Why co-ord sets are here to stay

For multi-tasking women in need of multi-tasking wardrobes, co-ord sets tick all the right boxes, especially when the temperatures reach record highs

I have a confession to make, one that will probably not win me any points in the fashion world—I am the laziest dresser. A pregnancy coupled with a pandemic has only further exacerbated this condition.

Don’t get me wrong—I love clothes. I’ve spent over a decade of my life appreciating and learning more about silhouettes, textiles, surface textures, eras and inspirations. I’ve dissected looks, explored the social and cultural contexts of fashion trends and spent hours with designers in their studios learning about the intricacies of craft and the power of great design.

But when it comes to my personal wardrobe, I’ve been known to stick to a steady rotation of classics. Give me a white button-down and jeans or a pair of beautifully fitted black trousers; give me a LBD—a shirt version for daywear and a cocktail one for the night, give me a pair of wide-leg sailor pants with a tee, throw on a leather jacket or a houndstooth coat for colder climes, and I’m golden. These separates worked for me during days that could really involve anything from hunkering over my desk on deadline, meeting a leading designer or attending a cocktail event. Once I had my children, play dates and birthday parties were soon added to the mix. I could get dressed without spending too much time planning ahead.

But in the last few months, I’ve gotten even lazier, and I blame it on the co-ord set. The rise and rise of this style, one that allows you to throw on a chic look, has been heaven-sent for so many women like myself.

A fresh pair

“Sets have been around forever—the fifties suit sets, hot pants and coordinated tops in the sixties, Cher’s iconic set from Clueless. They’re cute, and coming out of the pandemic, people just want the ease to get ready and get out,” says Los Angeles-based Purna Khatau, one half of the duo behind the label Rhode.

Khatau is right about the historical iterations of a matching pair. In part, I could ascribe my affinity to this style, to the fact that growing up, my mother dressed my sister and I in some matching leggings/shorts/skirt and tee combination (most often Disney-driven), that lined the shelves of Marks & Spencer, C&A and John Lewis in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

She’s also right about the ease the garment offers. At the India Art Fair held during the last week of April in New Delhi, the soaring temperatures were quite a challenge to dressing. I spotted many a set, including two of my friends in identical beige trousers and cropped top from Lovebirds Studio, directly off a flight, only further underscoring the versatility of this style.

“It’s actually the best way to get dressed in summer–co-ord sets can look smart, casual, relaxed, outrageous or anything in between. It’s all about clean lines, and our clients love wearing them. They don’t have to spend time thinking about how to pair separates, and each style can be made to look different with accessories,” says Nishtha Vadhera, founder of Two Fold, who opts for breathable fabrics like kota, jamdani, chanderi and cotton for her designs.

“What's exciting are the silhouettes of the co-ords and how we've paired them. I'm really into long skirts right now, so we've teamed a long wraparound skirt with a box shirt, or we have a slip dress and lazy blazer set. The clothes are functional, unisex and versatile,” says Nitya Arora of the label Malai Life.

Two of a kind

So popular have co-ord sets become that you can go to any clothing website, and chances are they will have a demarcated tab. Whether it’s functional pieces for the gym, athleisure sets for lounging about at home (somehow co-ordinated sweats look far less slovenly), bright coloured or printed suits in linen or silk for office hours, flirty skirts or shorts with blouses for brunch, or pajama styles (bonus points for a sexy crop top underneath), for a night out, the co-ord set involves minimal styling with maximum effect.

“For me, the love affair started with pajama sets–comfortable, and cool enough to wear to a party with crystal jewels and high heels,” says creative director Priyanka Kapadia. “It’s the easiest way to look put-together without trying too hard. And the best part, there’s a set for every kind of personality, so yes, it could be a trend, albeit one that is here to stay, and one that you can really make your own.”

It also works for different sartorial moods. At the moment, Kapadia admits an affinity towards menswear-inspired pieces from ITOH, but also shops for travel and shoot- friendly sweat suits from Pangaia and Huemn, and skirt-and-blouse pieces from De Castro.

While I was researching this piece, I crowdsourced on Instagram suggestions for favourite labels that do the cutest co-ord sets. My inbox was soon filled with responses that ranged from For Restless Sleepers to the homegrown Sand by Shirin and Happi Space. I counted a total of over a hundred suggestions. Nearly all the responses were followed up with a request to share all my finds. Clearly, the co-ord set is here to stay.

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