With the season changing, the range of wardrobe essentials has also altered. The rains are here and the skies are all gloomy but that shouldn’t mellow down your style choices. More often than not, the advent of monsoon renders images of a dull assortment of clothes with limited footwear options. Though the season calls for comfort to precede over style, monsoon fashion doesn’t have to be as dreary. On the contrary, style experts believe that monsoon is a great time to play with a variety of fun silhouettes and embroideries. While dodging full-length outfits is a no-brainer, it leaves a lot of room for experimentation. Shorts and cropped trousers with bold prints paired with lighter fabrics, for example, is the perfect way of channelling monsoon chic. A quirky accessory paired with an otherwise neutral attire is another great way to brighten up your look. Additionally, pick a vibrant umbrella and let it be your statement staple. With some basic thumb rules kept in mind, it isn’t completely unthinkable to make the season more vivid. Here are a few looks to work into your monsoon wardrobe.
Colour it pretty
The easiest and the safest cue into a trendy monsoon look is adding colour to it. A perky coloured blouse paired with a basic black skirt or a basic dress with an eclectic print can be a great contrast to the overcast skies. Agrees designer Nachiket Barve who has frequently incorporated a heady mix of colours into his collections, “Monsoon fashion doesn’t necessarily have to be dull. People often associate rains with uninteresting outfits, which is completely unnecessary. The season is, in fact, the perfect time to infuse bright colours into your attires. While the fabrics should be light, the colours needn’t follow suit. Try pairing neutral shades with brighter ones. A beige bottom worn with a rich blue blouse or mixing your greys with other livelier hues is the perfect example. You can layer this up with a good cardigan and a lightweight PVC bag. Finish your look with a trendy raincoat or an arty umbrella.”
Play with the volumes
While the puddles makes it somewhat inconvenient to experiment with a range of hemlines, the size and the volume of your outfit is always something that can be played with. Oversized coats and jackets are all the rage on the local and international runways and the season seems to be a perfect time to step into it. “A good alternative is playing with volumes in quirky, oversized boyfriend or grandfather shirts and shirt-dresses in easy, relaxed fits. These can be plain, printed or updated with textured embroideries and can be worn by themselves or teamed with shorts or cropped pants for easy monsoon style,” says designer Sanchita Ajjampur whose collections encompass various experimental looks.
The evening chic
A pair of shorts or cropped denims isn’t exactly an ideal evening wear alternative. While a short dress is always an option, it leaves little room for variety. “For evenings, explore the mullet silhouette. Shorter at the front and longer at the back, the mullet is also more colloquially referred to as the high and low. This style works wonderfully in varied lengths and on several silhouettes. Try to keep the back short in order to make it more manageable. Whether it’s a dress, a skirt or a top even — mullets can be a great choice. Team your mullet shirt with a pair of shorts or a short bodycon skirt. Another evening alternative could be a knee-length pencil skirt with a crop top. This look can be completed with a quirky headscarf,” suggests designer Nida Mahmood.
