THREAD'ing through spring

Looks like runways are now the new gardens for this is where the flowers are in full bloom! It’s no longer floral prints for designers who are giving the flower power a new twist. In what’s one step further from Gucci-inspired embroidered patches, this season, it’s time to add a hint of spring to your wardrobe with floral embroidery and appliqués.

Being dubbed as edgy, believe us when we say that there’s nothing this trend hasn’t owned yet – from pinstriped and poplin shirts to luxe satin bomber jackets, elaborate lehengas and capes, crisp kurtas, boyfriend jeans, leather skirts, bags, loafers and belts even!

“Embroideries have been called the craft of two hands and have always found their way in fashion across the globe since ancient times. They are further notorious for making the garment special as the tradition of handcrafting goes a long way,” says city-based designer Runa Ray, drawing upon its history.

On international runways, floral appliques like this sensational, head-to-toe number by Alexander McQueen is adding to the popularity of the trend.

Now that this embellishment is becoming more industrial and mass produced, Runa notes that designers are trying to fight fast fashion houses – especially those that copy products off the runway.

“When one increases the intricacy of the style and surface development, it makes it more difficult for a fast fashion house to copy it and mass produce such pieces of intricacy,” she says about a similar sentiment that echoes in her own line of hand embellished motifs, each with its own story, showcased at the New York Fashion Week recently.

According to Bengaluru-based fashion blogger Nilu Yuleena Thapa, this is a classic. “I bought a suede skirt with bold floral embroidery a couple of years ago because it looked unique. Its novelty and possibility to style in many different ways is what makes the piece versatile. To me, the embroidered floral trend is a perfect combination of feminine meets edgy,” she says.

Your safest bet to dipping your toe in this trend is an embroidered jacket. “I see myself wearing a floral embroidered biker jacket with skirts, denims, and even a simple dress that highlights the embroidery,” adds the blogger at Big Hair Loud Mouth.

Whether it’s wool and suede (as seen on Nilu) or leather, suede and cotton ala fashion influencer Olivia Palermo, mixing textures with embroidery is another great way to experiment with this trend.

For a classic combination with a twist, marry a crisp white shirt with a pair of embroidered high-waisted jeans. Since adding texture is another way to make this trend stand out, how about pairing a black silk shirt with an A-line embroidered, velvet mini? Want to go casual chic? Layer a shirt with floral motifs under a suede shirt and polish the look with leather pants. 

A process in which additional fabric is sewn onto a design, creating a decorative 3D effect, floral appliqués are now making a comeback too. And in terms of styling, they follow a similar rule.

“Make it the centre of your outfit and work around it. If your jeans have appliqué detailing, opt for a neutral top and very edgy shoes to draw attention downwards. If it’s a top or kurta, then pair it with a bright colour which contrasts with the colour of the applique to make it look visually appealing,” says city-based stylist Nishka Guleria Naidu, deriving her aesthetic from designers such as Alexander McQueen, Ralph Russo and Paolo Sebastian. Guess it’s time to sew up spring then!