Fashion is taking a leap backwards this season. The trends that were hitting fever pitch a few decades ago are now back in vogue.

Shirts have lost a few yards and we are back to a more streamlined look, although the cape rears its head here and there. The war between straight and flared pants wages on fiercely, leaving us reeling in its wake. Dupattas are edging their way into the market but only if they truly outshine the outfit.

The higher you are on your toes the trendier you seem to be, whether it is wedges you sport or teeter on pencil heels. The ’80s are peeping through everything but with a distinct 21st century spin.

Borrowing bits from the past, revamp your wardrobe this Eid

The chikan and the gota: a happy marriage!

The internet market place is flooded with chikankari and nets, along with the usual replica and original lawns vying for the customer’s attention.

Online trends are representing the physical marketplaces of larger cities. If one ever grew up in the ’80s or ’90s and attended a wedding, one knows that stepping into a clothing store these days takes you down memory lane.

Especially with Eid around the corner, shirts are worked with exquisite gota and tilla and not just minimally. The new-age spin seems to be a form of gota that has been smashed and flattened into a more demur look. The gota when teamed up with chikan kurtis is sending women to the moon and back.

Tulip meets tunic

Phulkari, a form of embroidery originating from Punjab, which had once been restricted to shawls, is the hot new trend. It has overtaken our shirts, trousers as well as dupattas. One look that has broken the internet, ever since it appeared in a local weekly glossy, is the phulkari straight pants with beaded edging and the white chikan kurta, accompanied with khussas. What we knew as the dhoti shalwar, back in the day, has now been trimmed and toned down to a ‘Tulip’ shalwar. The tulip seems to be the ‘haute’ choice of ladies this season and is particularly seen worn with a short tunic, which is the 21st century lingo for a kurti.

Khussa craze!

Who would have thought that a jewellery trend from yesteryears would make a comeback on our feet? Kundan embellishments on khussas have been the rage for the past couple of months and it seems to be reaching new heights. They are paired with kundan anklets for that final cherry on top. The humble khussa is now the pride and joy of trendy toes all over town.

Truck art!

Since we are talking about interesting fashion mixes, pulling one thing from one year and something else from another era, here’s one that has motored into hearts of shoppers and revved up their engines to full throttle. Truck art is appearing on footwear!

These are generally one -toed Kohlapuris or the Peshawari chappals that were thought to be only a man’s domain. The vibrant colours match perfectly with the clothing trends today, whether you choose to be a summer butterfly with every colour of the palette on your wings, or decide to rock the pre-dominantly cooler white / pastel look that seems to be appealing to a lot of the fairer sex.

What colour do you choose?

Rich bold colours are in, both for make-up products and couture but they are being teamed with pastels and whites. The stark white kurti is sought after, but women seem to find the need to splash a little colour with it. The summer months don’t allow you to go for one hue from head to toe, and therefore digital print shirts are a riotous rainbow that every fashion conscience soul is opting for. Figurines, architecture, transport, landscapes; you are now allowed to make an artistic statement by donning a print as creative as a designer can concoct.

Here’s a look at what the who’s who will be seen wearing this Eid:

“I will be sporting a tulip shalwar embellished with lace, with a sleeveless, white, embossed kurta.”

— Freiha Altaf

(owner and C.E.O of Catwalk Productions)

“I like to wear traditional clothes on Eid. This time the old fashioned shalwar kurta look has come back in vogue. In fact, lately various types of bottoms have become really trendy like the tulip, dhoti and Patiala shalwar and the Dhaka pajama as well as ghararas. I will be wearing a plain cotton gharara with a white kurta and a long, worked dupatta.”

— Tehmina Khalid

(C.E.O Take II Magazine)

“My favourite trend this summer is the shorter shirt with a tulip shalwar. It looks classy yet fun at the same time.”

— Mehvish Hayat

(Model/Actress)

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, June 26th, 2016