Chill out fashion

It is that time of the year when you eagerly put the summer clothes in your cupboard for three months and make your hangars look more heavy with stylish pullovers and jackets. Supriyo Hazra reports on some latest winter collections

Fashion becomes specially important during the winter season with so many festivals, including Christmas, garlanding the time.

And in India, weddings are quite common during this period of the year. Keeping all these factors in mind, winter fashion and winter wears occupy a special place in our style statement. Jacket and sweaters in different shades have always turned people go crazy over them. In the past few years, jackets made out of jeans were the most sought after garment and  hopefully 2011-12 winter will be no exception.

Renowned designer duo  Mona Lamba and Pali Sachdev, more popularly known as Monapali, say, "The mood of the  Monapali  Autumn Winter collection is uber-haute as Indian sensibilities tune into a western mood creating a mélange of fusion wear." Titled as ‘The Jewels of India’, Monapali through this collection pay homage to the various ornaments and jewellery of India as semiprecious stones find way into the collection. Necklines, cuffs and collars come as detachable.

Delicate embroidery, mesh work, bead work, thread work, zardozi and gota work marry hand paint, discharge print and bold graphic patterns to blend into an easy silhouette in soft sensual fabrics that form the backbone of the collection.

"A classic colour palette in muted tones comes to life with highlights in shades of wine, blue and pink," the designer duo said about their collections.

Monapali have used  colours like subtle palette in shades of grey, brown, beige and black with highlights in wine, pink, rust and blue in their designs this year.

Designer Tejas Gandhi suggests that people should wear more dull colours in their office but in the evening parties they should choose to wear  brighter and electrifying shades. "When one is going to the office, one should wear dull colours and their garments should not have flashy embellishments on them, but in the evening you can experiment with bright and shining colors, " Gandhi says.

Speaking on the current fashion statement, he says that both Adams and Eves can experiment  with textures, jackets and scarfs. He said that keeping the cool weather outside in mind, his winter collections range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000.

Fashion brand Urbana has unveiled its Autumn Winter collection that includes a new Essentials Range.

The Urbana Essential range offers Egyptian cotton shirts in a range of finishes. The collection also introduced tailored fit trousers with anti-roll waist band and anti-microbial finish. Silk cotton shirts with stain guard and mother of pearl buttons capture the festive mood of the season. Lifestyle brand John Miller launched its Autumn Winter Collection 2011. John Miller has introduced an extensive ‘All-blue signature line’ keeping in mind the young professional. "These shirts are all about colours with character, ‘yellow’ for creativity; ‘purple’ for royalty and luxury; ‘blue’ for precision, ‘black’ for bold statement; ‘green’ for harmony and growth and ‘red’  for confidence," an official spokesperson says.

In places like Kolkata or Mumbai, where Mercury generally does not slip below 7 or 8 degree mark, there light shawls and wraps are also quite popular.

Kish, a popular fashion studio in Kolkata, exhibited their new collection of stoles, wraps and shawls  recently.

Neena Agarwal, owner of Kish, says: "I tried to give a vibrant look to this year’s exhibition, ensuring that it reflects our reach heritage and culture and at the same time keep pace with the modern times."

One can also grab other popular brands like Adidas, Reebok and Peter England as they offer special winter collections to their buyers.

Adidas has brought into the market stylish woollen hoodies  priced around Rs 2199. While one can even grab a specially designed winter full-sleeved T-shirts at Rs 1700, Adidas is also offering jackets from Rs. 1899 onwards.

Reebok on the other hand is offering jackets from Rs. 999 onwards.  The woollen sweaters are also available in all the leading Reebok stores that would add to the colours of the season. Speaking about jackets, brands like Wrangler, Lee, Levi Strauss or Peter England will never lose its position in the cupboards. For women, the best bet will again be the stylish long coats and jackets. Keeping extreme cold and hammering of the wind in late nights, Brooklyn jackets and down sweaters should be the most preferred choices.

However, if you plan to visit France during the Christmas holidays, then make sure your bag contains designer scarfs and Peacoats. Without them your winter will seem dull in the elite city of the West.

Recently internationally renowned fashion designer Tom Ford unveiled his autumn/winter 2011 collection online. Besides, internationally-famed designers like Marc Jacobs, Donatella Versace and their collections have always grabbed the attentions globally. So, wait no more and choose your preferred brands to make yourself ready for the chill-parties ahead in December. — TWF