Fashion
WARMTH, COMFORT, HAPPINESS COLORS RULE THIS DIWALI!
Happy Diwali! And finally, November finishes off our big fat Indian holiday season with Dhanteras, Bhai Dhooj, Diwali and for some, the New Year.
This season’s theme of Indian fashion includes the colors of warmth, comfort and happiness versus the sometimes edgier, sexier feel of Diwalis past. After all, during this time of unsurety in the world, isn’t light and a light mood what we really are craving?
WARMTH – FLAMES
Think of the iDIYA of the diya! A candle and a light symbolize warmth. It’s a holiday feeling! Think flame shades of oranges and yellows. An all orange sari with cream blouse or yellow suit with golden buttis will stand out and have you sparkle. Keep jewels golden for a flowier look.
To keep with the cozy vibe, keep with a seamless looking white or beige base. For a unique and bolder look, use gray or brown as your base with oranges and yellows – wow! A sharp black contrast, however, will look more Halloween and less Diwali for now.
COMFORT – MITTAI
Let’s think inside the box, the mittai (sweets) box! When we think of mittai, many go back to their childhood or moments of celebrations, big and small. Again, like with the flame theme, mittai is mostly of orange and yellow hues with that neutral base of cream. Imagine a black base especially here, not appealing.
Mittai also comes in pretty colors of pinks and greens! A hot pink lengha with dark green accents is oh-so-now. A patiala suit in yellow green and white with silver foil work is just pretty. Jewels here in silver on top of especially the pink and green hues will upkeep these traditional colors with a twist of modern.
HAPPINESS – FIREWORKS
Fireworks, or pataake, are beautiful and always evoke happiness. Kick it up a notch and be a bomb.
In keeping with the festive colors of flame and mittai, fireworks too are mostly in oranges and yellows. But there are also some reds and blues that pop in for more eye appeal and pizazz! Interesting enough, adding black or a dark blue as a base for your reds and blues works wonderfully (like the fireworks against a night sky).
A red sari with navy blue blouse is beautiful. Try a palazzo suit in blue with black accents. Mixing metals too can create a pretty chaos, more sparkle and definitely more heads turning your way!
As the holidays come near and leave till next year, keep the warmth, the coziness and the happiness with you, within and without. Above all, keep it all together with love – it’s the most important thing really. Spread light throughout among yourself, your family, your friends and beyond. Stay safe and, as always, remember to ‘gro’ with style!
Kiran Bahl of Gro Styles, an Indian Boutique (www.grostyles.com), can be reached at (813) 843-9040 or [email protected]