So, you think you have closet issues? Place your French-manicured feet in my shoes and empathise with my upcoming predicament – 15 days and nights of India Couture Week and fashion weeks, including a mammoth Christian Dior farmhouse soirée, followed by an immediate departure for London and Florence where meetings have been scheduled with brand biggies. There’s a snowy Himalayan photo feature to fit in as well along with a New Year partying binge in Hong Kong. I’m frantically in list-making mode; I find that being prepared with a killer outfit in advance calms the nerves to an extent. But I’ve also learnt that it’s okay to abandon the copiously scribbled notes in favour of something totally spontaneous. After all, we’re women; it’s normal for us to factor in mood, bouts of ingenuity and a certain je ne sais quoi in our choice of dressing like in everything else! It’s most important to feel good about the tidbits that make you who you are. My coral patent punched Chanel No. 5 clutch is my foolproof pick-me-up; sported with jeans or a backless Namrata Joshipura beaded dress, it never fails to up my style quotient and bring out the playful-yet-polished side I like to think I possess. Priya Kishore and Akanksha Nanda own this dual quality of contrasts – the former’s favourite M.A.C red lippie enhances her gamine yet urbane persona as does the latter’s unconventionally voluminous ‘Free Falling’ white cotton dress that she wears to casual high teas and celebrity studded restaurant launches alike.

Being true to yourself automatically encourages you to be queen of your wardrobe fiefdom instead of the more common slave to fashion. The mantra works for distinctly different personalities like Celina Wadia, Gunita Sodhi, Katrina Kaif, Tina Tahiliani Parikh and Priyadarshini Raje Scindia, all of whom refuse to compromise their simplistic, elegant choices for the sake of temporary fads. True style is ageless; who can forget Audrey Hepburn’s chic turn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s – sleek fringed chignon, strands of pearls and a fitted black Givenchy gown. Anju Taraporvala is one who eschews trends and instead adopts fashions that work for her. Bindu Vadera’s customised Tarun Tahiliani blouses mould her to perfection. It takes practice, but once you find your chic niche, you’re well on your way to best dressed fame.

Start by investing in quality pieces. The Zara tank tops and Massimo Dutti coats are all well and good as supplements for an eclectic collection but it’s the cut, fabric and finish of your key ensembles that will grab the attention and admiration (or envy) of all. Begin with classic staples that you can tweak and repeat – Prerna Goel’s chikan lehengas from Abu Sandeep have made various dazzling appearances as have Devaunshi Mehta’s crisp white shirts that she innovatively pairs with obi belts. The six yards of bronzed Chantilly lace I once found in the narrow by-lanes of Paris have wrapped themselves around me for many a black tie do; coupled with an antique brocade blouse from Sabyasachi, this is one winning combo that I will never regret splurging on.

Which brings us to the importance of inheritance. The above France-meets-Kolkata duo is often enhanced with a pair of kundan and gold filigree earrings that my mother received in her trousseau when she was just over half my age. Kalyani Chawla knots her grandmother’s knee-length gold chain to fashion a modern accessory; Priti Devi and Indrani Dasgupta have cherished every wear of their mothers’ pearl and diamond necklace and 30-year-old Benarsi saris respectively. Nasreen Qureshi paid the ultimate fashion homage – she wore her mother’s Farshi gharara for her own wedding to rave reviews. Raid your mother’s forgotten collection of treasures; you are sure to lay your hands on a priceless heirloom or two.

Freely mix the old with the new. Maithili Ahluwalia admits to draping a coveted shawl from Mom Jamini’s wardrobe with an avant-garde Dries Von Noten dress and Converse sneakers. Rita Dhody scours specialty boutiques for vintage belts that she flaunts with her latest denims. And Sonam Kapoor is a self-confessed old world aficionado, prone to mixing things expertly. My one vintage buy has been a battered Buddhist chant pendant from Bhutan; to date, it has garnered a healthy curiosity from others when I wear it with my boho T-Bags jumper. The charm of a bygone era is invaluable; make space for some gems from the past.

Give the unknown a chance. Kadambari Lakhani will search for unconventional stores across the globe while Queenie Dhody makes the rounds of fashion week to zero in on the freshest crop of just-graduated designers. Add an edge sometimes. It’s quite all right to take a break from the solidity of sophistication to try something personally unique. I remember being tickled with Koel Puri’s fantastical take at a movie premiere, where she confidently walked in with translucent blue wings gently perched on her back. Haseena Jethmalani is another individualist — whether it’s hiking a Manish Arora skirt up to her chest to transform it into a dress or adding purple sequinned Miu Miu heels on a monochromatic tunic, she truly styles herself. Accessorise! Preity Zinta’s fondness for retro shades, Sanchita Ajjampur’s passion for shoes, Simone Singh’s penchant for quirky jewellery; these women understand the impact an add-on makes and their accessory collections are the stuff that successful auctions are made of.

Being well-groomed and fabulously fit will result in a more beautifully turned out you. Mandira Nath’s regular ‘La Mer’ facials ensure a perennial glow while Harathi Reddy’s personal training sessions have resulted in a more sculpted, pared down size, allowing her the luxury of cinching her waist with broad Fendi belts.

Enjoy the experience of getting there. Some of my fondest memories are associated with shopping trips, including a marathon round of stores, attempting to find a silken blouson to go with my newly purchased Theory trousers. Whether you buy to lift your dull spirits like Riddhima Kapoor Sahni or raise an already euphoric state to dizzy heights like Ayesha Thapar, find pleasure in chancing upon the latest additions to your burgeoning wardrobe.

Be proud of your heritage. Nobody can master the supremacy of our colour palette and embroidery technique. Feroze Gujral, a fierce Indophile, never hesitates to parade her Monisha Jaising and Kavita Bhartia prints; your traditional roots do define you to an extent so why shouldn’t you squeeze in some finely crafted made-in-India separates with the admittedly beautiful Balenciagas and Lanvins.With time, develop your signature style. Images of Sonia Gandhi in starched cotton saris with flat Gucci ballerinas and religious red thread tightly wound on her wrist or those of Parmeshwar Godrej, in age-defying clingy couture and plunging necklines, are firmly imprinted in our minds; these divas have created their space and let nobody forget it.

In the end, it’s all about screaming style without uttering a word or overdoing it. Samantha Nayar, always discreet with her choices, cannot do without her 6 inch heels. Watch her gracefully glide on them, with one child on either arm and you will immediately comprehend the inner workings of the best dressed!

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