Bold, bright and beautiful
June 6 (The Hindu) Shades of the sunshine, which we’ve always patronised, is drawing attention globally
When Queen Elizabeth II arrived for the Will-Kat wedding ceremony in a canary yellow outfit designed by Angela Kelly, little did she know that her choice of colour would become the topic of discussion. In the following weeks, there’s been more focus than ever on the colour at international events and runways.
The colour that we have patronised for decades through our kanchivarams, kotas and Rajasthani and Kutchi tie and dyes is basking in the attention. “We Indians can carry off different colours very well because of our skin tone. Everyone is talking about colour blocking (wearing solid, bright colours together) but we have been doing it beautifully. The South Indian kanchivarams have blended colours beautifully — bottle green saris with pink borders or yellows with maroon borders. The mango and mustard shades of yellow have always been popular in India,” points out designer Asmita Marwa.
This summer, the Bollywood brigade too has done its bit in promoting the colour. Aishwarya Rai, Preity Zinta, Sonakshi Sinha, Mallika Sherawat, Vidya Balan and Rani Mukherji have been spotted wearing saris and dresses in varied shades of yellow and sometimes perking up outfits in neutral shades with yellow accessories. The Cannes Film Festival 2011 red carpet had at least a handful of celebs wearing flowy, long gowns in yellow.
“The colour is not new to the West. Perhaps there is more focus on it now,” feels designer Sashikant Naidu. He feels the brighter shades of yellow suit fairer skin tones. “The tone of yellow, the silhouette and your body type must be kept in mind for an outfit. If you’re dealing with a plain fabric, you can enhance it with accessories. But if an outfit uses a lot of embroidery or a huge floral print in yellow, keep accessories to a minimum,” he advises.
Asmita feels working with shades of yellow becomes tricky for Indians who want to wear western garments. “A shirt in a canary yellow shade, for example, is best offset with a neutral off-white or beige skirt or trouser. Too much of canary yellow can make the outfit appear gawdy. Don’t carry a yellow bag or wear yellow shoes. Opt for tan bag or shoes instead. Mustard yellow, on the other hand, is easier to carry off,” she says.
Say yes to sunshine yellows till the summer lasts.
Guide for yellow
Mustard/ mango yellows are easier to work with.
Team up bright yellow with muted shades of off-white or beige.
Accessorise a yellow outfit with bags and shoes in muted browns.