JANUARY 2019
Khaas Baat : A Publication for Indian Americans in Florida

Fashion

SELF-IMPROVEMENT GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR!

Kiran Bahl

By KIRAN BAHL

It’s 2019 and what a fresh year this can be! Affirm your resolutions (or purposefully a lack thereof) and actually live your life! Make positive changes in every facet of your being, in and out, and for sure include some fashion forwardness. Make looking your best as always possible a priority. After all, it’s proven – if you look good, you feel good too!

Here are a couple of my personal Indian fashion (and maybe self-improvement) goals for 2019. Take them as inspiration, a fashion do-on-your-list or just an ‘I-know-I’m-not-doing-that in your mindset. Either way, these thoughts of mine will get you thinking and vibing with your own personal signature style to reflect you better! Let’s get reading.

2019 RESOLUTION No. 1 – I’M ONLY GOING TO WEAR FULL INDIAN OUTFITS; FUSION LOOKS, BYE (OK, MAYBE UNLESS THEY’RE ABU JANI SANDEEP KHOSLA-INSPIRED STYLES)

Okay, India’s fashion goals as of late have had us honestly become lazy for quite some time now. That whole kurti/leggings as an outfit phase and long anarkali ‘gown’ moment without any bottom or dupatta really had us thinking that we living in the United States as Indians had it made. Maybe even Indians in India had it made too. What better, what easier fusion than these throw on options?

It’s 2019. Stop. Even designers ready to wear and couture and runways showcasing Indian ensembles globally are finally agreeing with my views (and yes, my thoughts came first) on this. Beautiful, complete Indian wear is in, and full on.

Manish Malhotra, Falguni Shane and Peacock and Sabyasachi (even more so) are amping up their ethnic looks with more tradition. Full A-line lenghas with stone work, gotta embroidery and zari are in. Cholis are cholis again, not tiny bikini or tube tops. Dupattas are full, embroidered and even super Indian feeling with allover banarasi and block foil prints in silks. Vests are still in but not as those half jacket looks with missing sleeves on one side or those tiny cropped ones that barely qualify as an outer layer at all. Short and long vests are worn to coordinate with your lengha or suit and include beautiful embellishments too.

Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla are still fusing, maybe to transition slower into the traditional train, but also only keeping the non-traditional parts as slight accent pieces. A lovely sari from their collection I noticed recently contained enough of a ‘slit’ down the center to expose a metallic pair of churidaars, versus the standard petticoat. Offbeat and very Indian!

2019 RESOLUTION No. 2 – I’M GOING TO STOP DRESSING DOWN, OVERALL

I get it. So many of my family, friends and customers ask me where they can wear their Indian wardrobes. There apparently are just not enough parties, poojas, or get-togethers to wear these outfits to. Many groups of family and friends are celebrating events more and more at home, which is good. But why not dress up when all meet?

Sure, throwing on a kurti with jeans or a choli with dhoti pants seems easy breezy and even loosely trendy because of the casualness. But if you are planning a fun night in with friends, show up and dress up – spread the effort and love! Themes can be enforced and colors to wear put in place.

And it’s a domino effect, really, since so many don’t have a variety of friend/family circles to move in and out of and dress accordingly. You and your friends start to dress over casually together as a unit and stop wearing your Indian outfits at said home gatherings. Then you all automatically take that mindset into events outside the home, no matter where. Worse, the thinking then melts into your American wardrobe too. Gasp. You end up wearing leggings and T-shirts all over the place (athleisure oversaturation anyone?) as your everyday wear. See? It literally all begins at home. And maybe the company you keep. Either way, you love both, but you don’t have to adjust and dress to anyone’s style but your own – just be you in this world of them.

So choose Indian! Wear a proper three piece salwar kameez, patiala, churidaar or anarkali outfit with bangles. Wear a simple sari with a pretty statement necklace. Try a lengha with your hair up in a cute ponytail. It’s all about the details, especially at home. Decorate more from there depending on the occasion, venue or theme!

Happy New Year! Keep kind, keep happy and as always, remember to ‘gro’ with style!

Kiran Bahl of Gro Styles, “An Indian Boutique” in Tampa, can be reached at (813) 843-9040, e-mail kiran@grostyles.com or visit www.grostyles.com

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