Seventy years ago, India won her freedom from the rule of the British Raj, and for as long as one can remember, August 15 has always been associated with watching the parade either live or on the telly, going to school for the flag hoisting ceremony, only to get back home and enjoy the rest of the day in the company of family, listening to patriotic songs or watching movies made in honour of our brave martyrs.
However, as far as fashion on Independence Day goes, it does appear that we’ve limited ourselves to the ubiquitous white kurta, for both men and women, although the ladies up their tricolour game by adding either a saffron, green, or a blue dupatta to match. Interestingly though, there are actually so many fun and fashionable ways to flaunt your patriotism today without looking like the National Flag. And here’s how you could go about it:
Opt for prints
You’re probably so used to wearing solid colours on Independence Day, but instead of going all green or all orange, why not wear a printed outfit that features one of these colours, perhaps against a white base? And while the tendency is to wear Indian clothing today, there’s no harm in wearing a printed dress/top or shirt (for the men).
Pick jewel tones
Attending a fancy function this evening? Wondering how to sport that desi look without going OTT? Wearing a sari or a salwar kameez in green or blue (or both) jewel tones are sure to add the right amount of shimmer and sheen to your look. Keep the rest of your appearance subtle. If it’s a high neck blouse/kurta you’re wearing, skip the necklace and wear crystal/diamond studded statement earrings instead.
Accessorise with orange
A tricky colour to wear, don’t even attempt dressing head to toe in this shade. Instead, bring in that pop of orange by means of your accessories. Your accessories could be in varying shades of orange, from peach and coral to tangerine. You could either carry an envelope clutch, or wear pom-pom earrings in orange, a statement necklace over a white kurta, or even an orange belt to scrunch up that white button-down top.
Bring in desi elements
If you’re worried about looking too put together in tricolour-inspired clothing, you could simply wear any outfit you please, Indian or Western, and see if you could add elements such as oxidised silver jhumkas, silver bangles, a Bandhini stole, or Kolhapuri chappals/ Punjabi juttis, depending on what goes best with your outfit.
Wear handloom
There’s really no better day than today to wear handloom in support of local weavers and craftsmen, and in honour of the rich cultural heritage of our land. While men can opt for Khadi kurtas or even Kalamkari shirts, women can either wear hand-block kurtas or handloom saris, ranging from the striking Ilkals of Karnataka, the classic Kasavu of Kerala, the crisp Chettinad cottons from Tamil Nadu (paired with a contrasting Kalamkari blouse), or the exclusive Pochampally silk saris of Telangana, to Sambalpuri Ikats of Orissa, Matka silk saris of West Bengal or intricate Chikankari saris that Lucknow is famous for, among other varieties of saris. And if you really cannot bother with how you look today, it’s good to remember that patriotism though often articulated visibly and in various forms, does in fact come from the heart! And that’s what really matters.
