The heat is sharp, and you would rather stay indoors. But life beckons and you need to hit the streets sooner or later. It’s sweltering and you don’t know what to wear to keep it stylish even while feeling comfortable. Don’t fret. Because summer also means comfortable clothing. Here are some fashion tips to help you look cool:

Season of prints
Tarun Tahiliani and Payal Pratap Singh are working on chintz prints this season. Chintz are what the Europeans drew of the Indian garden and made delightful blocks of their drawings. When these prints were used on fabric, the effect was so good that it became a rage in Europe and have remained an all-time favourite for anyone dabbling with prints. While Tarun Tahiliani’s label has gone muted and classic this season, Payal Pratap’s bursts with colour.

Prints are very becoming this summer. Designers Kavita Bhartia and Krishna Mehta, too, are using block prints quite generously in their outfits. Mehta in her spring/summer collection uses the summer rose along with tie-dye and shibori, both very playful dyeing techniques. 

Season of cut work
Designers Zubair Kirmani and Neeru Kumar are using these effective overlays. Can there be anything more feminine and beautiful than cutwork? Done by making holes on fabric and then embroidering the edges, this effect has found its way into every conceivable form of apparel, be it a kurta, a top or a dupatta. They have made jackets, and dresses with this technique and the result is for all to see - doilies on fabric.

 Season of pastel coloursPastels are a given colour for summer. The evenings, on the other hand, can be filled with indigos, earth reds and whites. White is the new black every summer. Pop up pastels, chanderis and embroidered motifs are going to be big for summer brides.

Season of neon accessories
Without the splash of neon colours, summer would feel incomplete. Neutral-toned garments teemed with accessories such as neon chapals and wedges pretty much do it. Also, shoes with neon bead work are in. 

Style suggestions
Pure chiffons, cottons, linens, khadi and malmals are in this summer. Combine printed tops with a pair of white ankle-length pants. Using whites, pastels and florals is the typical way to make your look as summery as possible. For a change you can also adorn the stylised dhoti and a cleverly cut kurta for the boho look and surprise yourself with how chic it can be.

You can choose from natural fabrics for maxis, skirts, palazzos. Then, team them up with a bag, a scarf or a lacy top. Transparent garments with lacy inners or outers work, too. Woven fabrics and jamdhanis are a big yes. Try asymmetrical tops and dresses. They are usually loose fitted and comfy.

It’s not often that you can go minimalistic and still look stylish - summer’s a gift that way. As the saying goes, ‘make hay while the sun shines’!

(The writer is a lifestyle curator and owner of Collage, Bangalore)