The year of the lord 1996 saw the pop music band Spice girls launch their uber chic, loaded-with-latex video “Say you’ll be there”. It showcased Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham (nee Adams) famously known as Ginger Spice and Posh Spice Respectively. These two smooth operators in latex were a couturier’s dream. I was just shy of being a teenager that time and used to work my whole schedule around this number (thank god for YouTube now) just to feast my eyes on the ultra-modish fashion showcase. The desire it ensued in me as a budding fashion designer is comparable to what Schiaperellis does to my senses now. Without exaggeration I’ve feasted my eyes (and as a result ears) on this video so much that
I remember each and every lyric of “Say you’ll be there” 25 years later. Thanks to those swish garms.
As a designer there is something that lures me towards latex. We’ve seen it on Madonna and Janet. Britney did it again with her scorching vermillion full body suit. I may not display the confidence of KimK but I do envy the swagger she carries it with in the 2010 timeline. It accentuates one’s curves. It is the ability of the material to dominate singly with little or no aspiration to accessorize. It is what I call the no-guilt leather. The material just commands attention on its own. And its glossy appearance makes it score higher on the sex-appeal index.
Closer home fashion siren Malaika Arora ticked every box on how to don latex. She was recently pepped stepping out for an evening soiree in Mumbai. There was a buzz about how desirable she looked. Malla (as she has fondly called by fans) has this enviable oomph with which she carries the chocolate-y pants (we all know what dessert after dinner was). Grammers were going bat shot crazy and have not stopped talking about how sultry she looked (muting trolls) .The loose grey cable knit sweater and delicious-brown-leggings combo not only looked sexy but had a certain sophistication about it. A sight to behold she was an example of minimal-accessorizing-needed quality of latex.
Bad Girl Riri came onboard this trend bandwagon (not for the first time). A very-pregnant Rihanna sat front row at Gucci’s fall 2022 wearing a latex and lace crop-top with her belly on display. The outfit was donned unapologetically true to her DNA. Oh Rihanna how you do you!
This Y2K latex obsessive clan shows no signs of abating, it is only advisable that the fashion industry embraces the glossy medium it has proven its ‘latex-appeal’ time and over. Sexy, audacious and oozing glam, latex is de rigour but do not judge me for not wearing it.