The sea waves are splashing all over summer fashion. And making the ‘coolest’ style statement of the season is simply a matter of indulging in an aquatic exploration.

“It’s no secret that as the temperature takes an upward surge, all things watery have a soothing effect. No wonder a stylish underwater dive is earnestly prescribed by most fashion pundits. And the flora and fauna that exist there count in the inspiration list. On a specific note, a strappy short length summer dress in white, flaunting star fish or sea horse prints in aquatic shades can make a cool picture on a sunny day. And remember, there is no fashion diktat that restricts the sea view to an understated look. In cocktail hours, maintain the colour code in sequinned short dresses for that touch of sparkle. Endorsing a fishtail skirt or gown is another innovative way of embracing the trend,” suggests designer Indrani Ghosh.
Designer Rajat Tangri quells all doubts about the perfect aquatic palette and says, “The name states the obvious, and in tune with that, tones of blue overlapping with green should dominate the theme. The prints too walk on similar line, with lots of abstract ocean inspired prints along with water world inspired embroideries.”
Rajat likes to keep the silhouettes fluid, yet he is not averse to the idea of introducing some diversions. “Experimenting structure with fluidity might be interesting. For instance, in my marine-oriented collection, organic natural shapes and forms made their presence felt in a big way. Use of unusual materials like actual sea shells and mother of pearl in embroideries might add an interesting twist to the theme. To maintain the balance of the outfit, it needs to be done in moderation.”
“The essence lies in depicting the ocean depth, while all shades of blue and sea green are welcome, accommodating corals, aqua, transparent white and teasers of neon colours will definitely enhance the view,” feels designer Arpan Vohra.
Delving further, he adds, “For embellishments, clusters of pearl shells with chords of threads, matt sequin look with coral, plus aqua beads, star fish motifs, sea horses and pebbles of various shapes in colours and sizes make up great prints and textures. The best part is the oceanic style can happily settle in both the eastern and western fashion world. My personal preference will be bringing out the theme in boat neck shape tops, one-shoulder dresses, palazzo pants, flouncy skirts and flowy transparent maxis. Accessories too remain a sea affair with 3D objects in shape of shells, star fish and oyster shape buckles, keeping the styling clean, crisp and minimalist.”
Staying with the aqua-marine mood, designer Priyanka Rajeev is letting the desi flavour do all the talking. “It is generally perceived that water kingdom is best created in westerns. On the contrary, I have let it sneak into saris, given the large canvas, the end result is stunning,” she shares.
She sums up with a trendy view, “Turn the fashion pages and you will discover, whether it’s a Versace, a Stella McCartney, Chanel or an Anna Sui, at some point of their creative journey, they all have been in love with the water world.”