Alumna
[ Scorecard : 1274]
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First day, first show. Initial reactions can make you or break you. What you don the very first day of college seals your fate for the year. Perhaps even for the three years to come. You won’t have the staid yet safe school uniform to sail unnoticed in through college. It’s time to whip up a real wardrobe, people! The college campus is your stage. Something as simple as a bag, a shoe, even an innocuous scarf can be the talking point or laughing stock. Read on to be the campus’ hot chick or cool dude…
ROCK ON
If you haven’t seen New York yet, let’s nudge you into doing so. Not to see Kat finally act or to drool at John’s unending pecs but to take some serious pointers on campus dressing. Take a cue from John Abraham’s devil-maycare duds, Neil’s trendy togs and Kat’s uber cool ensembles. Designer Rocky S, the man behind the look of New York, breaks down campus cool into a two-point formula: “One, cotton/linen shorts in pastels as well as bright, fruity colours are must-haves for college. Two, accessories—shoes, necklaces, bangles, scarves—must be big and bold.” As for silhouettes, he says slim is still in. “Though more popular for formal occasions, slim fits are catching up on campuses too,” Rocky shares.
EXPERIMENTAL HIGH
Slim-shlim is fine if you got a hot bod. But what about the others—by which we mean a major chunk!—with a few extra pounds here and there? Designer Nida Mahmood suggests a stylish way out, “Don’t wear something that accentuates the heavy parts of your body.” Her pointers: Thick at the waist? No big belts please. Heavy at bust? Avoid chunky neckpieces. If you are plump, then oversized clothes only make you look bigger. “It’s important to get the fit right. That simply means clothes with shoulders at the right place and waistline fitted well,” she adds.
If you think plump is problematic, it’s time to commiserate with the lean and lanky! “If you’re lanky, steer clear of body-hugging clothes. Scrawny girls should avoid off-shoulder dresses and plunging necklines. They only enhance your thinness, and not in a good way,” says Nida. As for fabrics, all designers swear by natural materials like cool cottons, linens and silks. In campus colours, it’s no-holds-barred. Accessories like bags, shoes, belts and scarves in vibrant hues can jazz up your back-to-college wardrobe. College kewl is about mix and match—street wear with designer labels, funky colours with ethnic styles and so on. In fact, Nida endorses Indianness as your ticket to campus chic. “Stock up on Indian kitsch from street shops. Make bindis and kaajal your staples. Wear chatai chappals and mojris. Team ethnic neckpieces and earrings with Western outfits or simply throw on a dupatta for a hip look.”
METHOD TO MADNESS
Shedding the school uniform for college chic is great but a bit of method to this madness will help prevent chaos. Designer Nitin Bal Chauhan loves what he sees of stylish university aspirants peeking out of tabloid pages. But there are eyesores too. He begs campus citizens to steer clear of those “100-pocket, buckles, slim-fit khaki lowers and fancy washed denims”! He warns against fashion blunders like tees and sneakers with formal pants or dress belts and Oxfords with casuals. This isn’t the mix-and-match we spoke of !
What you need are a few pairs of basic lowers and loads of funky tees. And nothing beats the funk of graffiti tees. How do you pick the right one from markets flooded with anything and everything scribbled? Nitin tells you how. “There are broadly five categories of such tees—music, sports, icons, individualistic, social causes. See which category best suits your personality and stock up!” When it comes to any dressing, campus or off it, Nitin believes in clothes to reflect your style. “Be it a tee, an accessory or a shoe, everything has to match your personality and evoke your character. Otherwise, you’ll look uncomfortable.” His golden advice: Stick to cotton, linen or viscose. Look summery. A prominent white element to balance the overall look will add style to your semester. Savvy up on these tips and get set to enjoy your year… College is now in session!
CAMPUS CHIC
Absolute must-haves for U-specialists
Powerpuff Girl: Scarf wrapped around neck, lots of plastic/metal bangles, layered contrast tees/ganjis, hot shorts, gladiator flats or jewelled sandals
Johnny Bravo: Casual tees with funky prints/logos, cargo/quarterlength pants, sporty sneakers, Aviator sunglasses, wristbands
CLASS APART
Want the ultimate in college kewl?
Desi Diva: Broad pants + body-hugger tee + colourful scarf/dupatta + mojris/flip-flops + jhola
Delhi Dude: Crushed denims + scribbled tee/shirt
Campus Code
* Choose your lingerie well, all you girls. No visible panty lines please
* College wear is colourful but blue-green-yellow-red is overkill!! Contrast is big this season, but contrast shades of the same colors.
Hanger Management:
Tees : The more the merrier. Sporty, scribbled, scrunched up..You can never have enough tees in college
Sandals : Strap on the style, men's sandals are the ultimate cool this season. Girls can choose from flats in funky colors, the ever-popular chatal chappals and the very in gladiator flats.
Accessories : Funk up your look with earrings, neckpieces, beads, jholas, scarves, kaffiyeh and rings. Street shopat Janpath, Dilli Haat and Sarojini Nagar to dig out the best.
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