Elvis Presley wore it with aplomb. The trademark white, the high-collared décolleté line, the jewelled patterns and gold link belt. Elvis's jumpsuit started a trend of its own, springing up blingy versions for stage performances. Today, while men still sport it for sporting and adventure events, for the female fashonistas it has metamorphosed into a ramp favourite and a wardrobe staple.
Call it the all-in-one, romper or simply the jumpsuit, this one piece garment finds place in international fashion look books and has garnered quite a following. Unlike other ensembles that get classified into a standard ‘look', the jumpsuit can be anything from a lounge wear in printed cotton to a red carpet head-turner.
Take it easy
The instant replacement to the good'ol tracks and tee is the even more comfy jumpsuit. Picking one in soft linen, spandex or cotton will stand you in good stead, especially, if you want something easy and quick to lounge around in. These casual jumpsuits, usually in a monochromatic pattern or in simple stripes or polka dots come with a drawstring and are best teamed with a pair of flip flops. They can be either flared or gathered at the feet. Some brands to look out for are Calvin Klein and French Connection, with its casual short and long versions. An ideal look we spotted is a purple knee-length strappy jumpsuit paired with black and orange strappy flats from Marc by Marc Jacob's Resort 2011 collection.
If you want to upgrade the look to a sportier one, there are plenty of options in store too. Denim ones paired with belts and sneakers, khakhis with boots for the ‘Safari' look… the sporty side can be pulled off anywhere. Interesting picks this season are Gucci's patch pocket jumpsuits and Diane von Furstenberg's black and white striped short number.
Then of course is the minimal look that is classy and blends well with fun day dos as well as cocktail evenings. Popular colours doing the rounds are nudes and greys, usually worn with similar colour pumps and minimal accessories.
All dressed up
As much as it can be a dress down, jumpsuits can also be a glamorous ensemble, when experimented with colour, material and styles. The romper, that has taken the fashion scene by storm in the last couple of years, is a short and shirt combo, slightly loose on top, with a drawstring or a belt to match. In bright colours, silks and shimmery fabrics, it's a party favourite. Bebe has an interesting collection of colourful rompers in their latest releases.
The draping of the jumpsuit also adds to the drama. Donna Karan and Stella McCartney have lovely flowy ones in black and Max Azria has chic green short ones in their 2011 creations. The ‘Suits' style is also in, and is an ideal pick for formal events. Yves Saint Laurent's Resort 2011 shows a stunning red and black flared full-length, strapless jumpsuit, they term the ‘Red Carpet' look. All these styles are best paired with stilettos or knee-length boots to up the ante.
The use of silk, satin and lace immediately takes the jumpsuit from casual to dressy, so does the use of colourful bright prints.
Is it on your shopping list yet?