Very Short Stories

oul king James Brown has composed a ballad to them. For a new crop of ‘liberated’ Indian women, hot pants are not simply another bold fashion statement. They are the manifestation of a confident femininity that breaks with one of our oldest taboos—baring legs. No longer are shorts seen as the worst thing a woman could do as far as “attracting attention” goes. Scores of young women are sporting designer shorts—slipping into one with as much ease as a pair of jeans—and making a heady fashion statement, choosing to wear it out on the street, at the mall and to nightclubs. Once relegated to beaches or reserved for the ramp, short shorts are moving up sartorial charts and into middle-class wardrobes in a very Indian milieu.

It’s a trend that has carried forward from last year when shorts were all the rage on the ramp, fashion pundits say. But who would have thought that it would, only a year later, take over “conservative” Indian streets? Our travel advisories still warn foreign visitors to “cover up” after all. Not everyone is surprised, however. “Social acceptance of certain trends takes time to catch on, especially in a country like India, where western fashion is not ingrained into our social fabric. But with globalisation, we think nothing of wearing what the world is stepping out in,” says Nonita Kalra, Elle editor (India). Concurs fashion designer Anita Dongre, whose brand AND has sold more shorts this summer than in any other, “It is a trend I have noticed in all my stores across metros. Fashion has a lot to do with socio-economic circumstances. India is becoming more liberal and its girls are being allowed to wear shorts now. The Indian market has finally accepted shorts.”

A happy stitch for young women like Ketki Saxena, 20, an English Honours student at Delhi University, coming to class on Monday in a white casual sleeveless top and bright green hot pants, a pair of aviator sunglasses resting on the bridge of her nose and iPod earphones tucked into her ears. “I travel mostly by car, but I wear shorts even if I’m taking an autorickshaw. I’m not self-conscious about it, but I don’t let anyone mess with me. If men on the road try to take pictures of me, I march up and ask them to delete them straightaway.” Ketki says things have changed in the last four years when she came back from the US. “Then, people would look at me funny when I wore shorts. But now, everyone wears them, even at college, including many of my friends. I still get stared at, but that happens even when I am all covered up—so shorts have little to do with it. Plus, given the scorching heat, it’s only common sense to wear shorts.” Ditto for Vrinda Prahladka, 19, also a DU student, who calls her knee-length denims a “practical choice, not so much a fashion accessory”. Her friend Aishwarya Iyer, 19, though, is careful about where she dons a pair. “The malls and upmarket areas in south Delhi are fine—but I would never go to Old Delhi wearing shorts,” she reasons.

So what really inspired the trend—high street fashion, Bollywood, or good old sartorial wisdom? “Shorts have always been acceptable in Mumbai. But they have come into vogue in the last year and the trend is catching on now. But it hasn’t been an overnight trend. It’s slowly crept into our fashion consciousness. A few people in the fashion circuit took a risk and experimented with the look and showed people how to wear it,” says model Nina Manuel. “Bollywood has always been a major influence—and now younger stars like Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra wear shorts with so much ease. Plus, with the arrival of international brands that offer a wider variety, more and more women are now adding shorts to their wardrobes,” adds Kalra. Indeed, a peek into any of the stores—high street brands Zara, Mango and Benetton are popular choices—on a weekend will corroborate the claim, with discounts up to 75 per cent. Short jumpsuits, balloon style shorts, hot pants, denim shorts—they are all undoubtedly hot property now.

n our fashion-conscious society, it would seem that traditional Indian notions of feminine beauty, where a certain mannered shyness is a key part of the mix, are giving way to newer leanings. “Shorts are being seen as the new way to stay sexy and chic. Plus, thanks to media exposure, more awareness of fashion and a change in the social structure in our society, women are more confident. With fitness being the new health mantra, Indian women are able to flaunt their toned legs,” points out Kalra. But it’s not just an avenue to put sculpted legs on show, says Payal Parija, co-author of popular fashion blog highheelconfidential.com, who lauds the versatility of shorts. “Knee shorts work best for someone who isn’t too adventurous about showing skin. Formal shorts are still a new concept but can be incorporated by way of culottes and gaucho pants.” Mumbai-based Radhesh Kagzi, president of 109 F, a popular clothing brand, who has seen an upswing in the sales of shorts since February, believes, “Wearing shorts gives women a younger feel and look.” And for the record, assures Dongre, “This isn’t just another fad. It’s here to stay.”

By Neha Bhatt in Delhi and Smita Mitra in Mumbai