Here we are again – waiting for the rain. Just as we’re getting into summer’s fashion groove with delicate jumpsuits, oversized sunglasses and crisp linens, it’s time to start planning our wardrobes for the next season.
This one’s a little tougher. For one, it’s unpredictable. Our monsoons are like a Katy Perry song: It’s hot, then it’s cold, it’s yes, then it’s no, you’re in, then you’re out…
The other conundrum is finding runway inspiration: after all, your favourite international designers tend to stick to the big four – spring, summer, autumn and winter. Then come the ground realities. Sky-high Louboutins may channel the romance of the rain. But when you’re navigating a gloriously desi monsoon, complete with muddy puddles, the only acceptable attire seems to be trusty Bata flip flops teamed with a forgivingly voluminous rain coat. All topped by that dependable standby: a hefty black umbrella, reminiscent of crusty Indian grandfathers.
Gasp. Did I just say ‘flip flops’ in the venerable fashion pages? Hear me out. An Indian monsoon wardrobe demands creative innovation. Take the best of summer’s ideas, and fine-tune them for a wardrobe that’s practical without being clichéd or clumsy.
Break it down to the basics. Once you get coats, umbrellas and shoes right, everything else just falls into place. (If only life were that easy.)
UmbrellasThe fact that India Circus launched pre-booking for their umbrellas in searing May proves that Indians are getting increasingly style-conscious when it comes to this monsoon necessity. Their ‘Owl howl’ pattern is sold out, but you can still swoop in and grab ‘Legend of cranes’ in a delicious blue-green reminicent of warm scuba-diving holidays.
In a nod to summer’s obsession with pop art, look for umbrellas festooned with everything from perky moustaches to chappals.
Chantal Thomass brings back memories of Hepburn with exquisite parasols, complete with drapes, bows, and even a flirty black hemming of lace. Jean Paul Gaultier has got a square version that looks like a silk scarf. Also, very Gothic square faux leather umbrellas.
Surprisingly, when it comes to online shopping, there aren’t many contenders. Esprit offers a bright palette on FabFurnish. Pick a vibrant hue to combat the grey weather – sunshine yellow, shocking pink, or dependable orange. Rainbow umbrellas are admittedly rather yesterday, but the trasparent bubble is as hot as ever. If you want a classic, army camouflage is a safe bet – there’s even one available with an intruiging rifle holder handle.
Pepperfry offers smart options for men. The Avon Fendo’s steely blue for instance, or business-like, pin-striped versions.
Of course, Kerala’s Popy and John’s are old hands when it comes to this accessory. John’s Umbrella Mart, for instance, offers kitsch contenders, including dizzying prints of lemons, a kaleidoscopic graphic of pouting lips and a slick version of the globe, complete with a the vast Atlantic Ocean in soothing blue.
CoatsAfter much browsing at both brick-and-mortar, as well as online stores, I’m afraid I have to admit that local manufacturers make ghastly raincoats for the domestic market. There seem to be two official varieties: the glorified garbage bag, a crumpled black wannabe with ambitiously crooked piping, and – along the same lines – the morphed shower curtain.
Fortunately, with so many international high-street brands within easy reach, options are considerably more expansive than they were a decade ago. Choose between a trench coat, a parka or a light sports jacket, if the idea of enveloping yourself in a raincoat seems too retro.
With trenches, black is undoubtedly the easiest colour to wear, since it makes you look sleek and put together, fairly effortlessly. Dark colours in general are sensible in these muddy times. They’re also easy to dress up – try an infinity scarf for starters. That said, ASOS, has an irresistibly brilliant yellow Mackintosh – reminiscent of custard, crayons and SpongeBob SquarePants. Proving that conventional raincoats can be fashionable too, they also offer a bohemian transparent one, festooned with flowers. Popular Spanish brand Zara, on the other hand, rocks biker-chic with a black trench coat slashed with zigzag zippers.
Wear these with shorts, knee-length skirts or short dresses, ideally. You don’t want to spend the day in damp trousers after wading through water. (Also, if you were waiting for an excuse to wear shorts to work, this is it.)
FootwearI have one word for you – boots. Let’s dream big and start with the fashionista staple: Hunter boots in cherry-red, the glossy colour of expensive lipstick. Moschino offers a pair bedecked with eight golden horizontal zippers. Have a thousand dollars to spare? Take a look at Jimmy Choo’s PVC Rainboots with shiny gold buckles. Or red-studded Valentinos.
If you’re on a slightly more, um, restricted budget, build on these themes. Fireman red is popular. So are retro prints, polka dots and flowers. Say goodbye to the clunky black boots of your childhood, which somehow always smelt of rubber and mud. The new ones are light and fun.
And yes, you can also do the Indian thing and embrace the monsoons. Take a hint from Bruce Lee and “Be like water, my friend.” Instead of fighting it, jump in and out of warm puddles in good old Bata, which now makes some very fashionable jelly shoes, including bright ballerinas. The rains are also the perfect excuse to pull out comfortable rubber ‘methiyadis’, inspired by the Kerala’s old, wooden ‘padukas’, and translated into a mish-mash of bright colours.
Final wordsMix textures and looks. Like a lace dress with a leather jacket, denim shorts with elegant boots, or hot pink lipstick with an army print parka. Make sure your make-up is water-proof. Carry a big bag and an extra T-shirt.
Finally, it has to be said, oversized parkas, long trenches and billowing macs look great with high heels. Stilettos in this weather? Ah well – go ahead and strap them on when you need a boost. Fashion shouldn’t have to be sensible all the time: much like life.
