You won’t need a stylist after this

The biggest Spring/Summer trends off the catwalks of Milan, Paris, New York and Mumbai, and how to sport them

Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Spring-Summer 2011, Mumbai.
pics/Satyajit Desai,u00a0 Rane Ashish, AFP photos

The spotlight is on the length
The silhouette is long, and there's no escaping it. The boyfriend trouser is skirting the floor, as is the evening gown in flimsy chiffon. And you have the biggest names in international fashion covering you up. Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, D&G... the list is just as long as the new hemline.

Here are a few quick tips on how to wear it long: If you are short, avoid flared maxis. Keep the silhouette long but close to the body. Pair it with wedges so you get a bit of a lift in height anyway. And don't just think maxi. Jumpsuits, bell bottom-style denims, printed skirts ufffd the world is your oyster.

Shoes on your feet: wooden platforms & clogs
Stand tall. That's the simple mantra this season. Platform wedges are big (you know it when Fendi, Alexander McQueen, Charlotte Olympia, Mulberry, French Connection and Dolce & Gabbana vouch for it at their shows) as are wooden clogs. For the Indian woman who doesn't stand as tall as her Western counterpart, this news is sweet music because it means instant lengthening for your pins without the discomfort that a pencil heel gifts you.

Bold prints & dizzy stripes
British designer Stella McCartney showed flowery spring dresses carrying happy blossoms and juicy citrus fruits in a line dominated by garden print designs. This was in Paris in October 2010. This Friday in Mumbai, Bangla boy Sabyasachi Mukherjee stuck to an equally joyful bold print theme, making his models wear saris and A-line maxis in neon green, orange and electric blue, plastered with giant flowers.

Corporate cuts that ooze sexy
There can't be a better way to say you mean business, and tease. Corporate cuts in sexy, flimsy fabrics are the hot new at-office trend, provided of course, you work in a liberal enough set-up. Else, it's good enough for ogling at anyway.
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And the colours of the season are:
It's a time of extremes. You either take inspiration from Jil Sander and Marc Jacobs and go pop, or turn to the other end of the colour spectrum and stay clear white. Valentino, Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Bottega Veneta, and back home at Lakme Fashion Week, Vivek Karunakaran and Sabbah Sharma experimented with white.

Accessories on your wrist: bangle stack
This trend is going to go down well with Indian women since bangles are a part of our traditional sajna-dhajna anyway. The idea is to go bold, and stack them up. Vivienne Westwood chose them in enamel, while Lacoste had the models pick white plastic discs. Sabyasachi Mukherjee doled out enough of them for each model to wear them to her elbow!

In your hand: Shrunken bags
Forget giant clutches and sprawling hobos. The bag has shrunk enough to fit into your palm. De-clutter and keep it simple, ladies. Your inspiration: Emporio Armani, Valentino, Givenchy and Derek Lam.

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