Are you ready for the return of maximalism?
Although it took an American drag queen to release maximalism in me, India has always had a shade in the wool for maximalism. Think of Charhvan juttis strongly embroidered from the Mughole era, kanpashas in finely formed gold (large ear studs) of Bengal or the relaunched omnipresence of the Parandi Punjabi (hair ornament). Elaborate accents infused in clothing and accessories have survived time and escaped bridal trousseaus and on festive occasions recently to make their way in daily cupboards. Bollywood celebrities like Ranveer Singh, who recently told me how much he likes to wear the diamonds of his grandmother with his silk shirts, with my friend who associates her denims with his father’s chikankari, we find our way to rich ornaments. But it is not only DESS that are impatient to rebuild a maximalist vision for the future.
The charms of the adorned bags and the heels of embellished sneakers are adventures of international tracks in the streets. Browse your favorite fashion editorials and your style blogs and you will find that almost everyone is on board with gold jewelry stacked on ancient silver or decorate their everyday neutral with daring pins. The beginnings of Alessandro Michele in Valentino, bathed in peas, brocade and steering wheel in Gogo, was another sign than the domination of quiet luxury decreases. Recall the Autumn 2024-25 collection of Marc Jacobs with structured jackets dipped in matching buttons and the details of Prada BDSM, trompe l’oeil belts and UFO-shaped straw visors (thank you, Raf Simons) in its Spring / Summer 2025 show, and it is sure to say that this Tide will continue to lift.
