Sunday, January 21, 2018

2018 SPECIAL..... 18 trends that will define 2018

18 trends that will define 2018

Give your wardrobe a dash of retro chic, freeze to rejuvenate and work from the beaches of Bali to stay on top of the year ahead

Rediscover culinary goodness

Gut-friendly food
2017 was full of lactose, dairy and gluten intolerances. So this year, everyone’s going to be looking out for your gut. With fermenting, pickling and preserving gaining popularity for their gut benefits, foods such as a kimchi, miso and kefir will be seeing a surge in 2018.

Mocktails over cocktails
Hear us out — with so many people on the health bandwagon, no one wants to waste calories knocking back a few drinks. So, expect to see a lot of alcohol-free beer, wine and beverages hit the shelves soon.

Poke bowls
Considered the next generation (and certainly less complicated to make) of sushi, poke bowls include hunks of marinated fish which are then tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and umami-packed sauces. These bowls are customisable, pack a flavour punch and make for pretty social media posts.

Upgrade your wardrobe with a funky twist

Suits in different colours
Suits have always been an integral part of a man’s wardrobe. But 2018 is the year you can welcome the silhouette in shades other than the customary black, blue and grey. International menswear brands showed suits in metallic hues and outof-the-box shades like green, purple and mustard. Of course, you can adapt it to office wear by wearing unique colours and pairing them with toned down pants, shirts or jackets.

Blast from the past
Every few years, fashion seeks inspiration from the past and if runway trends for 2018 are any indication, retro is all set to make its presence felt again. Loose fit shirts, oversized travel trenches, padded jackets, striped formal pants, wide neck ties, berets, slim-fit rocker style suits in checks, grandpa cardigans — it’s all coming back. So don’t go for a wardrobe overhaul just yet.

Red
Every shade from the red family — from scarlet to wine — is finding its way into a man’s wardrobe this year. Elegant and yet quirky — depending on what you team your red with — the hue is just the challenge a boring wardrobe needs. Top brands had their models walk the runway in red office trousers, bomber jackets, suit jackets, satin shirts and printed yacht shorts. Take your pick.

Driving is going to be simplified

Impressive designs
In 2018, the cars will look better and offer more in terms of performance, driving experience and the in-car comfort. Both interior and exterior designs will be plush and get ready for funky colours of the new cars for the younger car buyers.

Better technology
Sure, the cars are also set to get smarter. Entertainment and information will be more accessible while on the go. The luxury cars of 2018 will all be equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity options. These are set to make driving and travel smoother.

Electric way
Towards the end of 2018, a few luxury car makers are expected to launch their electric car variants. The race is on to see who wins as all top auto brands have joined the race. The green cars will need service and charging stations which will also be on the agenda of the auto manufacturers in the year ahead.

Prepare for the invasion of smart gadgets and AI

AI to take over our lives
While our televisions are going to be smart home hubs with embedded AI functionalities, Cortana powered thermostat GLAS, personal trainer Vi, robot Kuri, and surveillance cameras coming closer to AI will only make life smarter than ever. AI is also going to become the battleground for many software and service markets.

More footfalls in mixed reality
Moving on from modest geolocation AR games, virtual and augmented reality tech will make a significant impact with spatial browsing for online shopping, in-flight entertainment, interaction with scientific data in a 3D virtual world as well as music in a not-so-distant future.

Cyber resilience
As the war for our cybersecurity rages on, AI and machine learning will step in to boost our cyber defences. Riding on increased focus on privacy and personal data protection, cybersecurity start-ups around the world will come under the spotlight.

Take the unconventional route to fitness

Jump around
Hate going for a run? 2018 will introduce you to the most fun way to sneak in your cardio — jump on a trampoline. A trampoline or rebounder workout is a low impact exercise but offers the heart pumping cardio benefits of a hard run.

The Mediterranean diet
Keto is on its way out and the Mediterranean diet is on its way in. The diet follows the eating habits of people living in Mediterranean countries and has been linked to better health and longevity. And it’s not boring with foods such as nuts, olive oil and fish leading the menu.

Cryotherapy
While 2017 was all about speeding up (think HIIT), 2018 is focussing a lot on recovery as well. Cryotherapy is already gaining popularity with the health gurus on social media and it is essentially standing in a deep-freezing tank for several minutes. It is said to help you lose weight, reduce pain and improve athletic performance. Just carry a sweater for afterwards.

Travel off the beaten path

Digital nomads
Increased connectivity and a culture that’s embracing the option of working remotely means that digital nomads will continue to flourish. Imagine working from a shack in Bali, with fresh drinks to stay hydrated and a beach view as the backdrop. Not a bad work day, right?

Winter travel
Westerners may strive to escape the bitter cold of their countries during peak winters, seeking some Asian or African sun instead. But the reverse is also fast becoming true with travellers from the perennially sunny parts of the world who are travelling to specifically experience the winter wonderlands. Think German Christmas markets or the northern lights of Lapland.

Solo travel
Gone are the days where travelling with a group, family or spouse was the norm. Go solo for some soul searching or just plain old me time is the new mantra. It’s a perfect way to make some actual friends, reboot and refresh. Going solo will continue to be the trend to define travel in the coming days

ETP12JAN18 

No comments: