Summer is around the corner and we are all prepared to step out in our fashionable best ‘summer skin’. One of the predominant trends to look out for would be sheers or the semi-transparent layering in outfits.

This trend has been waiting to erupt for a couple of seasons now, but it was truly brought to the forefront during S/S 2012. Sheers are fresh, feminine and have a lot of design potential. From texturing through surface ornamentation, beading, to layering, sheer fabrics carry a lot of personality that can be worked upon to give it a fascinating twist.
The most desirable quality about it is its feminine flirtatious feel. A see-through dress over a sexy bodysuit is quite a tease and it usually tickles an intriguing imaginative part of the brain. Being so light and delicate, sheer fabrics can also be used to create completely draped designs, with the use of techniques like ruching, smocking, fluting and gathering. Shapes like flared hems and fishtails work very well with this fabric and highlight its soft and flowy character.
Figure-hugging and clingy silhouettes also add to the delicacy of the fabric giving the whole silhouette a much more feminine feel than usual.

Ankita Chaudhry is a Delhi-based designer