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PICS: What you SHOULD be wearing this summer

The summer-resort 2013 edition of the Lakme Fashion Week offered some insights into what you can expect to see in the stores this summer.

When it comes to fashion, nothing resonates more with my heart than Lakme Fashion Week.

The best thing about the show is that you can never second-guess it: the collective creativity brought to the table is too dazzling, and manages to surprise you every time!

Well, the 2013 edition was no different. From traditional dresses to ultra-fashionable cuts, from unassuming faces to bedazzling celebs, the event had it all.

Sudnya Shroff is an artist, designer and writer. Her debut novel Unraveling has just been released in India.

Celebrating Mumbai

Spotlights that stole the show

While I expected the designers to play safe and stick to the traditional motifs related to summer/resort, I was not prepared for the exciting potpourri. This time experimentation was bolder than ever. Perhaps it's a precursor to groovy summers!

What sticks out for me is Archana Kochhar's collection Mumbai Checkmate. It was fun and refreshing, with inspirations that reminded me of a cross between Sabyasachi and Masaba.

The Mumbai skyline and BEST buses as thick borders were stunning and my creative favourites. Talk about finesse!

But that's not the whole reason. I found the collection extremely wearable, with fabric choices perfectly suited for the coming season. (More from Archana Kochhar's collection here!)

Earning your stripes

Another memorable one was Archana Kumar for Swapnil Shinde in animal print. The design was outrageous and mesmerizing at the same time! (More from the show here)

But I must confess I'm not a great fan of animal prints, despite their obvious popularity and diverse synergies.

Futuristic fashion

Another outrageous design was Arshia Ahuja in a futuristic outfit by Siddharth Aryan. The themes kept changing day to day dramatically, leaving everyone at the edge of their seats.

Did anyone say Tweety?

As far as I'm concerned, the roller-coaster ride has left me satiated and yet yearning for more. Oh, and while we are the topic of more, let's try to play the oracle and look at the expected trends this season!

Upcoming trends

So what trends can we expect in the coming days? To be honest, it's anybody guess! But the Lakme Fashion Week did give us a peek into the unknown.

First of all, I found the return of canary yellow very soothing. It's the colour for this season: it suits all complexions, and is an ideal substitute for red when used with black and white. Come summers, and I'm sure this trend is going to be on the rise!

Go palazzo!

Another expected trend is palazzo pants, which are quickly gaining on skinny jeans.

At the same time, wide-legged/flared pants instead of tights and chudidars may find themselves trending to popularity in the coming months.

Not only do these form comfortable options during the hotter summer months, they are flattering on many body types if complemented with heels or platforms.

Crossing the border

There's something else I can't ignore. Thick patterned borders combined with solid fabrics both in western as well as eastern wear also seems to be a rising popular trend.

Looks like the choices are going to get better and better.

As far as fashion innovation and variety are concerned, the Lakme Fashion Week 2013 didn't disappoint. I look forward to a much more enriched and flattering wardrobe this summer!