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  Life   Fashion  23 Jan 2019  Garish out, less is more

Garish out, less is more

THE ASIAN AGE. | NIVI SHRIVASTAVA
Published : Jan 23, 2019, 1:23 am IST
Updated : Jan 23, 2019, 1:23 am IST

Low key sartorial elegance sans skin show is in vogue, as fashionistas from London have changed the rules of the style game.

Veteran actress Rekha has been known for her over-the-top kanjeevaram silk sarees and jewellery.
 Veteran actress Rekha has been known for her over-the-top kanjeevaram silk sarees and jewellery.

If the latest sartorial trends are to be taken seriously, OTT dressing, flaunting of designer logos and displays of bare legs or décolletage is the stuff of a fashion faux pas. Classic, chic and low key elegance is the new fashion trend.

According to an article in the Daily Mail there is, amongst London’s best dressed women, a marked sartorial shift away from long hair extensions, overly defined brows, smoky-eyes, and figure-boasting clothes. The new well-heeled woman now oozes confidence and sophistication with demure looks, mid-height heels and natural make-up.

While it could indeed be a welcome change from the garish, it’s far from boring. The Mayfair makeover is all about being glossy and well-groomed, and having the right approach to ageing.

Shilpa ShettyShilpa Shetty

Fashion designer Jattinn Kochhar points out that elegance is all about acceptance, and as more and more women accept their real selves, they embrace their age without shame. “Only a certain class and strata of the society has taken to this trend, and accepted the fact of going for classic styles instead of trying to fit into skimpy clothes.

“There is no point dressing up like a 16-year-old when you touch 40, and one should try to stay away from fads and pick what works best for your body and age. A string of pearls, a blouse with polka dots, diamond solitaires, chiffon and georgette saris for summers, silk dresses for winter, a classic wristwatch, a two and a half inches heels or kitten heels are not just practical but also keeps you comfortable and stylish. The idea is to not kill your-self in order to fit in,” he advocates.

While the concept of the Mayfair lady is far from new, she was till now, typically defined as the ‘understated’ woman. In the 21st century however, the definition has undergone a change. The Mayfair lady of today is strong, attractive and confident.

Designer Shivani Jain explains, “In today’s time, women are confident in their own skin and don’t need any false pretences like fake hair extensions, false lashes or figure boasting clothes. They can wear boxy clothing and wear minimal makeup but still make a strong statement. They have achieved everything in life and are carefree about how people will judge them. Elegant and impeccable style of dressing is back as now women don’t need to follow the rules. To get the Mayfair lady look right one can wear minimum makeup, nude lips hydrated natural foundation and vintage jewellery. The heels should be comfortable yet chic. The outfits should fit well but flaunting clothes from the runway is no longer the way to be seen. In fact one should wear basic classic styles in neutral tones from local designers. Endorsing bags with logos is also not recommended.”

According to Shilpa Bhatia, founder of the The Clothing Rental brand, a Mayfair lady is sophisticated and doesn’t need brag about her beauty. She asserts, “Elegance is never out of fashion, and it need not be restricted to a particular age group or generation. Young girls can dress sophisticated in their college days by donning feminine blouses over jeans and styling it well with tiny trinkets. Mid-age can play up sophistication at work by choosing elegant colours and pairing them with neutral tones. The matured generation prefers finer fabrics and simpler styles to show their refined taste.”

Shahnaaz Khan, fashion blogger at Fashionnstylebuzz defines a Mayfair lady as an intelligent, beautiful, confident and determined woman. Referring to herself as “old-school” Shahnaaz believes that a skin-show is not necessary to look attractive. She says, “For me, it’s a look inspired by graceful actresses like Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Lauren, Jackie O, Sadhana, Waheeda Rehman... – the way they carried out themselves in public was so delightful. I have been waiting for a trend like this to come back in fashion; quite frankly, it was long due.”

Tags: georgette saris, mayfair lady