Brighten up the rains

Love it or hate it, the monsoon is here, and with it comes a refreshing cool breeze that caresses your hair and ubiquitous grey  skies that make you long for a bit of sunshine. It is also time to review your wardrobe and round up the summer clothes that you would want to put away. Brighten up the season by adding loads of colour and zing to your closet.

Sheetal Chugh, who has been dressing up some of the city’s fashionistas, says you need not hesitate to define your look with bright prints. She believes in the power of bold prints. “Lightly layered fabrics are perfect for this season. Put away all your long flowing dresses, which sweep the floor. Use more natural fabrics and materials that dry quickly and allow the skin to breathe. Stilettos can be replaced with strappy sandals and flip-flops. Avoid bags and shoes made of leather and suede. Light and delicate accessories are suitable for this time of the year,” she suggests.

Chiffons and georgettes are the rage  of the season says noted city designer Namrata G. “If you are not going to walk in the rain and get drenched, these fabrics will serve the purpose,” she points out. Her new monsoon collection is bright and vibrant. She has used mulberry silk, which is ideal for damp humid days. Umbrella sleeves and cut sleeves are in vogue along with straight pants.

Keep it short
Designer Asha Fernandez notes that florals are still in style, and so is lace. So the look is definitely feminine. Shades of nude are fashionable too. But palazzo pants are certainly out. Instead go for cropped and fitted pants with zippers and ankle-length pants and capris that look trendy. Although summer has ended, off-shoulder blouses and cold shoulder tops, which have a cut in the upper arm, continue to be popular even in this season.

For fashion designer Sounak Sen Barat, this is the time to invest in quick-to-dry, short dresses. “It is a great idea to splurge on some cool dresses in easy-dry fabrics. Try lacy short dresses for the evenings. Remember, comfort always comes first. Cotton and cotton blend shorts are a great buy for the season. Prints and solid colours work well. Also try performance-driven nylon blends. Accessories like fun flip-flops, funky umbrellas and colourful raincoats add zest to the monsoons. Avoid fabrics that stick to the body, especially light-weight cottons,” says he.

Noted fashion retailer and socialite Vatsala Bagla cautions against wearing fast colours like indigo, ajrak prints, bandhej and bandini. Blended fabrics with a little polyester are ideal for the wet days. “Bright quirky umbrellas and gumboots are cool during this time of the year,” says fashion blogger, Shalini Chopra. She is a big fan of white, as it is the most refreshing colour in the dull weather.

Plastic footwear is a practical option if you walk a lot, and fortunately, an array of colours and designs are available these days, to suit every budget. Asha Fernandez points out that you can purchase trendy flip-flops and strapped sandals with rubber soles nowadays, which indicates that rainy season footwear no longer needs to be dowdy.

Denims are best avoided in this weather. Ditch your full-length pants for shorts or capris. Shrugs of different colours, fabrics and lengths are perfect for the season, especially if it gets chilly in the evenings. A lot of the major retail stores have a rather good collection of shrugs  that range from sheer ones to knits and lacy ones. Windcheaters and waterproof jackets are must-haves, especially if you ride a two-wheeler.

To complete your monsoon look, apply light dewy make-up and keep your hair and scalp clean and dry. Sweat and sebum can clog up pores, and result in pimples, boils and itchy scalps in the humid weather.

So what are you waiting for? Invest in trendy rain wear and look upbeat in the gloomy weather.