Turning fashion upside down

While the world goes topsy-turvy, style is not far behind as the fashion forward step out in looks that are literally upside-down. From bikini tops to jeans to buttoned-up shirts, the flipped versions of these garments have found takers in various countries like Australia and the US. They are a hit on social media platforms like Pinterest, too. This brings us to the questions — why is this trend gaining momentum, and are we ready to embrace this new fad?

Risking exposure to appear cool

It all began with the bikini tops. Believed to be invented by Italian model Valentina Fradegrada, the wearer simply ties a knot at the top of their chest with the halter straps and separates the ‘triangle’ portion of the material. 
The biggest hiccup is that the bust is the only thing holding the top together, and is meant to give the chest area an instant lift — but there’s a high risk of exposure. The style has caught on with women Down Under, going by their posts on Instagram. NYC too is experimenting with the new cool kid on the block. The New York-based vintage shop CIE is selling upside-down jeans, which feature pockets, belt holes and seams at the base of the trousers in a one-of-a-kind design. Giving it competition in terms of style and eyeballs is the men’s button up shirt, which is also worn upside-down by tying the sleeves around the waist like a belt. The look has been copied on and off the runway to varying degrees of success - with some people complaining it’s difficult to keep your chest from ‘falling out’. We asked designers to examine the new trend and here’s what they had to say.

Aiding the recycling concept

For those game to try this new trend, designer Nikhil Thampi weighs in. He says, “The upside-down fashion is interesting and definitely has a lot of scope to deconstruct and construct a completely new silhouette. It works if done aesthetically. For me, I would be leaning more towards the upside-down denim and shirt, because that is totally my vibe. I would love to see these styles hitting the Indian street fashion soon. Celebs like Jacqueline Fernandez, Alia Bhatt or even Kangana Ranaut will be able to carry this style off effortlessly. Also, cool girls like Athiya Shetty and someone like Janhvi Kapoor from the younger generation can definitely sport this look with effortless style and ease.” Apart from being on point, the trend also aids the recycling concept. Designer Neeta Lulla explains, “I personally love this trend because it’s a gamechanger, it’s bringing a modern twist to convention. It’s also a great way of limiting the waste by the clothing industry and aiding the recycling concept. This trend won’t garner traction until it’s popularised by the fashion runway and the glossies. It gives a fresh lease of life to wardrobe basics. I feel Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan will carry off this style with panache. You need a strong personality to make this bold statement.” And while designers are unanimous in labeling it a cool trend, some looks still stand out for their shock value.

‘A cool trend v/s a fad’

Designer Arpita Mehta feels the upside-down shirt has a lot of potential. She says, “It’s a cool take on wearing a shirt differently and is also flattering, but the bikini trend is a bizarre fad and shouldn’t be taken seriously. I can see Anushka Sharma easily sport the upside-down shirt as we have seen her wear a lot of shirts and structured pieces time and again. I believe she would be able to pull this off with utmost ease.” Clearly, fashion is ready for its turn in the Upside-down phase. Are you?