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  Crochet chic

Crochet chic

| DIPTI
Published : May 13, 2016, 11:01 pm IST
Updated : May 13, 2016, 11:01 pm IST

Add a bit of bohemian rhapsody with crochet outfits that have moved beyond pristine whites and blossomed in bright and modern avatars

Creations from Emilio Pucci
 Creations from Emilio Pucci

Add a bit of bohemian rhapsody with crochet outfits that have moved beyond pristine whites and blossomed in bright and modern avatars

Remember how as a child, one of the many perks of having grandma around was getting customised crocheted dresses for summer Well, when it comes to summers, crochet like florals are still a wardrobe regular. But they’ve come a long way from gran’s lookbook. Crochet has woven itself new options this season so that you can decamp from traditional and twee.

Designer Pallavi Mohan shares, “Crochet as a trend was born in the Seventies and at the moment, its comeback is fuelled by fashion’s infatuation with that era. It has a certain retro sexiness, a little bit of a peek-a-boo magic, it is very boho chic and at the same time, extremely timeless in appeal. Rule number one is to eschew traditional altogether and embrace crochet in the true Seventies sense. But don’t be half-hearted about it or else your outfit will look just as confused as your decision-making process. It works as a festival staple too. So crop tops with high-waisted denim shorts, mini dresses with scuffed boots, crochet skirts with denim shirts are few of the go-to options. But if you want to avoid looking like a Seventies flower child, then invest in a loose-fitting crochet T-shirt and pair with boyfriend jeans and a pair of wedges.”

On the colour front, designer Ritika Arya Jain believes wearing crochet doesn’t mean sacrificing colour. “A bright pink crochet top will help you stand out from the crowd. Crochets are not confined to pristine whites any longer. For summers, you can check out options in bright colours like orange, yellow, blue, green, red, pink as well as multi-coloured variations,” she suggests.

If, however, it is those crisp hand-spun whites that are appealing to your spring/summer nature, then designer Shalini Jaikaria of Geisha Designs cautions against looking like a stiff wedding guest or a starched politico. She advises, “Add a denim shirt worn open and loose over a crochet fitted dress. Slip into a pair of flip-flops to be beach-bound, at least appearance-wise. You can also sass things up and swap that ballet flat for a heel — a block-heel mule will make for a great summer look, be it with a crochet skirt or dress. And when it comes to pattern, spaghetti straps on a floaty little dress is a lithe incarnation of the craft. Meanwhile, a shirt dress style brings new edge and masculinity and a short shift screams Sixties and can be amped up by gladiator flats.”

About its maintenance she adds, “Wash them by hand because this allows you to clean it completely without hampering the density and quality of your clothing. Don’t hang them out in the sun to dry because the exposure can lead to fading. Iron at the lowest heat setting and make sure the iron doesn’t come in contact with the yarn. Avoid hangers. Since crochet clothing is very fragile, hanging will stretch out the stitches causing damage.”

Lastly, designers Gautam Gupta and Lalit Dalmia warn against over-accessorising. Gautam shares, “Crochet gives you that classy and edgy vibe vis-a-vis its artistic detailing. So keeping accessories to the minimum will ensure that the craft work stands out. However, if you are not keen on donning an entire crochet outfit, use them as accents to begin with — like a pair of earrings.”