BAG THEM!

This season, it is not only about what you carry, it is about how you carry them. Practice your stance with the holdall, the clutch, the vanity purse, the rucksack, the doctor bag and the envelope, because each is different.

	XL More than bags, they are your friends to hug, cushions to rest your head on, statements to make your presence felt and ideal companions for your short trips. Classic leather and canvas lend art to dressing, literally. Digital prints, colour blocking, sequins, fringes, rivets, quilting and paint splashes see you through business, events, parties and resorts alike.
	L An extra pair of shoes, or a laptop computer, or a spare dress, or a book or two - the backup messiah of the intelligent fashionista. Structured or slouchy, 'room' is the keyword here. Go futuristic with neon PVC, or hippy with fringes and tassles, or arty with patchwork and vintage leather, or eco with jute, or glam with metallic sheen.
	M ‘M’ is for multi-option. This is where carriage is most important. To clutch it, to swing it, to sling it, to shoulder it, to dangle it, to use one hand or two? Hint – comfort. Whatever feels right looks right, with some cardinal rules, of course. While carrying a clutch, think of an office folder. Trickiest are the smallish handles that fit the shoulder, but look nice in the hand too. Both work, by the way.
	S It is all about shape and dimensions. Sometimes, small is deceptive and there is more than enough room for basic knick-knacks and some additional junk. New shapes, handle-to-clutch options, quirky fasteners and eye-catching embellishments add an edge.
	XS Instantly making you feel feminine, these little wonders require some holding practice. Take your pick from candies, envelopes or trinket cases, with or without metal chain handles. Some may be skeptical about their functionality, but these will see you through many an evening, with your basic essentials. And if someone misbehaves, a hard ‘thwack’ should set things right!

WELL HEELED

If your shoe rack is full to overflowing, build a new rack. A pair can make or break an outfit. Many good pairs and you are sure to be in our Best Dressed List this year! Plus, since when do you need a reason to splurge on footwear?

	Stratosphere Statutory warning: Lack of oxygen may cause ditzy-ness. But who cares! Marble column platforms, chunky wedges, icicle-sharp stilettos and stern blocks elevate you to fashion paradise. Matte or shine, smooth or embellished, futuristic or tribal – this is as eclectic as it gets. Sheer acrylic adds glamour to Zen, while strong black straps and booties ride high on punk/Goth. Metallics dazzle, ropes bind and colours pop.
	Penthouse Glamour and kindness can be friends, after all. Do not kill yourself in knife heels, but settle for a couple of inches less. Demure to sexy pumps, bright, printed wedges, imaginative ‘anklet’ straps, strong gladiators and Mediterranean sandals offer great variety. Patent, suede, faux-leather, satin, wood, ribbons and crystals form a great comfort-style blend. Treasure these.
	Grounded Realisation dawns that women too, walk, run and climb stairs. One sheds tears of joy at the sight of these flat-soled lovelies. Converse is still cool, glitzy mojris and kohlapuris are still ethno-chic. Jute, macramé, fringes, tassels and colour escort you to exotic resorts and quaint bazaars. Boots challenge ballerinas, gladiators counter dainty straps. Bondage transcends spiky heels and settles comfortably into flat-dom. Practical was never this stylish!

BELT IT OUT!

‘Variety’ is the operative word; therefore choose from a wide (or narrow) array of styles and materials. A belt for the morning, one for the evening, probably one even to sleep in! This is what we call ‘spoilt for choice’.

	Highway Six-lane space sets the canvas for some traffic stopping statements. Patent, crochet, quilting, origami, embroidery, semi-precious stones and metal are your elements and techniques of construction. Drive them wild.
	Thoroughfare Signal lights change from red to green to gold to electric blue! Pebbles, foil, brocade and PVC. Kalamkari, pussy bows, tassels and appliqués. This is what cosmopolitan city life is made of. Imagination honks.
	Boulevard Take a walk with sunshine yellow, floral motifs, discs, jacquards, fringes, sashes, floral appliqués and some glass. Glam, quirky, funky and chic are your new neighbours.
	Skinny Alley Explore the luxury of leather and silk, indulge in some embroidery, discover pretty trinkets in metal, stone and beads, add a thin splash of colour and brighten your day.

ORNAMENTAL LANGUAGE

Recession does not mean that you cease to decorate yourself with adornments; it simply means that you use more imagination. Precious rocks will wait; for now, indulge in a variety of more accessible, neighbourhood materials.

	Paint the Town Colour me red; colour me blue, purple, green, yellow. Wood, plastic, thread, fabric and stone take you back to craft class scrapbooks. But going overboard (outfit, accessories, jewellery et al) is not recommended before Holi. Or Mardi Gras.
	Tribal Bold This is the concrete jungle-style, tribal fashion cry: “Go Bold!” Whether with beads, horn, fabric or metal – aboriginal rules this season. African, Native American, Indian or Middle Eastern; there is pride in ethnicity.
	Fringe Benefits Not the rodeo, this. Thread, fabric bits and beads form tassels, fringes and dangly ornaments that add a funky, Bohemian sensuality. Whether in monochrome or ‘Technicolor’, some playful movement makes an outfit more interesting.
	Future Beckons The glint of steel and geometric shapes push past ‘pretty’ to add some space-age aura. Transparent acrylic accessories in monochrome are The Covetables for the season.
	Rooted Tradition never goes out of style, does it? Cascading diamonds (or crystals this season) can create a goddess, while some antique gold turns back time. Blackened silver, unpolished stones and lacquer add authentic detail.

THE ADVENTURERS

Life goes on beyond bags, belts, shoes and trinkets, especially on the runway. The season’s offerings are entertaining, to say the least. While some of them would make one look foolish on the street, the others can, surprisingly, be imple-mented in the wardrobe and in everyday life.

	Leg-itimate Affairs Coloured leg-wear brings back 1980s Punk. Shredded socks, ombré leggings, lace tights and light legwarmers (over tonal denims, recommended for subtlety) are runway and street statements alike.
	Heady Days A printed scarf, a hippy band, an Alice band, quirky odd hats, a floral or feathered hairpin, extension braids – great ways to add colour and create variations in hairstyle.
	Scarf It! An Arab shemagh or a Bihari gamchha or a fringy pashmina replaces screen printed silk. Crinkled cotton rope, a crocheted collar or a string of appliqué flowers propagate creative dressing.
	Eye Eye, Sir! Not simply retro, or geeky, or sporty. Not just aviators, or wraparounds, or even oversized goggles. Eyewear is treated with a menacing, futuristic or humorous take. Comic book superheroes come alive.
	Mixed Bag Women in bow ties? Nice! Rubber studded wristbands? Cool. A metallic tattoo? Interesting. Body chains? Might not be a bad idea. Beware, though – these are strictly for the über-confident.

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