With just a few days to go for the New Year’s Eve festivities, it’s time to put your best fashion foot forward
Four days to go and the party mood is upon us. The malls are bustling, and you need to be extraordinarily brave if you are willing to collide with the crowds; the online shopping portals are falling all over themselves to offer discounts; hotels are beckoning you to join them at what promises to be the best New Year’s Eve party ever. Everyone’s getting into the action, and you’ve got some great plans too.
The only problem is, what do you wear? If you want to look elegant, then stilettos are a no-brainer, but they aren’t the best option when you want to dance the night away. Even WOODs, the brand one normally associates with comfortable footwear for trekking, has come up with their ‘Party’ collection for women, with metallic silver stilettos, golden heels, sandals, wedges with tassels; mercifully, they also have pumps and platform heels for those of us who are footwear-challenged and prefer our inelegant chappals but are willing to compromise for this last night of the year.
As for clothes, the market is awash with all kinds of options; whatever your style, there is something for you. There was a time, for instance, if you wanted to wear something truly sexy and be defiant about it, you had to go abroad to scout around. Now, there’s a brand in India, launched just last week, called Lickouture-Unapologetically Sexy. They had a fashion show in Delhi on December 21 and their belief, which is 100 percent correct, is that women are “powerful, strong, beautiful, sexy – complete”. They also believe that every woman has many avatars, and with Billy Joel for inspiration, they are focusing on four key qualities. These are Czarina (She can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool’); Playette - (‘She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes’); Social Butterfly - (‘She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you’) and Temptress (‘She'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding’).
Maya Gurjar and Meeta Chopra, owners of the brand, said: “We always had a very clear idea of the kind of clothes that defined us, but finding them in the market was almost impossible… In order to find a dress or gown for a special occasion we felt it was necessary to travel outside the country. In order to find an easier and faster way to address this, we started to make our dresses ourselves. Very soon, we had friends and even strangers asking where they could buy the outfits they saw us wearing—which is how the business actually started.” Before they knew it, they realised they had tapped a gap in the market; Indian women were cocking a snook at our conservative society, looking for sexy clothes, and seeing it as their right to wear them.
Of course, if you prefer more conservative styles, there’s more than enough to choose from. The good news is, fashion is beginning to recognise that comfort matters too; it’s a good thing that athleisure is now considered party wear!
The Woman’s World team asked a few designers for advice on what to wear this New Year’s Eve and here’s what they had to say.
Pics courtesy: Pernia's Pop-up Shop
DesignerSpeak
Shivangi and Neha, Pinessa
“Less then few days to New Year, one should be ready with the best of the trends for party wear. Bodycon dresses with asymmetrical ruffles and sequin jumpsuits are majorly in. Pleated mid-length skirts in satin and silk are always classy, paired with plain solid colour shirts or camisoles. High-length boots and high heel sneakers are a must-have this party season. 2019 fashion is all ready to focus on balancing style and comfort.”
Pics courtesy: Babita Malkani
Babita Malkani
Less than a week left for 2018! As parties and get-togethers abound, now is the time to put your best fashion foot forward. Shimmer dresses, sequined jumpsuits, fringed and ruffled dresses are huge this season. You can also experiment with high-waist skirts or pants with sequins work and beaded corsets for that glamorous night out. If you are looking to try out something that's more understated, pastel dresses with ruffles are super chic and add to the drama for this party season.
Pernia's Pop-up Shop stylists
A really big trend is Athleisure, that is taking over the fashion scene. With embellished and chic athleisure inspired outfits being designed, not only is it meant for lounging around or airport dressing, but it's a trend that lets you party in comfort. A pair of joggers paired with a crop top and stilettoes and some minimal accessories is perfect for the party season.
Another favourite party trend this season is sequins. They are clearly having a moment! Stock up some sparkly dresses and party away. When it comes to accessorising your party outfit, keep it simple. Minimalist jewellery like a pair of hoop earrings, and classy stilettos will make your party ensemble glam and garner the most views.
As told to Smita Rao