This season, tie the knot!

Knotted tops might have been introduced the wrong way, popularly by Britney Spears gyrating to Hit Me Baby One More time in the nineties, or if we were ttravel further back in time by Bobby in the cult teenage film of the seventies. But a wrong celluloid association need not kill a styling detail with a lot of potential. A little less street, a little more sophisticated and oh so reinvented—bringing in all the right celebrity references on the simple knot. 

On the international ramps, knotted tees and dresses were popularly spotted in Alexander Wang’s spring summer collection 2017. Back home, the younger crop of actresses have been spotted sporting the leisurely knot in some form or the other, either as a twisted fabric on the hem or an interesting bow.  

Mehr Jassar, Ludhiana based designer who retails out of her studio MJ, lists a couple of dos and don’ts. “There is no dearth of fast food retail chains like Zara with knotted blouses on every conceivable kind of blouse. But knots are best attempted on oversized blouses and shirts which are other basic in nature.” She further warns, “It’s essentially a styling trick and the one best carried during summers to perfect a casual look.” 

Way back in 2014 Monisha Jaising introduced the biker bride in a black leather lehenga with a crisp white knotted shirt and a choora to prove the point. “My bride is very today’s woman, who is careful about being carefree and believes in the little styling details,’ she had stressed back then. 

There is no dearth of DIY tutorials on how to twist the ends of any garment (a tee, a blouse, or a collared shirt) to achieve the knotted look. However, what can be done in a minute doesn’t necessarily translate onto what can be carried off by everyone. Adds Mehr, “If you choose a knotted shirt, keep the lowers fitted, straight skirts or skinny jeans.  If the blouse or top os knotted make sure there is no other styling detail going on. For instance a knotted hemline on an off shoulder top will look too busy to be elegant.” 

While you are at it, being twisted that is, keep it simple.

—Manpriya Singh