the spirit of summer

and the spirit of summer

Source The Daily Star

Ah! Summer in Dhaka. The wondrous, whimsical days juxtaposed with heat waves, rooftop parties, sudden downpours and casual gatherings. While unbearable humidity in the air makes our bodies restless and agitated, happy encounters with friends and family satiate our minds and souls.
When the weather outside is rather unpredictable and largely uncomfortable, choice of clothing is crucial in determining one’s state of mind. The shalwar kameez is a highly versatile, not to mention stylish option that allows a greater degree of creative liberty and freedom. Depending on one’s needs it can be dressed up or down to stunning effect.
What’s more, it is an ideal solution for the evening as some people tend to find saris cumbersome and bulky in the balmy, stifling heat. It can be safely said that the shalwar kameez is the blue jeans of South Asia!
Whether it is a day packed with manic meetings followed by dinner plan with friends, or the weekend with casual gatherings followed by an elegant soiree, the shalwar kameez is your best friend.
Casual wear
Hot days of summer forever conjure an image replete with a spectrum of light, pastel shades in our minds that are soothing, elegant and comfortable. This year candy shades in lighter avatar are all the rage. Bright, juicy hues of mango, pistachio, popsicle orange, fuchsia and lemon are fun, fruity and fresh.
These shades have been given a facelift by toning down the brightness by a few notches. Suffice to say that the result is invigorating and very summery. In terms of fabric, linen, cotton, cheesecloth and voile are quintessential summer favourites as they allow the skin to breathe.
There has been a major shift in cuts, patterns and designs this year. Long, flowing silhouettes of last year have been replaced by kameezes of mid-length that are not too long or short. Uneven hems continue to enjoy their moment in spotlight. For everyday wear, sleeves can be made short due to the heat; variations in designs such as puff sleeves, tulip and Maggie sleeves can be used. Another cut that is quite stylish and fun is the Pakistani shirt or kurta, as we call it. It is basically a long tunic that is typically worn with leggings or skinny jeans, has high collar and full shirt sleeves that can be buttoned up at the elbow.
A fashionable option that stylish women in Dhaka are quickly embracing, a kurta can see you through from day to night. While store bought kameezes are great you can try coming up with your own designs to add personalised touch. It also sets one apart from the crowd. Places such as Gawsia, Chandni Chawk and Pink City among many others are teeming with beautiful fabrics, embellishments and other trinkets that if used creatively, can provide stunning results.

Evening wear
The nights of summer are long, sultry and magical. In order to add to the glam quotient of evening wear, flowing fabrics such as georgette, chiffon, crepe de chine and muslin are wonderful options. Such fabrics look ethereal in pastel shades and sparkling embellishments such as rhinestones, beads, stones and sequins elevate it to the next level. Empire-line, sweetheart necklines and V-necklines look wonderful with stonework. You can also opt for darker colours at night when it tends to be cooler.
Deep hues of aubergine, plum, mustard yellow and azure are very hot this year. If colour is your focus, go easy on the bling. A jewelled brooch or stonework swatch is more than enough. Bias cuts, uneven hemlines and A-line long dresses are perfect for the night. Gown-style dresses are also very hot and stylish. You can experiment with sheer sleeves or go for sleeveless dresses too. They can be worn with Capri pants or ‘churidaar shalwars’. Throw in a pair of high heels to heighten the glamour!
Shalwar style
For a while the usually ignored shalwars are having a moment. There was a time when women everywhere preferred the loose, billowy shalwars but that mindset has changed. There is a plethora of styles to choose from, depending on your kameez.
Churidaar shalwars are narrow, extra long, slim-fit pants that gather around the ankle in folds are perfect with form-fitting, long kameezes, gown-style dresses and kurtas. Patiala shalwars have heavy, draped folds on a loose, harem-pant like silhouette. They go well with kurtas, mid-length kameezes and are perfect for casual wear.
Capri pants or straight shalwars are narrow, long pants with no fold or drapes and complement long kameezes, dresses and gowns. This one is quite versatile as it can be worn with both casual and evening wear. There is also the sharara shalwar, which are basically culottes or wide leg pants typically worn with long kameez, gown and evening dresses.
It can also be worn during the daytime as they are loose and comfortable. A lot of women prefer to wear leggings in solid colour with kameezes and kurtas these days. It is a very easy thing to wear; due to its stretchable nature it allows movement and comfort.
The shalwar kameez is a highly customisable, flexible attire that can be anything you want it to be. Keeping comfort and weather in mind it can be designed in a myriad of ways and is almost always a sartorial success. This summer make up your mind, let your creative juices flow and wear a beautiful piece that will make you the object of everyone’s envy!