LITTLE WHITE DRESS Ethereal and angelic, the little white dress has finally come out of the ‘darker’ shadows. Gaining popularity as a hot favourite at P Diddy’s annual white party parties and Kingfisher calendar launches, the LWD is making its own style statement. Lace- trimmed, crochet-edged or in its flirty cotton avatar, it has become a wardrobe essential. To be paired with chunky metallic bangles, wooden wedges and a perfectly airbrushed bronzed glow for the resident St. Tropez look.
	BARE BACKS Red carpet hawks will swear there has been a paradigm shift. Just a sexy cleavage or long legs isn’t enough; a well toned and tanned back is the asset to flaunt. The mood is more suggestively sexy and romantic. Recently, Jennifer Lopez made a dramatic entry in a flowing Marchesa gown with peekaboo crystal strands across her back. Indulge in a body polish to make that silken Gauri-Nainika gown or jewelled back choli the ultimate tease.
	ANIMAL PRINTS Some say animal is the new black. It sure seems like it, going by the number of celebrities courting it on the red carpet. Go for tighter prints like cheetah and leopard as the larger scale ones are harder to pull off. Paired with neutrals or bold solids, they definitely turn heads. For a tamer look, opt for animal print accessories from Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli.
	BIG WHITE TOTE Several oversized bags are in the running for the ‘it’ bag of the season. With summer around the corner, the white tote seems to be the strongest forerunner. Roomy, stylish and understated, the big white tote scores on all counts. Teamed with bright floral bikinis and batik wraps, Aigner and Bottega Veneta white totes are ideal for lugging around all those sunscreens, leave-in conditioners and spur-of-the- moment souvenir buys.
	CHUNKY BANGLES Metallic, enamelled or in bright colours. Wooden, plastic or dressed up with kundan. Chunky bangles come in all textures and shades. A perfect pick-me-up for an ordinary outfit, a bunch of these stacked up on your arm will make sure your look is hip and trendy. Try Chanels logo-embossed plastic cuffs or for unique pieces, browse through Jamini Ahluwalia’s designs at Bungalow 8.

STILETTOS
A stiletto heel is named after the stiletto dagger, the phrase being first recorded in the early 1950s. Often associated with eroticism and implying feminine domination, the stiletto is more than just part of footwear. Worshipped by women the world over for its sex appeal, it’s a heel that wields power. Hard on the back and even tougher on the calves, investing in many more pairs of Choos or Blahniks this season will take you a long way!

BOWS, RUFFLES, BIG BUTTONS, STUDS
Flirty feminine frills and punk rock chic studs are making huge waves this season. Dior bags and shoes with elegant bows, Burberry’s frill-edged dresses and metallic-studded belts have spearheaded the look. Browse through Ranna Gill’s resort line and Nimita Rathod’s latest collection for interesting finds.

YELLOW
Reminiscent of poppy flowers that dominate the French countryside in the summer, nothing can take away from the lively vibrancy of yellow. No longer restricted only to sundresses and spring scarves, this hue has extended to shoes, hats, totes and many other fresh spring accessories. From bright sunflower to pale butterscotch, it’s undoubtedly the hot designer favourite this season on international and local designer ramps. To get in on the happy trend, look at Shantanu Nikhil’s slinky silhouettes or Sonia Rykiel’s sultry trenchcoat dresses.

SQUARE SUNGLASSES
Square sunglasses were heralded in by the new Queen Bee of fashion trends, Victoria Beckham. Distinctively known for their star appeal, these retro oversized sunglasses help enhance the look of a paparazzi-shy Los Angeles celebrity. Amongst others, choose from Marc Jacobs square shield sunglasses, Louis Vuitton ‘Obsession’ sunglasses or the ultra glam Victoria Beckham line available at Muse, Mumbai to ensure a perfectly psychedelic summer.

POP ART COLOURS
Eye catching and highly dramatic, pop art colours never disappoint in making an impression. These vivid hues are favourites with kitschy designer Manish Arora, and Bohemian chic Queen, Malini Ramani. Fast gaining in popularity, pop art colors are showing up in a variety of collections this season – Gucci and Namrata Joshipura to name a couple.

HATS
Hats are making a big statement this season. Sun hats with floral silk scarves, oversized cowboy hats with flower accessories and bowler hats in animal prints have created a riot on the runway. To add that extra spring flavour to your outfit, look to Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan and Betsey Johnson.

FUSION GEAR
Seamless fashion that transcends borders and cultures is becoming an integral part of designer repertoires. Indian designer Sonam Dubal’s signature style has always been a blend of eastern philosophy and western aesthetics with a natural development into Indo-oriental shapes like angarkhas and oriental wraps. On the international trend watch, Christian Dior’s Resort 2008 collection had a serious ethnic twist to it with bejewelled brocade cloaks, heavy ethnic jewellery and shimmery fabrics.

ONE-SHOULDER SEPARATES
The one-shoulder ensemble has an inimitable sex appeal. It could be a lovely draped toga-like tunic, a mini dress or a floor-sweeping gown. Its subtle allure takes you back to Hollywood’s golden age of glamour. Some designers team up this trend with metallic fabrics or bold colour whereas some like to keep the look Grecian and flowing. Elegant evening gowns from Falguni and Shane Peacock and dresses from Sanchita are an ideal choice.

DOGGY FASHION
Dressing your pampered pooch is no longer an innovative option but a fashion necessity. From the ultra glam to the effortlessly stylish, there’s something for every breed. Fashionistas to watch out for are Paris Hilton’s beloved teacup chihuahua Tinkerbell as well as Nicole Richie’s shih tzu Honeychild who loves her Mikimoto pearls. Louis Vuitton leashes, Burberry cashmere sweaters and Swarovski crystal tees that say ‘Diva Dog’ are just the tip of the iceberg.

FLORAL PRINTS
Floral prints are in full bloom this coming season, appearing in different colours and combinations across a variety of designer collections. On international runways, Balenciaga’s collection showcased lush, gorgeous florals while Dolce and Gabbana presented 50s style tulle dresses with hand painted abstract flowers. On Indian runways Ranna Gill’s cutwork flowers and Varun Bahls’s intricately embroidered motifs are a sure way to transport yourself to a tropical state of mind.

SOFT METALLICS
Metallics have been on the fashion trend radar for a while now, but of late they have been showing up in varied versions. Softer metallic dresses and tunics with satin edges and subtle shimmer are tremendously popular with hip stores in downtown Manhattan. For daywear, try champagne and taupe with just a little sheen coupled with white capris. For a stronger night look, soft gold or metallic grey will provide the divaesque feel. Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna for Cue and Varun Bahl have mastered the look this season.

EASY DRESSING – RETURN OF THE DRAPED LOOK
Flowing fabrics and cascading chiffons. The drape is the ultimate compliment to the female silhouette, aimed at accentuating the human form. Grecian gowns and free- flowing dresses fit the bill perfectly but the most sensual draped look is undoubtedly the sari. Ingenious masters of this craft are Tarun Tahiliani, Anuj Sharma and Arjun Saluja for their inspiring work with pleats, panels and folds.

DUNGAREES
If effortlessly casual and tomboyish is your style, dungarees or suspenders are the right choice. The dungaree is no longer a loosely shaped piece of denim sewn together. It has evolved and developed stylish variations like Nimita Rathod’s appliquéd grey and red pair. For Christian Dior’s Spring-Summer 2008, Galliano teamed suspenders with tank tops and bowler hats to lend that androgynous edge.

FUNKY HAIR ACCESSORIES
Crystal-studded hair pins, pearl and diamante hairbands and antique metal haircombs are the head turners this season. No better way to turn a bad hair day around than to glam your tresses up with some striking hair accessories. Try Swarovski and Gayatri Khanna for some distinctive hairpieces.

MINIMALIST TREND
Pioneered by fashion maestro Giorgio Armani, the minimalist trend has become an integral part of the fashion landscape. Simplistic designs with clean lines in monochromatic colours are popular for their no-fuss look. Minimalist fashion boasts of sophisticated cuts with a subtle richness that epitomizes the contemporary look. For the best in minimalist fashion, the designer to look out for is Rajesh Pratap Singh, widely known for his immaculate silhouettes and impeccable cuts.

TEES WITH LOGOS
Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s latest prêt collection had tees that reinterpreted Communist symbols. Designers are using printed logos to get an impactful social message across to audiences. The flavour for Fightercock duo Abhishek Gupta and Nandita Basu’s funky line was rebellious street wear that incorporated psychedelic and poster prints. For a more relaxed look, embellished Ed Hardy tees and the Little Miss collection by Junk Food (now available at Muse, Mumbai) are great options.

DESIGNER KIDS WEAR
Armani Junior, Burberry Kids and Baby Dior were created for the fashion-conscious kids of today. From Chloe dresses to Miss Sixty jeans and Cavalli metallic trousers, there is no trend these tots are not completely clued into. Trendsetters to watch out for are celebrity kids like baby Suri Cruise or Romeo Beckham, who wouldn’t be caught dead on camera without the perfectly appropriate outfit for any occasion. Seems like style is definitely something you need to be born with.

CRYSTAL CLUTCHES
The inspiration behind the Judith Leiber crystal evening bags came about when Mrs. Leiber ordered a gift for a friend via mail. By the time she received the parcel (a polished metal box) it had scratches all over the body. Mrs. Leiber got out her craft kit and creatively covered the entire box with gorgeous crystals. This is where it all began. From Austrian crystals to Swarovski-studded beauties, crystal clutches add the final finishing touch to any stunning ensemble.

BOLD RINGS
Big, chunky rings are here to stay. In fact they get bigger and more stylised as time goes by. Currently the accessory of choice, bold rings provide the glam quotient to any look. For a funky feel, rings with semi-precious stones like turquoise, topaz and citrine are available at stores like Curio Cottage and Bombay Electric. For more expensive bling, look at Rose and h.ajoomal.