So guess what, New Year has begun and all I have been doing interviews

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about the hottest trend this winter. I am talking about coats and jackets, boots and mufflers, and those cute colourful caps with pompoms. These are very much here to stay this season, but actually there has been a very interesting new addition to the list- trench coat dresses! Do you know that the boring trench coats, which looked drab and you hated them because they hid the stylish tunic you wore underneath, have actually been revamped!

This season, things will be very different for trench coats. These coats are the dress this season! We see the return of the classic lady-like coat, which actually means the hour-glass silhouette is back into the picture. Or actually, I should put it this way, the hour-glass silhouette influenced from the 80’s has transformed the usual trench coat into a trench dress. Clenched waists, interesting sleeves, feminine details, perhaps also shoulder pads and not to forget big buttons are all back with a vengeance.The new additions to the silhouettes are not only in the form of interesting button details, cinched-in waists, but also subtle drapes, a plethora of sleeve styles like the balloon, bell, draped, leg-o-mutton, cowl, pleated. The works!

Be it the hip-grazing swing jackets or the navy inspired double-breasted vintage jackets, all double up as smart stylish dresses this winter. Large lapel collars with chunky buttons were never more stylish. Audery Hepburn knee length flared dresses with the lapel and button details and booties are the perfect look to sport. Throw in an interesting coloured belt complete with a hand bag and what better option than cool large framed glares to add to your looks! Add those solid coloured stockings and, perhaps, a silk scarf knotted on the side.

The classic is the order of the day- subtle but contemporary. The belt plays a very vital role either way. Knotted and not buckled if you please! Individualistic prints are another important development on trench dresses. Can be all-over or a large central motif spreading across. As a matter of fact, prints are rather big this season- loud colourful and flamboyant. They are telling a story this time round as opposed to just being abstract. Lettering and text is another feature to be noticed.

Textures have never been more in focus than now- tone on tone or contrasting, subtle or three-dimensional. The less is more theory is being replayed in different formats. The trench dress is imbibing different schools of thought but playing up to every ones’ expectations. Be it on a strong western style line or with serious Indian undercurrent or even on origami lines, the trench is enjoying a vast canvas of experimentation.

Weave is one more interesting take. The hounds tooth is the most prominent weave for the season apart from the chevron, honey comb and some other interesting ones. Keep a lookout for any eye-catching bulky weave ideally in a thick yarn. Boucle in a thick and thin can do wonders for those of you who believe in the simple theory of less is more.

So what are you waiting for, with so many pointers, I would find myself making a beeline to buy myself a whole new winter wardrobe.

The writer is a fashion designer and an artist