Have you got the sartorial ‘flare’?

Size zero may be the body type that’s in, but slim is not in when it comes to pants. Loose, wide, baggy, flare are the operative fashion words this season and Mumbai’s fashionistas sure seem to be having a flair for them. Pun intended!
Remember the pallazo pants of the late nineties (more commonly called parallels) and the bell-bottom flare jeans of the retro era? Well, these baggy-as-ever bottoms are quite the rage now, be it in trousers, pants or jeans.While some wear them for their extreme comfort levels, others flaunt them for their cool quotient. Whatever the reason, big is beautiful right now!
“Personally, I love the look. But it better suits the Western body type; the Indian body type is genetically hip-heavy. You’ve got to be tall and thin to carry off the look with style,” says designer Anita Dongre, adding that there are a number of variations to the look. “The baggy look goes well with high-waisted and natural-waist trousers, but not with low-waisted ones.” Designer Lina Tipnis, who feels wide bottoms are going to hit the next season’s runways big time, finds them bearing a certain resemblance to the hip trousers of the 80s. “High-waisted trousers that are pleated at the waist are going to make a huge comeback. Fluid fabrics like satin that add a subtle flow and rhythm to pallazos will also be associated with this style. Trousers too are going more flare rather than having the straight fit,” says Lina.
The fashion verdict is in — “Flare is definitely in this season,” affirms designer Arshiya Fakih, “be it in bell-bottom jeans, divided trousers with the look of a skirt, or parallel pants. The retro feel and look is coming back into fashion.” Fashion forward with a blast from the past!