Curvy’s got designs on you

Curves are hot and they’re back, according to the new Volkswagen Beetle ad campaign, and though it is in reference to the iconic shape of the car, people have picked up on the trend and have made it the talking point of the season.

Curves are all the rage, suddenly. There are the curvy bodies that Hollywood hotties are flaunting, there are curves in product design that are hip and happening and as for older folk who had fond memories of the ‘Bug’ from their younger days, the car with the rounded roof and curved windshield continues to fire their imagination.

But no-one can celebrate the return of the ‘curve’ more than women who have done everything possible to stay thin. Some time ago, when actor Kate Winslet stood up for a woman’s right to be curvy, it was size zero that was the global aspiration.

Later, when she was nominated as one of the most beautiful women in the world, leaving rail thin women like Kate Moss far behind, people woke up to the beauty of curves.

The Beetle ad campaign could not have come at a better time, as today, being skinny and curve-less is no longer the beauty benchmark.

Sheetal Sharma, choreographer and former model says, “I’ve always believed that curves are good for a woman.” “Curvaceous girls look far better in Indian designer wear than those who are stick thin. Some Japanese and European designers might need very slender girls for their clothes, but for our designers, curves work better. Even the beauty queen who won the Perfect 10 title this year has a curvy body. Today, curves are synonymous with being feminine and very beautiful.”

The same trend is seen in many countries now. Clothing stores are using larger and curvaceous mannequins  in their store windows. In recent fashion weeks across the world, plus-sized models were chosen to walk down the catwalk.

Curves are back on the design front, too. Pallavi Foley,  jewellery designer says, “In terms of jewels, I see more feminine, fluid and complex shapes. Layered, voluminous and intriguing shapes and forms are hitting the runway. Uncut diamonds, baroque shapes in pearls and beads are big on the international jewellery design scene. The overall forms are much more rounded than before.”

Designers agree that curves are more feminine and soft. “If we look at Nature and its intelligence for inspiration, curves would be the direction,” adds Foley. “Personally I have always loved more fluid lines and feminine forms. Recently, I designed a jewelled watch inspired by the water and the waves, made from 18k gold and diamonds.”

Curves may be back, but keeping fit is just as important, according to Veena Bhatt, actor who also runs a wellness centre where aerobics and yoga are taught. “In the 25 years that I have been in this business, I have not advocated being thin,” she says. “I’ve always felt that women should be curvy. When I was in the modelling  industry, I noticed that the young models who were very thin fell sick often and would even faint suddenly.

When I became an actor, I found that it was only when I gained weight, that I began getting more offers from the south Indian film industry. Today, they are looking for actors with curves in Bollywood, too. But I would like to emphasise that being curvy does not give women the license to neglect exercise and a proper diet. They have to work hard at being toned and fit.”

Curves have made a comeback in product design, too. Neil Foley, product design consultant says, “The influence of curves in our everyday objects is unavoidable. Right from the kitchen juicer to the mobile phones we use, the play of curves can accentuate the metaphor to its fullest. The human body has so many curves, and thus to design products that interact with the body, the use of curves while designing lifestyle products and accessories becomes an important factor.”

 Neil recently designed a kitchen mixer-grinder —inspired from the curves in nature. Another recent product that this product designer designed using a combination of straight lines and curves was an urban, trendy bicycle, which won the silver prize in an international design competition. Finally, Neil, says, “Curves are a part of the visualisation language for a designer.”