Commenting on the raging war between prêt-a-porter and made to measure, Kochhar said, "Off-the-rack apparel can never replace made to measure clothes. Though some brands claim this to be true, it is not feasible."
But Abhishek and Chaitanya answered in the affirmative. Both said prêt-a-porter has good designs and affordable price tags; also, it is time saving. What is more, famous ready-to-wear brands have hired fashion designers and are churning out exclusive collections targeting upper middle-class.
Talking about how brand consciousness was affecting those in the age group of 50-60, Rao said, "People in this age group are brand conscious as they have the money to spend and are aware of what is in vogue." But Kochhar deviated from this and said the older generation still believed in dressing "simply".
It is a foregone conclusion that what you wear spells what you are. It defines the kind of lifestyle you choose. While Jattinn said fashion has become a part of life, both he and Rao surmised that people wore clothes that reflected their moods.
We asked these distinguished fashion experts to share their views on what was new in fabrics and colours. Kochhar listed natural fibres and yarns like lycra and modal as favourites. He also said wearing colours matching the season's fruits and vegetables would look trendy.
Dutta, on the other hand, said English colours and others like pista green and beige were very much in fashion. Rao preferred yellow, black and vibrant hues and bold and abstract prints as flavours of the season.
As far as the latest in accessories was concerned, Kochhar's advice is to go subtle and abstain from gaudy garnishing. He said, "Be elegant and understated." Dutta said trendy, big-size bags in various shades or digital embroidery were in fashion. Rao suggested wearing broad belts as well as belts with big size buckles.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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