Neelam Mistry-Thaker's spring summer fashion trends
By Eastern EyeMar 10, 2022
A new season results in shops being filled with the latest trends, reimagined from high-profile catwalks around the world.
This year after two years of loungewear, there is an added sparkle as we emerge from the darkened depths of Covid-19, with eye-catching colours, bold prints, daring styles and interesting revivals.
Eastern Eye got Neelam Mistry-Thaker, a fashion expert, personal stylist and style coach to give a rundown of her top six trends for Spring/Summer 2022, and how she would style them. Before selecting the super six trends she said: “Before you get sucked into a new trend, ask yourself is this a fleeting fad or a really good addition to your wardrobe? As a Personal Stylist I always look out for the latest trends, but also think about how my clients can get the best use out of it, instead of wearing it for one season and then ditching it to the back of the wardrobe. So, think about pieces you are missing, what suits your body, which colours will make you glow and styles that are going to give everyone a glimpse into you and your personality.”
Colour: Belt- ed collared jumpsuit; £120; www.stories.com
Colour: I love seeing colour on the high street. I’m here for it! You’ll see some top shades on the high street like spring greens, barbie pinks, bright oranges and very peri, the purple Pantone colour of the year. You can experiment with a more relaxed look with dressed down denim or go for an all-out party dress in a statement colour. Remember colour can also be worn in accessories like brights in a bag or shoes to give a subtle touch of energy and personality. Wear your favourite shades closer to your face to brighten your complexion and make a statement. You can try pairing complementary colours together like bright greens and blues or for a romantic look try purples with pinks!
Prints: Short printed dress; £49.99; www.zara.com
Prints: I love experimenting with prints in bold and bright colours, clashing prints for a not so safe look and monochromatic prints for a more classic look. The trick with a print is to wear it in the area of your body you want to draw attention to. If you are feeling daring, pair prints with more prints or for an easier look pair a print with a block colour. Remember as well that they can be layered to create extra interest! They are a great way to add personality and colour to an outfit. I like to wear a print with a statement piece of jewellery with either complementary or clashing colours to give an extra dimension to an outfit.
Ultra mini skirt: Seamsmini skirt; £35.99; shop.mango.com
Ultra miniskirts: Get your legs out for the ultra mini skirt! You’ll see them all over the high street in bold prints and colours to make the biggest statement. You can pair a mini with knee length boots or a pair of strappy heels for the ultimate bold look. To layer, try with a long open coat or a short biker jacket for an edgy look. Think the shorter the better! You’ll see them in matching co-ord options to create long clean lines of colour or print. Super elongating, for a more petite frame.
The pleated midi skirt: Probably one of the most wearable options that won’t easily date in your wardrobe. Try in different colours, fabrics, and prints. Experiment with the pleated skirt teaming with a crop top, loose fit t-shirt, knit or blazer to stay on trend, stylish yet timeless. It is probably one of my favourite pieces and can instantly add femininity to your wardrobe. Wider pleats add more width to the lower half of the body, so think about your proportions and how to create balance.
Cut outs: Yes, they are back! Cut out knits and dresses are everywhere. Let the cut out do the talking and avoid any other distractions. Think cut outs on the chest, shoulders, or waist to draw attention. I would pair a cut out knit with a smart wide leg denim and hair back for a sleek and sophisticated look.
Biker jackets: A true wardrobe staple making a big comeback this year! I would style with a simple and clean look to let the jacket make a statement. You can go for a black classic leather look in silver or gold detailing, or try suede and coloured options to add interest to your wardrobe. Easily paired with any piece in your wardrobe; denim, dresses, trousers. It can easily bring a whole outfit together.
These are some of my top trends for the season that are wearable when done right! Remember when investing in a trend ask yourself if it suits your body shape, compliments your natural complexion, and shows off you and your personality. The pieces that do will be your best investment. Happy shopping!
Instagram: @NeelamPersonalStylist, Facebook: Neelam Personal Stylist and www.neelampersonalstylist.com
Jay's grandma’s popcorn from Gujarat is now selling out everywhere.
Ditched the influencer route and began posting hilarious videos online.
Available in Sweet Chai and Spicy Masala, all vegan and gluten-free
Jayspent 18 months on a list. Thousands of names. Influencers with follower counts that looked like phone numbers. He was going to launch his grandmother's popcorn the right way: send free bags, wait for posts, pray for traction. That's the playbook, right? That's what you do when you're a nobody selling something nobody asked for.
Then one interaction made him snap. The entitlement. The self-importance. The way some food blogger treated his family's recipe like a favour they were doing him. He looked at his spreadsheet. Closed it. Picked up his phone and decided to burn it all down.
Now he makes videos mocking the same people he was going to beg for help. Influencers weeping over the wrong luxury car. Creators demanding payment for chewing food on camera. Someone having a breakdown about ice cubes. And guess what? The internet ate it up. His popcorn keeps selling out. And from Gujarat, his grandmother's 60-year-old recipe is now moving units because her grandson got mad enough to be funny about it.
Jay’s grandma’s popcorn from Gujarat is now selling out everywhere Instagram/daadisnacks
The kitchen story
Daadi means grandmother in Hindi. Jay's daadi came to America from Gujarat decades ago. Every weekend, she made popcorn with the spices she grew up with, including cardamom, cinnamon, and chilli mixes. It was her way of keeping home close while living somewhere that didn't taste like it.
Jay wanted that in stores. Wanted brown faces in the snack aisle. It didn’t happen overnight. It took a couple of years to get from a family recipe to something they could actually sell. Everyone pitched in, including his grandmom, uncle, mum. The spices come from small local farmers. There are just two flavours for now, Sweet Chai and Spicy Masala. It’s all vegan and gluten-free, packed in bright bags that instantly feel South Asian.
The videos don't look like marketing. They look like someone venting at 11 PM after scrolling too long. He nails the nasal influencer voice. The fake sympathy. “I can’t believe this,” he says in that exaggerated influencer tone, “they gave me the cheaper car, only eighty grand instead of one-twenty.” That clip alone blew up, pulling in close to nine million views.
Most people don't know they're watching a snack brand. They think it's social commentary. Jay never calls himself an influencer. He says he’s a creator, period. There’s a difference, and he makes sure people know it. His TikTok has around three hundred thousand followers, Instagram about half that. The comments read like a sigh of relief, people fed up with fake polish, finally hearing someone say what everyone else was thinking.
This fits into something called deinfluencing; people pushing back against the buy-everything-trust-nobody cycle. But Jay's version has teeth. He's naming names, calling out the economics. Big venture money flows to chains with good lighting. Family businesses with actual stories get ignored because their content isn't slick enough.
Jay watched his New York neighbourhood change. Chains moved in. Influencers posted about places that had funding and were aesthetic. The old spots, the family ones, got left behind. His videos are about that gap. The erosion of local culture by money and aesthetics.
"Big chains and VC-funded businesses are promoted at the expense of local ones," he said. His content doesn't just roast influencers. It promotes other small food makers who can't afford to play the game. He positions Daadi as a defender of something real against something plastic.
And it's working. Not just philosophically. Financially. The videos drive traffic. People click through, try the popcorn, come back. The company can't keep stock. That's the proof.
Daadi popcorn features authentic Gujarat flavours like Sweet Chai and Spicy Masala, all vegan and gluten-free Daadi Snacks
The blowback
People unfollow because they think he's too harsh. Jay's take: "I would argue I need to be meaner."
In May, he posted that he's not chasing content creation money like most people at his follower count. "I post to speak my mind and help my family's snack biz." That's a different model. Most brands pay influencers to make everything look perfect. They chase viral polish, and Jay does the opposite. In fact, he weaponises rawness and treats criticism like a product feature.
The internet mostly backs him. Reddit threads light up with support. One commenter was "toxic influencers choking on their matcha lattes searching their Balenciaga bags." Another: "Influencers are boring and unoriginal and can get bent." The anger is shared. Jay simply gave it a microphone and a snack to buy.
Jay's success says something about where things are going. People are done with curated perfection. They can smell the artificiality now. They respond to brands that feel like humans rather than committees. Daadi doesn't sell aspiration. Doesn't sell a lifestyle. Sells popcorn and a point of view.
The quality matters, including the spices, the sourcing, and the family behind it. But the edge matters too. He’s not afraid to say what most brands tiptoe around. “We just show who we are,” Jay says. “No pretending, no gloss. People can feel that and that’s when they reach for the popcorn.”
Most small businesses can't afford to play the traditional game. Can't pay influencers. Can't hire agencies. Can't fake their way into feeds. Maybe they don't need to. Maybe honesty and humour can cut through if they're sharp enough. If the product backs it up. If the story is real and the person telling it isn't trying to sound like a PR script.
This started with a list Jay didn't use. The business took off the moment he stopped trying to play by the usual rules and started speaking his mind. Turns out, honesty sells. And yes, the popcorn really does taste good.
Daadi Snacks merch dropInstagram/daadisnacks
The question is whether this scales. Whether other small businesses watch this and realise they don't need to beg for attention from people who don't care. Right now, Daadi keeps selling out. People keep watching. The grandmother's recipe that was supposed to need influencer approval is doing fine without it. Better than fine. Turns out the most effective marketing strategy might just be giving a damn and not being afraid to show it.
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