Zip up, winter’s here

Scarves and jackets seem to be ruling for city youngsters looking to pep up their style quotient this time of the year

There are a variety of jackets available that can be teamed up with both Indian and Western outfits this winter.

There’s a slight nip in the air and it’s time to pull out all those fancy jackets and scarves to amp up your style quotient. Sure we might not experience biting cold to merit heavy extra layers of clothing but the dewy Hyderabadi mornings are reason enough to add that extra layer to your outfit and look your fashionable best. Jackets and scarves have become most youngsters’ go-to accessories this season.

With a variety of styles available in both versatile pieces of clothing, there is no end to how they can be teamed up with every day outfits for that extra bit of glamour. From bomber jackets for the guys to the prettily cut bolero for women there is a lot to choose from. “Leather jackets are timeless and there are also plenty of belted jackets as well as slightly longer ones doing the rounds. In case one wishes to wear shorter jackets then the ones with the cross zippers are a great option. They look quite snazzy,” says designer Esha Hindocha.

Designer Sridevi Kalimishetty agrees. “This is the season when people love to dress up and play around with layers. A jacket or a scarf is a great way to pep up a tank top or t-shirt. There are a variety of jackets to choose from; stylised blazers, waistcoats, boleros, patchwork jackets or those with appliqué work and even quilted ones. They are a great way to add structure and form to an outfit. During the day jersey jackets and hoodies look great,” she says.

Both jackets and scarves are also a great way to brighten up one’s look believe youngsters. Rashi Misra, an MBA student, loves pepping up her outfits with cardigans and scarves. “I believe jackets and scarves are the coolest add-ons for an outfit, especially for evenings and the approaching winter. I love wearing cardigans and scarves to movies or for a night out with friends. You can be experimental this fall and not stick with the standard dull colours. Instead, pair a plain black round neck tee with a nice mustard coloured scarf to add a hint of colour and lend the tee a whole new dimension,” she says.

“I love choosing scarves with prints for college. It’s the easiest way to accessorise without seeming over the top and it keeps me warm in the mornings and evenings. While I don’t really wear woollen scarves, just that extra layer is good enough for our kind of winters,” says Amrita K., a student. She adds that she loves pairing her dresses with jackets for an instantly dressy look. “Be it knee-length or long dresses I like to thrown on a short jacket, usually denim or a light corduroy one, to pep up my look. I also have a sleeveless waistcoat style jacket that I wear on plain t-shirts and kurtas to accessorise,” she adds.

“Jackets are versatile pieces of clothing and can easily be teamed with both Indian and Western outfits. For instance, a short gold jacket would go just as well with a sari, tank top with jeans and even with dhotis, harem pants or palazzos. Even the longer ones can be teamed up just as easily with a variety of outfits. For a richer look one could always opt for jackets made with brocade or velvet to go with an Indian outfit,” says Vyshnavi Reddy, a designer. Boleros, quilted jackets and knitted shrugs also look great with dresses and on skirts.

The key, say designers, is to keep accessories to a minimum. “The jackets and scarves themselves accentuate a look, so it’s best to keep the rest of the outfit clutter-free,” explains Esha.