Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and colours this summer, but keep your body shape in mind while doing so, advises leading Italian fashion label United Colors of Benetton.
Brightening up the UAE fashion scene once again with its refreshing 2006 summer collection for women and children, Benetton forecasts that navy stripes and embroidered clothes are here to stay this season.
“The new summer collection is a melange of young ideas and fresh colours. The main theme throughout the collection is comfort with style. We are confident that the new range will appeal to the young and active, feminine and glamourous .At the same time, it will attract those with a bolder dress sense,” said Ajai Dayal, General Manager, Retail and Marketing, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group – sole distributor of the Benetton line in the UAE.
While the pencil skirt is a fashion must-have, panel and A-line gypsy skirts are in vogue too. Full-length skirts and dresses just above the ankle are also getting their share of popularity. If shorter lengths are preferred, Benetton stylists recommend cropped trousers, knee shorts or pencil skirts as alternatives.
Usage of embroidery is abundant on dresses, blouses, skirts and pants and forms a dominant part of the new summer collection. Varying from coarse and rustic to fine and delicate, to multi-coloured wools or silk threads often combined with beads, sequins and other sparkle effects.
Benetton’s latest collection also presents a wide variety of colours, ranging from white to indigo, turquoise to lime, and beige to red and brown. Fabrics include a mix of cotton, canvas, suede and linen.
Young girls have a wide range to choose from as well, including sailor trousers, miniskirts and dresses in colours such as navy and white with touches of coral and bright grass-green. For boys, there are comfortable track-suits, bright coloured T-shirts, Bermudas and zipped sweatshirts. The new summer line for children also features a wide range of clothes from the Benetton Barbie collection.
The latest range is now available at all Benetton outlets in Dubai – Deira City Centre, Mall of Emirates, and Jumeirah Centre - and at Abu Dhabi Mall.
The Benetton Group is present in 120 countries around the world. Its core business is clothing with a strong Italian character. The Group produces over 110 million garments every year, 90 per cent of which are manufactured in Europe. The group’s retail network of 5,000 stores around the world, offering high quality customer services, generates an annual turnover of 1.9 billion euros.
United Colors of Benetton in the UAE has been part of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group since 1989. The network spans three shops in Dubai (Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre and Jumeirah Centre); one in Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi Mall; and a factory outlet on Zabeel Road in Dubai.
The Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group was founded in 1960 by Chairman HE Easa Saleh Al Gurg. Today, the Group is associated with leading names such as Unilever, Siemens, Dunlop, Benetton, Osram, British American Tobacco, and ICI.
FEW STYLE TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE SHOPPING
o High collars and short necklaces tend to make your neck look shorter
o Shoes with straps make your legs look shorter
o A scarf or belt hanging downwards will make your legs look longer.
o Vertical lines lengthen the body and make you look slimmer
o Large prints can camouflage figure problems
o When buying pants make sure they fit well. Defects are emphasised in a pair of pants that might go unnoticed in a skirt.
For the petite:
o Over powering prints should be avoided. A slight contrast in colours and fitted clothes will flatter your body.
o Use fabrics that are soft and flowing to compliment your small size
For the tall:
o Tall women can indulge in wide belts
o Avoid very tight clothes and skirts that are too short or too long, they will make your body look disproportionate.
Hip heavy triangle women:
o V-necks and skirts with slits up the sides are good options- they will give you more length
o Clothes with small padded shoulders should be chosen to make the body look more proportionate.
o Wear long tops that go over your hips. Avoid printed clothes and try and wear dark coloured bottoms.
o Select vertical, fluid patterns and avoid bulky fabrics. Adopt the just below the knee look in dresses and skirts.
o Choose accessories and shoes that are the same colour as your clothes - this will give your body an unbroken slimmer look.
