It’s the time to disco: Summer 2018 is all about a shine-on closet...

Do Spring Summer 2018 collections signal 80’s revival or is it fashion set’s way of showing to the world that when the going gets tough, the tough get sparkling? Guess, it’s a bit of both. One look at the pap images pouring into our inbox and one can deduce that our B-Town beauties aren’t shying away from sporting head-to-toe bling. A few weeks ago, Karisma Kapoor was seen in a metallic colour blocked number and Dia Mirza channelled her inner mermaid in a fully-beaded silver gown. Disha Patani looked smoking haute in a one-shoulder copper toned number and Waluscha Desousa looked every bit the Miss Metallica in a gold body-con outfit.

Also, at the recently concluded Paris Fashion Week, Balmain sent out a metallic pantsuit and Maria Grazia Chiuri at Dior glammed up her sportified femininity with a disco finish. Always up for heavy-duty bling, Dolce and Gabbana showcased a sequinned sheath onesie with their signature florals and Paco Rabanne’s runway was glittering with endless sparkling pieces. Tom Ford raised the hemlines dangerously and sent out micro mini versions of party dresses exuding unapologetic va va voom. Donatella Versace, who eclipsed Milan Fashion Week with an emotional tribute to her late brother Gianni, had the supers sashaying down the runway in liquid-like chainmail dresses. Let’s speak to designers on what they make of this blingtastic hurricane.

NOTHING TO DO WITH TRUMP

One’s likely to conclude that is it fashion’s response to the current socio-economic turmoil in the US and its impact across the world? Designer Nimish Shah of label Shift disagrees. “I don’t think that Donald Trump has anything to do with it. It’s a sub-cultural offshoot. We want a bit of sparkle in our closet. Taking a departure from the organic wave, now there’s a shift towards glamour.

Having said that, the disco trend has been around for a while and we did it four years ago,” he observes. He adds, “It’s also about the spirit and essence of the ‘it’ girl everyone is talking about. Now she likes a bit of shine.”

IT’S A SEASONAL THING

Every decade sees minimalism and maximalism making a comeback and this season it’s all about enjoying the nostalgia. When in doubt, bling it out — seems to be the style mantra.

Designer Arpita Mehta sees it as a seasonal thing. “I see it coming out of nostalgia. Having said that, it’s always been there, in India, it’s a staple. We love our shine,” says she.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

A lot of fashion experts attribute it to the cerebral sexiness and magpie aesthetic making a splash from the runways to the racks. Labels like Ashish UK, Gucci and Manish Arora have toyed with it in their own handwriting. Designer Surily Goel is all for Disco. “Gucci has done super sequinned and sparkly pieces and also in lame fabric. Manish Arora has always done it too,” she says.