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What
colours are "in" this season? Should you wear platforms or stilettos? What shades (Yup, it's no longer hip to call them sunglasses!) are cool now? Are tees fitted or loose? Will hemlines go up or down? Choices, choices, choices... By Payal Anand with style gurus Manish Arora and Jattin Kochhar
But then fashion isn't meant for people who think it has something to do with need. Admittedly, following fashion is a luxury. But then what's life without a little self-indulgence?! Following fashion, and adapting it to suit yourself, is an art. But just what fads would suit you, and which should you not touch even with a barge-pole? The answers are not as difficult as you might imagine. Did you know that your sun sign can greatly influence what kind of person you are, and consequently, the kind of dresser you are likely to be? Don't believe me? Try this. Imagine the eccentric Aquarian next door and your elegant Libran friend in the same outfit. Tough? Not surprising! Maybe you can see the sturdy Taurean and the suave Virgo flipping over similar stuff. No? Obviously! It's a well acknowledged fact that people belonging to a similar zodiac group Air Well, '99 is here and with it, a whole lot of fads have gone, to be replaced by new ones. How do you keep a check on the latest styles? Simple. Keep cutting out newspaper photographs of the latest designs, keep a watch on what celebs are wearing, hang around designer stores... or simply READ TT. Because we have for you the complete lowdown on what's hot and what's not in 1999. And what, according to your sun sign, is likely to be your preference amongst them.
Young, but classy. Not brash, not wild, but adventurous, spirited and very confident. This is the time to experiment with your look, à la Aquarius, to blend what's "IN" with the quirks in your own personality. In short, to adapt the designers' dictates to suit your own personal style. Clean-cut lines, contemporary colours... the accent is on being you, yet being different. Incidentally, Indian is all set to make a big splash. Fashion covers a wide spectrum of items, from clothes to accessories and beyond. Although it is very difficult to identify which of these are most essential to fashion, there are some which undoubtedly hold pride of place in any teenager's essential wardrobe. We highlight a few. the coloours Bright and young. Rich, vibrant reds, Indian pinks, sunshine yellow. Ideal for casuals and right up the earthy Taurus's aisle. And then classier, conservative hues. Subtle greys and elegant navys that are bound to appeal to the aesthetic air signs. For a touch of drama and mystery, shades like gold, silver and coffee. Black is out this year, especially where denims are concerned, so stick to basic blues there.
the fabric Fabric is not a limiting factor this season. The accent is on smooth fabrics that flow well, cut well and drape well. Very smooth, very Virgo. Guys: Stretchable, clinging fabric for tops and tees. Denim is the eternal favourite for casual wear and that's unlikely to change this year. Do I hear Taureans thanking the Lord? Girls: Wool for skirts. Silk for tops. Velvet is the undisputed winner for formals and is likely to appeal to the Leonine penchant for luxury. Crêpe remains the fabric for all seasons. sunglasses Not so long ago, sunglasses were worn simply to cut out the glare of the sun on hot summer afternoons. But in the past few years, a revolution of sorts has taken place in the eyewear industry, with a host of international brands vying to catch your eye. Today, sunglasses are not just glare cutters. They're a fashion accessory as important as the right tie, the right watch, indeed the right attitude. A survey conducted in 1996 by Bausch & Lomb, makers of Rayban and Killer Loop sunglasses, showed that people placed sunglasses 14th on a priority list of 14 accessories. A year later, that priority had changed to 5th on a scale of 8. The range available in the market today will leave you speechless. You can choose between big and small ones, rounds, ovals or squares. You can go for silver or gold, matte or shine, with lenses tinted in blue or green or even yellow. The choices are endless. The oval will continue to rule, albeit with some modifications. The edges will be more stretched out to make the oval slightly elongated, for a sleeker look. Also, the lenses will be smaller as against the previously popular Jackie Onassis look whose entire purpose was to cover the face of the wearer so he or she couldn't be recognised. If you love whackiness, wraparounds-or frames that go right upto the sides of the eye-are really cool. Killer Loop has some freaky, funky styles available, so make sure to check them out.
Doomsday for ornate looks this year, but sunglasses targeted at women will score. There is a definite move away from unisex styles to individual ones. And if you're looking for the yellow or orange tints that designer Manish Arora insists you must have this season, look no more. Killer Loop's Rapture range is just what you need. Are you never quite sure what shape of sunglasses will suit your face? Here's an easy guide to help you decide what's right for you. the cut Slim, tailored, uncluttered lines. The accent is on the fit, for both Indian outfits and western ones. Even for woolies, add layers, but keep the fit close to the body. Guys, trousers are straight, narrow, without pleats. Coats and jackets are four- button ones now; gone are the days of the double-breasted suit. Tees are fitted close to the body-so out with those XXXL rap styles. Shirts have darts to give them a good fit. Tight jeans are out, the Levi's 501 fit is the buzzword. For girls, fitted jackets and slim pants are cool, so are long straight skirts. Jeans are also back to straight. Stretch is out. Salwar kameezes are cut on clean flowing lines. The accent is on feminity and grace, a boon for the air signs. Salwars are out, it's the fitted churidaar that finds favour. Necklines are as deep as you can wear without raising too many eyebrows. Ray-ban frame selection guide square face round face triangular face narrow face oval face the patterns
casual wear
Still, there are some basic styles that will rule this
season. For a blend of the modern and the traditional: Basic outfits with retro details.
Soft denim shirts, sand blasted bottoms, shirts with contrast stitching. Want something trendy, innovative and just a little daring? Go for comfortable low-waisted bottoms teamed with sexy tops. Try shades of khaki, cream and white to look really cool. And to be one up on everyone, sport the combat look! The army influence is very dominant this season. If the slick, urban look is up your alley, go for classic, cleaner styles. Discard your denims; non-denim cotton trousers are perfect for you. Be experimental with colours-bright oranges, yellows, wine red and cobalt. Dare to be different, guys? Try net shirts in white or black. Girls, if you're looking for those sexy crop tops, go for shiny velour fabric. Try colours like silver, gold, burgundy or coffee for a classy look. You can't get more detailed info than this, can you?! Leather wear
Shoes have long been the most important of accessories, because they can completely make or mar the impact of an outfit. Shoes are also unique in that not just looks but comfort also plays a vital role in deciding what to buy. Well, that's exactly where Woodland scores. These shoes are so comfortable, they're like mattresses for the feet. Not to mention that they cushion the pocket too. This season, Woodland has some great new styles on offer. But be warned, these are not shoes for the fainthearted! There's Godzilla, a great big hunk of a shoe-and as we've already told you, size does matter this year, at least as far as footwear is concerned. In sturdy black leather with cool silver loops and laces, this is a look that's going to drive the world wild. Another really cool style is Braveheart: Dockers in dark tan or black leather with thick soles and lots of style. Can you think of an easier way to step into Mel Gibson's shoes? attitude
That's attitude. the length The focus is on experimentation this year, and the water signs will just love it. The bottomline is: Do what you want with the length of your clothes, but don't keep it in-between. It's either v. v. long or really, really short. Guys, really nothing much for you to do here, but girls can have a ball. Kurtas are being worn very long, almost sweeping the ankle, or they're short, teamed with churidaars. Even dupattas are longer than usual, with tassles at the end. Skirts can be short or once again ankle-length, straight or umbrella cut. 15 MUST- HAVES IN YOUR WARDROBE THIS SEASON: Some things you can do with. Some you can't do without. These are some of those that you shouldn't start the year without.
GUYS Casual: Long sleeved, fitted tees in bright colours teamed with blue denims, huge sneakers. Formal: Narrow trousers, without pleats, plain shirts with darts for a good fit, a four-button coat, Red Tape shoes. 5 THINGS TO AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE:
Want the lowdown on hair and makeup? Next time, pals! GIRLS Casual: Straight blue jeans, block printed tops, big
sneakers. |
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Fashion, to the uneducated, is simply a
way of spending more than you can afford, on things that you won't really need after a
couple of months or maybe even weeks. 
The look 
Don't want something that will go out with
the next season? According to Abhijeet Sanyal, Vice President, Bausch & Lomb, one look
that is elegant and always safe is the classic Aviator style. "It is an acknowledged
fact," he says, "that in an industry like fashion where no trend lasts more than
a couple of years, there are two products that have remained in style for over six
decades. One, the Levis 501 jeans and the second, the Rayban Aviator sunglasses." Buy
the Aviator and your grandkids might be wearing them one day! 
Factory prints are out, it's plains all
the way, whether for Indian or western outfits, guys or girls. Block prints, however, are
really hitting big time, so try them out. For guys, a block printed shirt is cool. Girls
can wear the prints on skirts or tops for westerns, or then kurtas, if Indian is your
scene. Tees are no longer the predictable off-the-shelf variety. Instead, the focus is on
custom-made, slogan t-shirts that you can get printed with a slogan of your choice, or a
photo of a favourite celeb or your bf/gf. Try them. Whacky is definitely "IN". 
Casual wear is a wide term covering
everything from daily wear to semi- formals for casual outings. The look for casual wear
is most difficult to predict because the element of individuality is highest in this
category. 
Leather is truly versatile.
Fashion is not just about what you wear, but how you
wear it. Whatever the outfit, wear it with style and the confidence that nobody would look
better in it than you. Ever noted the haughty expression of models on the ramp? No matter
how outrageous their clothes are, they strut about like kings and queens.