F A S H I O N - Surekha Kadapa-Bose (Courtesy - BTW Magazine)
Let’s go nude
Well, that seems to be the sentiment of the fashion
fraternity, smitten by the sensuousness of skin-toned colour
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“It’s the most elegant colour, and can look good in day as well as evening wear; prêt as
well as couture,’’
opines designer Krishna Mehta.
“It expresses both sensuality
and sexuality of human body,’’
comments designer Digvijay Singh.
“They are soft and express
gentleness,’’
says Dheeraj Harjani,
creative director, Aftershock.
It is not just them, but the entire fashion fraternity – both domestic and international – who seem to be smitten by ‘nude’. Nude comprises skin-toned colours, ranging from pastels to very light brown,
from light pink to anything that mirrors skin colour. Designers all over are experimenting, creating
and redesigning the fashion world in nude colours. Gowns, dresses, jackets, trousers, saris, salwar-kameez and everything else are going nude. |
International fashion giants like Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi, Gucci, Lanvin, Alberta Ferretti, Christian
Dior, Miu Miu and several others have opted to go nude in their creations. Flaunting nudes are Hollywood celebrities like Demi Moore, Eva Longoria, Halle Berry, Britney Spears, French
actor Marion Cotillard and several others, including the First Lady of America Michelle Obama. The latter attended the State dinner for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wearing a nude creation.
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Closer home, Manish Malhotra made a bold statement at the latest edition of the Lakme Fashion Week, when he dressed his models in sheer nude churidar pyjamas and colourful kameez. In fact, the pyjamas were so sheer and nude that if one didn’t notice the twinkling embellishments at the ankle, one would have thought that the models had forgotten to wear anything under their kameez. Immediately after the LFW show, Manish had said, “It’s my signature shade. There is something awfully sensuous about it. In fact, for the upcoming IIFA awards I am designing a flesh bodysuit embellished with Swarovski for Kareena
Kapoor.’’
Several Indian designers including
Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Vikram Phadnis,
Krishna Mehta, Shane & Falguni and others
have expressed their fondness for the nude. In fact, Tarun Tahiliani’s recently launched bridal couture line
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| has several bridal attires in nude colours. Heavily embellished with Zari,
Swarovski beads, the attires look startlingly beautiful and are an
attractive deviation from
usual bridal colours like red, maroon, yellow, etc. |
Tinseltown, which readily takes to global trends, has also been spotted in the nude. Recently, Gauri Khan, wife of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, was seen adorning a nude gown. Priyanka Chopra wore a nude sari designed by Manish Malhotra in the film Dostana while dancing to the number Desi girl. Kareena Kapoor has also been seen teaming nude saris with colourful blouses many a time.
“Nude colour fabric is natural and laissez-faire. It’s not a new trend. It’s seeing a revival this season. Italian fashion houses have been using nude colours for many years in their Spring/Summer Collections. In our Spring Summer ’10 Collection we |
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have jackets and skirts in nude with flower appliqués,’’ explains Harjani.
Any soft fabric can look mesmerizing in nude. Fabrics like soft silk, Tussar silk, mull, georgette, crepe, satin, chiffon, etc. can carry a nude look very well. In fact, Digvijay Singh has
designed a nude-looking apparel for a male model. |
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Chuckling softly, he says, “I made the man wear layers of clothing in pure white mull, which is a diaphanous fabric. On the chest I gave only one
layer, with the result that his skin peeped through, giving the appearance of nude.’’
On her preference for the nude, Mehta goes ecstatic: “The best thing I like about using nude colours in my palette is that most colours can be teamed up with it – be it the softer peaches, pistas, pinks or deeper yellows, oranges or reds.’’
Will nude be the next trend? Harjani is sceptical and says, “It’s very difficult to say but I think it’ll take time for nudes to appeal to the Indian market.’’
Indians may be in love with colours, but Mehta and Harjani chorus: “Indian women will surely look beautiful in nude colours.’’ |
All said and done, going nude may be trendy but then there are some rules to follow. Pick the right nude fabric and make sure the garment is not too skin hugging. Everyone can’t carry off body-hugging silhouettes, which from a distance look like the second skin. Nude attires should
drape and float away from the body. The embellishments, be it chunky neckpieces or
colourful belts, embroidery on the attire or jackets in a different colour or printed short coats, should be of a darker shade, so that the apparel doesn’t appear vulgar.
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