Feeling hot, haute, hot

Designers this season sported not just peppy and fun casuals in their collections but added trendy formals too, offering a variety to working women.

Fringes
“Fringes have made their way back and were seen across collections on the runways in Paris. Ruffles and fringes were incorporated in outfits, giving them an instant edge,” says Gilma Firdose Ali, fashion creative director of a Dubai-based company. She advises pairing a feathered top with well-tailored pants and a pair of chic heels. Formal wear can be pepped up with frills, fringes and feathers. Gilma also stresses on the importance of balancing the contrast and carrying it off well.

Layering
Shreeya Bohra, photographer and stylist with a fast growing following on Instagram, states that for formal wear layering is this season’s key style element. While it may not seem apt for the summer, she states wearing sheer, cotton or silk shrugs; overcoats or dusters work wonders and uplifts the attire completely. She also particularly recommends ruffle and pleated blouses in silk or cotton worn with knee length formal skirts or cuffed cigarette trousers.

Dark jeans are in

Shades and Prints
Apart from choosing to style your formals with different kind of wear you can also pep up your existing looks by choosing the right colours. Cynthia Grooger, fashionista and freelance interiors designer says, “It is important to dress gracefully and be in-vogue amongst your professional circle. You get recognised by your style of dressing. I have always stuck to pastel shades, it has a very professional vibe and looks lovely.” Monotones are usually the fad with formal wear but the season has brought dual tones and prints. Ultraviolet, pastel lavender, blush rose or beige can be worn with complementing pastel shades. “Prints when worn right look glamorous. Make sure to keep it simple, either stick to a particular shade and play with prints or go for dual tones and avoid patterns altogether. You cannot have it all in one outfit,” Gilma remarks.

Pointing to floral, the print that is in vogue this season Gilma says that women can incorporate them in their outfit.

Floral print tops or blazers along with block coloured pencil skirts can bring an attire to life. “One can go in for an all-print ensemble as well. Printed tops with denim pants make a style statement,” she adds.

Denims
Denims have been a world-over, all time favourite for women. Dark and selvaged denims are in. Cynthia speaks of the functional aspect of an attire. It needs to look beautiful and be comfortable. As such, denims seem to be the most fitting for a day at the office. While the love for denims is timeless, Gilma points to well tailored formal pants and pencil skirts as wardrobe essentials for any woman dressing in formals.

Deconstructed Shirts
Shirts with asymmetrical necklines, popularly called, deconstructed shirts are eye catching pieces that stay true to the nature of a formal shirt yet make way for you to flaunt your voguish side. They are comfortable, practical and look designer.

Shreeya recommends dramatic sleeves to add an oomph factor to your formals.

“Sleeves and collars are elements you can play with. Try bishop sleeves, long cuffed sleeves or trumpet sleeves, they look beautiful and elegant. Shirts with sleek swan necked collars, pussybow collars or large lapels will set your attire apart from the rest,” opines Shreeya.

Choosing what to wear and how to stand out in formals can be a daunting task, but the new trends surely put the working women at ease. Whatever way you may choose to dress, remember never to over do it. Less is more.