HOUSE OF THE WEEK
An abundance of space at FMI City
CERTAINLY, space is not a problem in this house – once you get there. Over the Hlaing River, 45 minutes from downtown, there is a large one-storey house in a big compound waiting for someone ready to trade time for space. ...moreFashion to tone down and smarten up in 2010
IS South Korean fashion finally on the way out? Perhaps not, but it’s certainly getting some stiff competition from local designers.
San Bauk Ya, founder and designer of Shayi fashion believes imported items in a South Korean style are failing to catch the attention of people in 2010.
“Last year, South Korean style fashion influenced young people the most, but today it is being left behind by local products. As soon as a local design is published in a journal or magazine people copy it at once. Competition between designers who are focussing on creativity and better quality is one of the important elements in the success of local design,” she said.
The latest trend is wearing long blouses together with shorts, she added. Still, leggings and cute dresses, one of the mainstays of South Korean fashion, are still popular among teenagers.
In a nod to more traditional dress, some actresses have popularised the traditional Myanmar jacket (jin boun in gji) among consumers.
“It’s not only for [special] occasions but also for casual wear,” said designer Latt Latt, adding that “short evening dresses were popular the whole year and it was very rare to see long dresses.”
Tin Moe Lwin, managing director of Talent & Models agency, thinks a more classic look, bordering on smart will become popular in 2010.
“Short jackets with short dresses will be popular for young girls whereas for middle aged women, long and light coats are more acceptable. Leggings and skinny jeans will remain in vogue,” she said.
Perhaps in response to the financial crisis, designers are also producing clothes with a splash more colour.
“I don’t know what people are thinking, perhaps that the environment is not colourful enough or people’s minds are full or tired from stress?” said Tin Moe Lwin.
While clothes may get a little brighter, she believes that make-up will get toned down, with girls choosing to apply less, go easy on the false eyelashes and pursue a more classic style. Slim bags, big sunglasses and thick high heels with complex strings on the instep will be popular although pencil heels will still dominate the catwalk, she believes.
Model Christina considers big belts the unavoidable accessory of 2009 while short dresses were practically compulsory for the fashion conscious.
“Big belts with short dresses were ideal for most of the girls. The style of wearing a big belt comes from the West. In 2009, shoes were popular among young girls and we also used long necklaces and beads as accessories, the most popular colours being gold and silver.”
She predicts that block high heels, long cotton dresses, shorts, long blouses with short jackets, and scarves will be the must have items in 2010.
But what about the boys? Actor Pyo Ngwe Soe thinks that teenage boys will continue to adopt the emo style so popular in 2009, following a year of baggy pants and jumpers in 2008. Perhaps unfairly, he believes that middle aged men will dress just the same as before, focussing on tidiness rather than style.
