FASHION 
It is shorter the better for pullovers this season

Gitanjali Sharma checks out what different brands are offering in casual western wear to keep you snug ’n’ stylish in the frosty winter days

Come winters, and nothing seems more comfortable than a snug pair of jeans, pullover and a warm jacket to keep out the biting chill. Let’s check out what different brands are dishing out in casual western wear to keep you cosy ‘n’ chic this winter: Which colours and designs are popular for pullovers and sweaters? What kinds of jackets are in? Whether low-waisters are still in or are they pass`E9 as proclaimed by fashion czars?

Orange reigns supreme: While one end of the spectrum screams brighter the better for pullovers, the other end which is equally in demand displays the dominance of white and beige. While the orange hue rules this winter, the red family and turquoise vie with each other to grab the next highest-selling slot. Surprisingly, whites — a rage this season — are complete sellouts. Whites are either being sold in single colour or combined with stripes of another colour.

Plain preferred: The stress this season is on smart cuts. Most top brands are offering pullovers in single colours and their ‘common sales proposition’ seems to be "shorter the better." So the end product is a figure-fitting pullover that barely covers the waist. The cuts are simple and smart with the accent on necklines.

Rage and Mostrela are offering a number of tempting bright shades in pullovers with round necks, plain Vs, double Vs, broad Vs and V with collars, whereas Uni Style Image has attractive short jerseys in white, beige and cream with side pockets and Lee Cooper has white pullovers with bell-shaped sleeves that have stripes of another colour. Lee, too besides offering alluring single shades, has pullovers in white with stylish strings on the neckline. Though short pullovers are the current craze, short front-opens too are in style. Creative Line, besides offering attractive zip-opens with side pockets in dull reds and other cheerful colours, has also lined up buttoned-up cardigans in soothing pastels like light pink and mauve. These are patterned with cables, which have never gone out of fashion. The prices of most short pullovers begin at Rs 750.

Stripes stay on: Many top brands like Benetton, Reebok, Buddy Davis, Lee and Weekender have come out with stripes in striking shades. Buddy Davis has eye-catching horizontal stripes, with orange as the predominant shade on a dark background.

While fashion magazines have announced the departure of low-waist jeans and the arrival of high waisters, the brands are yet to take heed of this diktat. Low-waisters and mid-waisters are what most jean manufacturers like Pepe, Jean Paup, Wrangler, Lee Cooper and Lee have on the shelves, and these are what most buyers are demanding, presumably because of their higher comfy levels.

Though flares and sand-blasted denims are still selling, they are in the process of fading out and would not be seen by the next season. Brands like Lee Cooper have already come up with the slogan ‘back to the basics’. So, regular blues with straight fits would be a safe purchase for the present.

Corduroys: They have made a major comeback this winter. Beige, pink, and military green are the favourite picks. To add more pep to this dependable fabric that has endured many a fashion forecast, brands like Lee Cooper and Just in Time have come out with cords striped in different colours like pinks, blues, olive greens, etc. Their price starts at Rs 995. For the more daring, there are embroidered cords (Rs 1095), embossed cords, printed cords and sprayed cords.

Both long denim skirts touching the ankles as well as short knee-length skirts are in vogue this winter. Upper Class, Exposay, Jean Paup, Weekender bring long denim skirts (Rs 895 and more) with a slit at the back. Besides denim, skirts in suede, leather and woollen checks — which can be worn for semi-formal and formal occasions too — are also in fashion. The shorter skirts (Rs 695 onwards), which can be teamed with colourful woollen leggings, are being sold by Benetton, Weekender, Wrangler, etc.

Denims dominate the scene once again. The latest fad talks of short denim jackets in various shades of blue. You could buy them keeping in mind the colour of your jeans. To combat the heavy winters, there are padded jackets with hoods in blazing colours like hot pink, lemon yellow, dazzling orange, and bright blue from brands like Possession. While jackets in denim and cords cost Rs 700 and more, the padded ones start from Rs 1100 onwards.

Brands like Upper Class and Wills offer embroidered denims (Rs 1200 to Rs 1300), which can be worn with glittery tops or pullovers. The decorative pullovers (Rs 1300 and more), generally with snazzy cuts, either have motifs, embroidery or some other embellishment. For more of fusion wear, there is dressy kurti-style knitwear with bell sleeves, which goes well with embroidered denims.