Fashion experiments 101- Wardrobe gets edgy, bold

Costume designer Dipti Mhatre mentions that there is always a huge impact of Bollywood dressing on the masses. She says, “Mix and match is like freedom of dressing and it is inspiring today’s generation to experiment. Indian style gives a lot of inspiration to club fashion, trend and comfort allowing a lot of scope to play with silhouettes, colours and patterns. Also it can be easily personalised as per an individual body type. Just scarves, kurtis and different styles of bottoms can be clubbed to give extremely trendy and different looks. Every individual can positively use it to their own benefit to experience style plus comfort, especially considering the Indian summers. Loose kurtis will help camouflage the heavy bottomed figure, and sleeveless vests help cut the upper heavy body type, scarves are also a good distraction for people on the heavier size depending on how it’s draped.”

Designer Michelle Salins believes in flaunting individual style and gives a thumbs up to young girls who love experimenting with their looks. She says, “I believe everyone likes to bring their own little individual style and look different. One should opt for what they want and what they feel comfortable in. One should play with colours if one is going to college — like pair different type of tunics with denims and scarves. For young girls, who are a bit healthy, wear a loose top and team it up with a nice jacket and an interesting scarf.”

Whereas, Nupur Saxena, stylist and blogger at House of Primes, takes the androgynous route and feels that the link between fashion and identity gets interesting when one is woman-manly or man-womanly. She says, “Fashion divas around the world, from Jennifer Lawrence to Kangana Ranaut have been channelling this trend in the recent past, influencing its mass consumption. Androgynous does not mean unisex dressing, today it’s more of an idea — you can see a jacket on a woman on streets, which you can just as easily see on a man. Go for well-tailored clothing with neat cuts. For instance a plaid shirt or a checked kurti paired with a classic black/navy blue jacket will work like a charm. Opt for trousers or chinos for more masculine looks, or you can even opt to balance it out with palazzos or skirts. Ditch those stilettos for a while and go with brogues or cute converse sneakers. Accessorise your look with men’s wrist-watch, clutch, necklace and bracelet with studs and spikes for a more edgy look. Stick to subtle make-up, sleek hair and darker colour palate for your whole look and you can never go wrong.”

However, stylists and young fashionistas Isha Tikku and Prachi Goel of Style Epiphany, add a word of caution. They say, “One has to be very careful while donning a desi outfit with a twist, as it can go horribly wrong. Our generation isn’t afraid to experiment and is quite comfortable wearing Indian clothes. While kurtis with jeans is an absolute favourite with college kids, I would suggest a plain white kurti with a belt on the waist and a waistcoat. A loose kurti with straight cut loose pants (pajamas) with loafers or canvas sneakers is a good way to go. We should strictly stay away from wearing an Indian suit with trainers or sport shoes, also ditch the dupatta when wearing a jacket with a kurta.”