Winter Special – for Women of Style and Substance

Nothing is more beautiful and enticing than a woman wrapped in a warm shawl with chilly winds endowing her cheeks with the natural rosy blush! Bring out your woollies and rub on some happy laughs to stay warm and bright. Here is a quick checklist for you to make sure you are armed in the trendiest and most stylish classics this winter to charm love, life and success!

Classic Cardigans: Feather-light, warm and soft as silk…cardigans have been the favorite of royals for their clean silhouettes, graceful elegance and sophisticated simplicity. This winter stack up some simple ones in pretty pastels, prints and bright shades…these will stay faithful for years and lend you style and elegance anytime and every time you layer them on any formal shirt or casual t-shirt. Complete the look with cozy cashmere scarves or eternal pearls.

Advice for Indian women: stay away from embroidered, shimmery, beaded, loaded versions of yesteryear. Look for chic sophistication in single color and rich textures. Keep the cardigan simple and you can experiment with flowers, brooches, scarves, pearls and belts.

Black Formal Jacket: A well tailored black formal jacket that defines your waistline. Unlike the much-hyped little black dress, which finds hardly recognized acceptance in the Indian society; the black jacket in a rich fabric can take you places!

Cigarette Pants: Yes, I agree these ones are not for everyone…but if you pair them right – cigarette pants give you the most flattering figure than any other pant-type. From Giorgio Armani‘s tweed office-friendly to Rajdeep Ranawat’s beautiful shades of silk and Emilio Pucci‘s high waisted versions – there is a cigarette slimming style for every body type in small to medium scale.

The Brocade Suit: If you are the one who likes to go her own way…creating waves. Then, this one is for you! The rich brocades cut with expertise and stitched in style that suits you, can bestow you with the rare combination of elegance and edge above rest. The subdued versions in silk and satin can be your best bet and if you have the body for it then go for cigarette pants and a smart curvy jacket…wear it with a utterly flirty feminine shirt in chiffon or a crispy white tuxedo shirt and leave the jacket open! You can rock your best friend’s winter wedding if you pair the brocade jacket with a full layered lehanga in cotton or organza. Wear the brocade trousers with a white cotton shirt and simple cardigan to work. Rock the New Year eve with the same jacket over a beautiful bouncy dress in luscious silk. Gem of Advice: stick to a single pattern and dark shade with the least shimmer…choose deep Purple! the season’s color.

Warm-up in Layers: Layering is my personal favorite – layering comes with a list of reasons in support. Indian weathers and situations make it extremely difficult sometimes to decide how much is enough. At such times layering comes for our rescue. You can easily remove your jacket if it gets a little stuffy inside and throw it on again once you are outside in the chilly winds.

Layering also offers you an instant slimming effect contrary to the thought that the layers will add bulk. If done with the right technique and style, layering can help to lose visual weight with cultured style.

Trends for Festive Winters: Priya Tanna, Editor of Vogue India, writes in her editor’s letter in the latest November 2012 issue of the magazine – ‘This is the age of modern elegance. Bare legs and cleavage may have once been a shortcut to best-dressed lists, but no longer.” Coming from the editor of the most reputed fashion magazine worldwide, this needs to be taken seriously girls. Do not kill yourself this winter in backless blouses and chiffon sarees…have the sense and courage, to walk down that red carpet in style and grace, draped in cashmeres, rich silks and generous brocades. Take inspiration from the style sheet below – adorn yourself with a beautiful tiered Manav Gangwani style lehanga, top it with a gold or shimmery black jumper from Mango, drape a silk or organza dupatta and put on a glamorous pair of huge earrings…and enjoy the party…dare to dance away from the crackling fires!