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More than just the right clothes

Simple accessories can make profound statements about what you wear and how you dress

ACCESSORISE It is about creating the right look

Being fashionable doesn't end by just wearing the right clothes. There is a science to it, which beats the boundaries of imagination. If being fashionable is on your agenda , then there are several dos and don'ts, which are the commandments to dressing well. Fashion is no longer about designers and clothes, which leave a burning hole in your pocket; it is about coordinating the right look.

Simple accessories can make profound statements about what you wear and how you dress. Fashion dictates that you never treat your entire ensemble as a canvas. Always have a backdrop and then a few key elements as a highlight. For example, a basic trouser with a basic top comes alive with a spirited stole draped attractively.

Contrary to popular belief, black is not always the best and easiest to coordinate. It can actually kill a garment by providing a very strong contrast and taking away the focus from the garment. There are no definitive rules but there must be a direction in complementing darker shades with black and pastels, and softer colours with beiges and greys. Bright garments can be harmonized with either black or beige, depending on the look and vividness you wish to achieve or can carry off.

Accessorising

Accessories dress up your outfit and make a world of difference to your look. It helps to be innovative and experimental, but remain restricted to a limited number of accessories. It is better to have one striking piece than a collage of many colours and forms. A single accessory like a scarf or a chunky necklace makes an intense statement rather than many coordinating pieces, as the eye does not get a focal point to rest.

Always balance between clothes and accessories. For the more traditional look, a simple and quintessential plain saree offsets dramatic accessories significantly as compared to a heavy floral printed outfit that does not provide a backdrop to accessories, but only adds a layer of clutter.

Colour is the spice of life and is a key element to bear in mind when coordinating outfits. Make the right choice between contrasting clothes or tonal or neutral clothes. For example, a peach and turquoise printed skirt can be complemented with a peach top, which then leaves little scope to accessorize the look with more colour. However the same skirt if worn with a cream top provides a more appealing assortment to bring in peach and turquoise in the jewellery or a scarf or a bag or even footwear, without an overdose.

The other linking element could be materials. It is good to go with different materials and textures from top to bottom, specifically a structured top with a flowy bottom or a wrap top with a tailored trouser or a denim bottom. It helps in fusing the looks as it does not become too soft and limp or too stern and rigid.

Lastly, never ever try a print with a print. Prints are best with a solid colours picked up from the print. You can safely complement the print with the most used colour in the outfit or can make a louder statement if you contrast it with the least used colour or a highlighting colour in the print.

Follow these simple guidelines and get ready to see your wardrobe in a whole new light.

Courtesy - Lifestyle International (P) Ltd.

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