Fashion has reached an impasse. Anything and everything goes. When it comes to trends, no one can, at this point in time, say that a certain style is the statement of the season. Designers seem to be throwing everything they have at us and we are lapping it all up. This current situation is probably because consumers are not connoisseurs when it comes to fashion sense awareness.

In the past few years, we saw a boom in prêt wear and designer labels and we do not yet know how to separate the grains from the chaff. We all do not possess refined tastes and since we allow experimentation with our looks, those who provide for our clothing needs have an open market.

Walking from store to store or even from rack to rack in a boutique, one comes across such a variety of hemlines, sleeves, cuts, lengths and slits that selecting an outfit becomes difficult. The customer forgets that when one chooses an outfit one must also consider what looks best on their body type. No matter the body type, peplums are being adorned. No matter the height, the gharara- style trousers are a rage.

The ‘anything goes’ trend in style these days gives a chance to pick, choose and create your own individual look

“I am a working woman and buying material and getting it stitched is just not an option,” says Asma, who works at a local bank. “But it is becoming more and more difficult to get my hands on formal, simple-patterned clothing. There is a lot of choice in the market but it is tricky to pick clothes that fit into the category of ‘formal day-wear’.”

“Designers have stopped catering to specific age groups,” says Mrs Abdullah, a housewife. “I think it is very unfair that women of maturer age are not considered by designers, especially when it comes to cuts. I have seen women following crazy trends without a thought to whether it suits them or not.”

Fabrics are also being mixed and matched and there seems to be no set rule on how they are added on to attire. This is also reflected in patterns, prints and colours. There is no seamlessness to blending and matching. On the one hand, this trend makes life easy in terms of not having to look for anything to pair your shirt with your trousers, but it seems to have reached a ridiculous point when aesthetics have been given a backseat and colours and prints are paired in the most hair-raising manner.

Finding clothes that can be called simple in their silhouette is most difficult. Flared sleeves, cold shoulders, fitted and straight are all queuing up for our attention, and we are wearing everything willy-nilly, not considering the occasion or the suitablilty of the look.

“I think there is a very good blend of Eastern and Western trends in our clothing these days,” Lubaina reiterates. “But it is about the body type and not all designs suit everyone. So one must be careful when choosing what to wear and not just go for what is available.”

Hira Sayem is happy not finding trellises, trucks and birds on clothing. She says, “I have noticed that some fashion houses have gone back to their roots and are opting to veer away from the digital prints and crazy cuts we experienced a few months ago.”

One can only hope that after floundering around for a few more months, especially as lawn is being launched, designers and the design-conscious will both settle into a set form and give us a much needed respite from this confusion. Trends need to move towards practicality, rather than have everything leaning towards the whimsical and fanciful.

When asked about his opinion regarding this fluid state of fads, Kamiar Rokni, Creative Director of House of Kamiar Rokni and Design Director for House of Sapphire, says, “We are currently undergoing the ‘anything goes’ phase in fashion. I kind of like it because we are embracing our diversity and individuality. We try and provide as many options to clients/customers as we can. A smart client will take the advice of their fashion-savvy friends and confidantes before they wear a cut or style that is new to them. If they do not follow the advice given to them, then I guess they cannot be helped!”

“Very few countries are able to carry their culture in their daily wear and we are the lucky ones,” says Adil Moosajee, Owner of EGO. “Therefore, we have the advantage of doing whatever we like with it. This chaos is fun, besides which style is individual and very personal. No matter how others perceive your look, if you feel good in it, you should wear it with pride.”

Published in Dawn, EOS, February 25th, 2018