India. Sometimes called Cruise Collection or often even as (the rather limiting term) ‘loungewear’, this collection is inspired by the holiday season.
The basic premise of resort wear is that it is all very well to let your hair down and relax, but there’s no reason to compromise on style while chilling out! A resort wear collection is extensive, in the sense that it not only has everything you would need for a day at the beach – bikinis, sarongs, sun-dresses and more – but even what you wear to a semi-formal dinner event at night, or even the perfect outfit to wear while travelling – in other words, its what to shop before you head for your holiday.
Depending on where you’re holidaying, there are various fabrics to choose from when you pick up resort wear. Fret not, you will be spoilt for choice in any case. Air-conditioning at airports can sometimes give you chills as bad as the Swiss Alps, so if you’re headed to either, pack stylish blazers in light wool or a knit shawl to keep you warm. While on the beach, cotton is your best friend during the day. Since, all things sheer are in, tulle, silk and the classic linen, also make the cut. For slightly cold evenings and pleasant nights, bring out the knits, the lycra and the heavy jacquard that's sure to attract glances your way!
Generally trending
Designers like Shantanu and Nikhil, whose line showcased at LFW this year was called ‘The Tourist’, have focused on chic dresses and long, flowy gowns in muted colours. Airport chic may not be trending yet, but while travelling, essentials like linen pants or a shirt-dress will hold you in good stead.
There are some classic resort pieces that you can seldom go wrong with – like the kaftan, the sarong and the pareo. If you’re looking for something unique, check out the bikini sari by Shivan and Narresh. A shortened, three-yard version of the Indian staple, teamed with a bikini, this could be the ultimate fusion for Indian women who might not beat ease in a two-piece.But the outfit isn’t just limited to the beach, Bollywood style icon Bipasha Basu heated up the red carpet when she stepped out in a bikini sari for an award function. Clearly, versatility is resort wear’s biggest virtue.
Tarun Tahiliani, otherwise known best for his elaborate couture sarees, went with digital prints and light fabrics with his collection for Spring/Resort 2013. Some of his dhoti-style pants and lungi skirts crafted with sheer silk and chiffons are perfect to beat the tropical heat without compromising on glamour. Even his shift dresses and kaftans in earth tones and digital prints are perfect for the trend.
Pia Pauro took resort chic to Europe, as her Grecian-inspired one-shoulder tunics, flowing maxi dresses and printed bikinis showcased at LFW were strutted along the ramp. Pauro took another trend that hasn’t died down yet – the jumpsuit – and made it perfect holiday wear with some funky prints and interesting detailing.
Black and white stoles with ethnic prints tied around the heads of models showcasing Krishna Mehta’s resort wear collection is a style that can easily translate to the beach. It’s a stylish way to protect your locks from the salty sea air, or simply hide a bad hair day. Mehta’s collection was predominated by black and white creations in ethnic print with the occasional burst of colour, spelled quirky and the prints and dyeing techniques made for a very earthy, classy collection.
So no more bumming around on the beach in your swimsuits! Between shift dresses, tunics and sarongs and the sari-bikini, you’re all set for the holiday season.
elizabeth.mathew@thehindu.co.in