Out with the old and in with the new. The New Year is a perfect time to retire some of our old ways and move forward with fresh ideas. Dear fashion, it’s time to say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016. Here is a roundup of fashion trends that you should welcome and bid adieu to in 2016.
TOP 2016 FASHION TRENDS
GOODBYE: Beards & Man Buns
Man buns and beards bag the numero uno spot in this goodbye list. This particular men’s hair trend has evolved into a bothersome cliché and it’s best to chop off the hair before you draw comparisons to a relic that was excavated. Men’s fashion blogger Uday Shankar advises on rather steering clear of this trend. “Top knots look great on some people and it certainly helps in radiating a hipster vibe, provided you have the body to carry it. However, the trend has passed its prime. Traction alopecia is not worth it,” he says.
HELLO: Textured Curls
Textured curls are ideal for Indians with existing curly and wavy hair. Draw inspiration from voluminous versions of Matthew McConaughey and wear it with baseball caps under the hot Indian sun. For formal settings, give your hair a vintage revival with refined pompadours and idiosyncratic side parts.
GOODBYE: Kardashian-Jenner Clan-Inspired Makeup
Kim Kardashian, Kendall and Kyle Jenner sparked a social media movement that seriously influenced fashion and beauty trends in the year that was. The #KyleJennerChallenge on Instagram resulted in women using water bottles as suction devices to make their pout plump, often ending with bruises. “2015 saw teenagers and young women passionately facsimile contouring and highlighting inspired from the Kardashians,” says Suresh Menon, makeup artist at MAC. Contrary to popular opinion, there’s nothing extra special about a bloated pout, and it’s unrealistic to presume Kim’s contouring will suit every facial proportion.
HELLO: Statement Lips
Suresh Menon hints at letting the lips do all the talking. “Keep it bold and fresh in vibrant shades of burgundy, crimson and oxblood. Experiment by using lipsticks in multiple hues to create a new shade. Tone down the rich hues by opting for a satin or matte finish instead of gloss,” he suggests.
GOODBYE: Sheer Saris
Over the years, Bollywood has established the notion that a sari is sensual and alluring only when it is crafted in see-thru fabrics. The fact that Indian film songs feature actresses wearing see-thru chiffon saris even in frozen snow-covered landscapes go on to establish how Indian film industry is obsessed with sheer saris. We are bored of celebrities playing hide-and-seek games donning a sheer sari. The concept is old and definitely needs to stop in 2016.
HELLO: Alternative Ethnic Silhouettes
Quirky mix and match of ethnic silhouettes with contemporary separates is the hottest trend for 2016 in Indian fashion circuits. “We can hopefully look towards to more fit-and-drape silhouettes as seen in Tarun Tahiliani’s show earlier this year. It’s time that Indian wear borrowed some from our provincial drapes,” says Anuradha Prasad Dhawan, chief designer at Anu PD. Anuradha has transformed the traditional anarkali into lehenga gowns for alternative style solutions in her latest collection.
“One 2016 trend that I absolutely love is the innovate interpretations of the sari. From pairing it with pants and jackets to dhotis and jumpsuits, there is a lot to explore in 2016,” says Amena Azeez, fashion blogger at Fashionopolis.
GOODBYE: Over Accessorising
In 2015, the market was flooded by accessory stores for men, both online and offline. “Thanks to Instagram, men have been accessorising their suits with a tie, a pocket square, a tie-pin, a brooch and pop colour socks – all at once. Men need to leave behind over-accessorising and play it smart and elegant instead,” says Tejeshwar Sandhoo, fashion blogger at Blueberry Blackout.
HELLO: Minimal & Statement Accessories
2016 calls for a refined and minimal take on accessories. “Minimal and statement accessories are something which women have come to terms with finally, and I think men should too. Wear one single accessory and let that bring together your whole outfit, instead of going for ten different pieces in the same ensemble,” adds Tejeshwar.
GOODBYE: Excessive Prints
“Clothing and accessories are oversaturated with prints for the past few years, and I have started to miss good, old, solid colours,” complains trend analyst and fashion blogger Amena Azeez. From cute and adorable minion graphics to delicious pineapples motifs, prints have stayed around for a while and the New Year gives us the perfect excuse to leave behind clothes featuring excessive prints.
HELLO: Tonal Looks
“Runways have been embracing head-to-toe tonal looks, and the trend is set to hit the streets in 2016. Whether you go with a cool grey outfit or a more refined navy, make sure to experiment with texture,” says Uday Shankar, fashion blogger at Stranger in Suede. For women, Amena Azeez takes inspiration from Gucci’s past collections. “I would love to colour-block solid gemstone hues in 2016. Rich jewel tones in different silhouettes and fabrics paired together is a breath of fresh air, especially after the prints trend in continuum for several years now,” she says.
GOODBYE: Skinny Fit
Over the past decade, slim-cut trousers not only ruled the Indian ramp and streets, but also made their way into the menswear repertoire. While skinny fit is no longer viewed as a feminine concept, it is, however, an outdated concept in 2016. Tapered trousers have seemingly passed their prime, and you can safely pack them and make additional space in your wardrobe.
HELLO: Flared Trousers
The flared trousers trend, which began in the 2015 runway, is all set to trickle down big into the streets this year. It is time for your legs to breathe in comfortable trousers. Nitika Bhatia, fashion blogger at The Shopaholic Diaries, advises on wearing flared trousers in high-waist style. “I would like to welcome high-waist denims, which we have forgotten in the low-waist denims rage. They instantly tone down the mid section and visually lengthen the legs, thus working well with the hottest crop tops,” she says. Luxury journalist and blogger Riaan George, however, dispels the need for Indian gentlemen to wear flared trousers. “One fashion trend I’d like to say goodbye to in 2016 is the broad trousers. Lamentably, the broad trousers have been announced as a key trend for this year. I find it irrelevant to Indian gentlemen, and I certainly hope we can steer clear of this trend,” he says.
