Spot Light

Winter fashion forecast 2006

Photo: Rang	Make Up: Farzana Shakil, Model: Autoshi

As the mercury dips
And the wind has a nip
And there's a smell of mist and smoke in the air
Time to air out the woollies
Winter's almost here!

So what if it's getting colder, though? This week, we take a look at the fashion trends that guarantee that winter will be the hottest time of the year.

Gold Rush
As the temperatures drop, the style spectrum swings to the warmer direction with bold, bright colours to offset the coldness of the season. Warm earthen tones and natural materials are all the rage this year, the strongest colours in the palette being golds, reds, and violets.

The look this autumn and winter is all-natural, and continuing the flavour of autumn, traditional earthy tones like ochre, terracotta, scorched gold and burnt earth gain precedence, with a few bold splashes of the jewel shades of purple and rich ruby reds. You can liven up your urban charcoal greys with a splash of the brighter tones.

With both greys and gold tones found in pebbles and stones so currently fashionable, either silver grey or golden metals make a good choice for jewellery or accessory trims. Golden sequins, paillettes and beads, shimmer and glimmer on fabrics that appear to look like molten gold and sheets of liquid glistening glass. Gold is one of the season's hottest looks.

For lovers of pinks, good news; pink is still around, but it is either warmer becoming more coral/watermelon toned or more powdered and dustier toward heather/lilac.

Making the cut
This season, the ultra feminine looks of recent seasons give way to a more layered look, where different textures and a more sombre palette play against each other. This is combined with interesting manipulation of shapes. The emphasis is on volume, which is dramatic, often shocking in its surprise. This includes large collars and voluminous sleeves.

Create layers with slightly longer kurtis than last season's fotuas, worn over straight pants, or you can opt for baby-doll tops teamed with leggings. Pants are going a little baggy again, and cargoes are making a comeback with the military look still going strong.

If there is one item you want to invest in, make it a good fitted jacket. You can team it with a skirt and peasant top combination and still get some mileage out of last season's threads, or you can pair it with jeans and a tee and a scarf for more definition. The fitted jacket is a must-have for those on the bulkier side; worn in darker shades, it has a slimming effect.

The extra oomph
No outfit is complete without shoes and accessories, and the change in season has also brought in a few changes in this department.

The colder weather would make flirty sandals and skimpy shoes very impractical, wouldn't it? Go for closed shoes, and search for variety in t-bars, ankle straps, and cone heels. The wedge in animal prints makes a small comeback, but the mule has been done to death, so give it a rest.

As mentioned before, gold is what's glittering this winter, so make sure your evening wear wardrobe includes a gold clutch purse. Other than that, the bags have been slowly turning big and bulky, and more accommodating of all the must-haves a woman (or even a man, these days) needs to keep handy. Jewellery is getting big and chunky again. Go for fat bracelets and collars, and ethnic-inspired jewellery that incorporate semi-precious stones and other off-beat materials for that Boho look.

Last but not the least, winter here means weddings, and that means saris galore. Now while a sari isn't the most comfortable thing to wear in the cold, what could make it bearable is a nice matching shawl. Invest in a few colourful shawls that go with different outfits, and you can wear them either as a complement to your fancy evening wear, or just throw one over your casuals for a funky fusion look.

Whatever the trend, remember to go for what works for you. If you're feeling good about what you're wearing, that's all that really counts.

By Sabrina F Ahmad

Blame it on the weatherman

Wouldn't it be great to be able to do just and only that? 'Season change' is a root-of-all-evil term when it comes to Bangladeshi diagnosis and although it would be wonderful to just sit tight and blame all our ailments on the weatherman, unfortunately precautionary measures must be catered for if undue suffering is to be avoided. With a major change of season knocking on our doors this time of the year, following a few helpful hints is all it takes…

Since winter only lasts a month or two in Bangladesh, all forms of winter guard are usually packed away for the better part of the year. As the temperature dips, start your preparations from the very basics- bring out all the blankets, duvets, jerseys and scarves. They're not ready for use right away though; being locked away in some closet or suitcase for months on end, your blankets and clothes are bound to smell a little musty. Put them out in the sun to regain that crisp, clean feel and make sure this measure you take some time before winter approaches in full force, so that when it does, your clothes are absolutely fit to wear.

It's not all about winter apparel however. One of the biggest signs that the season has changed is the effect it has on skin. Dry skin, cracked feet and chapped lips are all part and parcel of the transition from the hot and humid summers to the equally cold and dry (so much more dry than cold) winters. It matters not whether you choose to pamper yourself with an elaborate line of cosmetics our climatic region makes it inappropriate to use otherwise- lotions, foot lotions, hand lotions (yes they are categorised), or go with the plain and simple Vaseline. So long as your skin is well moisturised and you have thwarted a dry and chapped state that both looks and feels awful, your ends have been met.

Moving on from the basics, winter brings with it a newly realised demand for herbal therapy. First up, it is necessary to do away with the fridge water and air conditioner regime. As unpleasant a change as this may be, when it comes to the choice between adjusting habit and recurring colds and sore throats, you are definitely better off opting for the former. If coughs and tonsils attack you more easily than others (despite foregoing the cold water), make ample use of herbal remedies including honey, lemon, tulsi and the likes.

Since dust is another cause for concern this season, it is best to keep your nose, mouth and hair (for the hate of having to shampoo every time you go out) covered if you are on the roads for an extended period of time. This is a precaution that should be strictly emphasised by those who suffer from dust allergy.

And finally a drawback of winter that is arguably most worthy of mention: mosquitoes! Not to claim they are in scarcity throughout the rest of the year, but winter sees a very unfortunate rise in numbers. Have your doors and windows bolted tight before evening approaches, keep a selected number of plants in your balcony and make sure mosquito repellents constantly feature on your grocery list.

Ending with the first positive note of the column, it is luckily not all doom and gloom. Despite all the adversities winter hurls at us, it is simultaneously the perfect season for evening drives, long walks, outdoor bar-b-queues and of course the pithas that are a festival in themselves. So while you heed to all of the above, make sure you also enjoy winter for what it is really worth.

By Subhi Shama Reehu