Opting for a trench coat and avoiding fabric that bleed in monsoon are a few tips that designer Sheena Agarwaal recommends for working women
Monsoons might not be your favourite time of the year, with all the mud and water puddles and the wet clothes. But there are certain fashion ideas that you can utilise to brighten up the rainy days. Here are some tips:
Colours: You can beat the grey and dull weather with blues, reds and oranges. You can shelf the whites for a good couple of months. Wear light fabrics such as polyester and other wrinkle free fabrics.The colour of your shirt can vary from blue to pink to red and so on. You can never go wrong with a blue formal shirt and a black, khaki or beige trouser.
Trousers or skirts: long trousers are a no-no as they get dirty on your way to work. You could get them altered — may be an inch shorter during the monsoons. If your work place allows it, smart formal skirts are a good bet during monsoons. Again, you should prefer dark colours over lighter shades.
Jacket: You can team up your western attire with a trench coat or jacket.
Indian outfit: If you prefer a more traditional Indian outfit during monsoon season, then avoid salwars and patialas but instead pick up a pair short kurtis with leggings or chudidars. long dupattas which are difficult to manage during the rains can be replaced with scarfs or stoles. Stay away from prints and fabric that tend to run colour when wet like bandhini. Sarees can become messy quickly, when wet. You are better off avoiding them altogether.
Footwear: leather shoes or sandals aren’t great in the rains as they tend to absorb water and dry very slowly. Instead, choose jelly shoes, flats, floaters and any other sturdy footwear, during transit, as these are also slip resistant. Avoid loose sandals as they tend to squirt dirt on you. You can always keep a pair of stilettos (high-heels) in your office cabinet should you require them for any important meetings.
The author is director of Urbanista Image Consulting llP