We are all familiar with the plight of being judged for our appearance and sense of style in social gatherings especially weddings. Dressing for social occasions is hard enough as it is without the added inconvenience of needing to account for cold temperatures, icy winds and possible rain. The thought of attending a winter wedding can be a rather stressful affair, to say the least!
Well, I think we can do certain things to make sure we still score high in the style quotient without shivering to death. If I have managed to tickle your interest please continue reading. Perhaps cosy in on the couch and take some notes. Once all the information has been gathered the fun begins. I feel the basics for dressing for a winter gathering remains the same as for any other time of the year, however, there are a few things that can be done to add to the allure and to make sure there is no chance of dying from hypothermia.
The ‘Dhamakedar’ Accessories
No matter what time of the year, accessories always help in making a statement. They are an absolute must! In winters, one can go a bit overboard with them as the embarrassment of dripping in sweat unlike summer is eliminated. Layers of neckpieces, hair accessories, multiple over sized kadas, statement nose pins and bajubands could be a good starting point. I always feel mixing different metals and stones always deliver an interesting result. For instance, pairing a jadau chocker with a layered green panna mala.
The ‘Chatkili’ Sari
I feel nothing is sexier than a sari. During winters the gorgeous heavy silk pattus, kanjeevarams, patolas, satins, venkatkgiris, tussars, jamavars,paithnis and Benarasi silks can come out of their trunks on to the runway and flaunt their beauty. My personal favorite is a bold colored kanjeevaram silk saris with a 10-12 inch border. You can wear anarkalis, lehengas and salwars, but saris are my first choice — always!
The ‘Thandi wala’ Blouse
It is imperative to have some heavy-duty blouses that can be paired up with saris, skirts, trousers or even palazzos. I call them the ‘Thandiwala’ blouses and I make sure my mum and sister have several of them in their wardrobe. They could be made from fabrics like jute, pashmina, velvet, raw silk, tussar, brocade or leather! If you want you could even use an embellished net fabric with a thick inner lining in velvet or silk. I love using a bold printed fabric for net blouses. They are perfect for making a statement without having to shiver to death. In my eyes, nothing beats a full sleeve blouse with a bandhgala. It’s classy, stylish, bold and very cosy. If you don’t have one, you can even use a polo neck t-shirt. It makes for a wonderful blouse, if styled correctly.
The ‘Kali wali’ Lipstick
Whilst it’s true that there is no reason why one can’t wear dark lipstick during the summer months, though I feel they look far more dramatic in the midst of winter. I have a fetish for colours like black forest, cherry red, deep burgundy, dark maroon and chocolate brown. I love how these colours sit on Indian skin tones and instantly create a mystical look and feel. A musthave for any winter wedding.
The ‘Nehruji wali’ Jacket
Everyone must have a bandhgala jacket that can be used in numerous ways time and again. You could wear it with a sari, pair it with an anarkali or even wear it over a shirt, no matter how you style it, it always looks brilliant.
The ‘Dabang’ Goggles
If it is a day-time affair, an oversized pair of sunglasses is an absolute must. That goes for any time of the year and it makes an instant impact.
The ‘Pyari wali’ Smile
Last but no means the least, the most important element is to make sure you sparkle like a diamond with your warm smile. Do you wear it with pride and don’t forget to enhance it with a dark coloured lipstick.
I hope all you lovely people have a wonderful time and do keep warm. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
So now the invitation is received, let’s get to the planning board. Key questions I would consider:
• The venue — is it indoors or outdoors?
• What is the occasion?
• How many people are on the guest list?
• Will it be a sit-down meal or a buffet?
• Will there be a dance floor?
• Time of the day — morning or evening?
UK-based designer Ayush Kejriwal is a columnist with Indulge, writing on various topics of fashion, challenging preconceived notions about beauty and looks