Solid Style

Giorgio Armani’s’2007-08 autumn-winter collection for men had only greys, as did YSL’s collection at their last outing. From Milan to the runways of Paris, the big switch from ultra-glam Boho chic to the subdued sophisticate has happened, and now it’s the turn of our desi designers to give high bling a miss. Considering how much we love our zardosis and Swarovskis, it’s been quite a turnaround.

At the recently concluded Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, most designers went for a monochromatic colour palette from Rohit Bal’s “koyla” charcoals to Aparna Chandra’s funky fuchsias, from Deepika Govind’s deep reds to JJ Valaya and Tarun

Tahiliani’s classy blacks, from brothers Shantanu-Nikhil’s muddy browns to Dabiri’s vibrant golds and silvers. “There’s a whole lot you can do with single shades. Go for self-embroidery or tonal embossing, or have lace and net of the same colour to add a hint of glamour. Stress on the silhouettes. Use pleats, ruches, floral motifs to alleviate the monotony, and give a fuller, more layered look. You know, we tend to think of single shades as boring, but dark solid colours are really like a peaceful, silent night, devoid of Christmas trees and twinkling lights. That’s harmonious,” says Rohit Bal.