Feathers seem to be artfully festooned on the Fall/Winter tapestry. Floaty, artisanal and tactile, ostrich and marabou appendages have found favour with designers across the board, who’ve extrapolated them to create dramatic imagery. From Prada to Falguni and Shane Peacock, from Sonia Rykiel to Haider Ackermann — it’s a plume-rich canvas. 

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Miuccia accented her skirts and collars with a generous amount of plumage and also presented them as original hats. At Sonia Rykiel, they were seen on dresses and at Haider Ackermann’s offering, one saw a slew of pants entirely made out of marabou quills.

In India, Sonali Bendre-Behl hit all the right style notes at this year’s Zee Cine Awards red carpet when she rocked a feathered and beaded cape-meets-ruffled-sari look from Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. And this wasn’t a one-off outing. Designers Falguni and Shane Peacock accented their full beaded pink sari with frothy trimmings at the sari show during the Amazon India Fashion Week and also peppered the hem of their sequinned mini dresses shown at Lakme Fashion Week with tantalising tufts. However, how to wear them the right way can make or break your ensemble. We get designers and stylists to share their tips on how to nail it right...

Go minimal

A great pick for a night out on tiles, feathers always manage to inject just the right amount of theatrics to any look under the sun. According to designer Nikhil Thampi, these light accents are a great way to add some fun to your outfit and lace it with some retro charm. “Rather than going all out and dramatic with a completely feathered outfit, we would recommend wearing feathers in minimal ways. A feathered hemline for your dress or skirt, feathered cuffs on jackets or tops, or even a fun feathered accessory like a bag or neckpiece can instantly lift your look and give it a chic twist,” he suggests.

Season-less accents

If you thought feathers were ‘Fall/Winter specific’, you’re wrong. Designer Pria Kataaria Puri opines that feathers are season-neutral. “Be it the embellishments done on the waist or necklines, we’re talking about feather as embellishments, which can be worn all around the year,” says she.

Pria has toyed with them on the necklines, cuffs and belts in her collections. She adds, “A feather necklace can be worn with anything all throughout the year.” That’s a myth-buster for anyone who thought feathers were a faux pas in summer. 

Stylist Hina Oomer-Ahmed of Luxe Box asserts that feathers, when used right to accentuate a look, can instil texture, which is vital to make a statement. “Feathered skirts and scarves are a good way to complete any look but don’t overuse it,” cautions Hina. When added to accessories like neckpieces, cuffs and bags, they give a really fun element to an ensemble.

Avoid looking like a hen

Designer and stylist Eshaa Amiin observes that after fringe and tassels, which have dominated the last two seasons, ‘feathers’ are a refreshing change.  

“You could use feathers as separates in bags, feather-trimmed dresses, skirts, denims, jackets, gowns and feathers in form of jewellery necklaces and earrings. Avoid colours like pink,” she says. It’s imperative that when wearing feathers, keep the rest of the look clean and minimal and only wear one feather item in one’s look.