Wear it high

High waisted pants are back! And how! This scorching summer heat now gives you more reasons to wear one..even to work. Yes you need to keep it formal ladies but not boring!

High waisted pants definitely help you create that perfect illusion and accentuate the right features. But you need to pick the right pair for successfully executing the magic trick. So carefully choose your pants based on your body type.

If you want to hide a not-so-slim waist, go for the non-pleated skinny high-waisted trousers that will hide that extra flab around your waist and leave you flaunting an almost perfect hourglass figure. So we have Beyonce sporting a high-waisted straight cut pants below that hides any extra inches at her waist while accentuating those perfect hips and famous posterior. You can also opt for a high-waisted slim fit trouser to get an overall toned look.

 

For the few luckier ones binging on calories to gain that perfect look, the pleated high-waisted pants are a blessing. Opt for a slim fit, casual fit or the ultra-comfortable wide legged type that will still help you keep it formal!

 

Brand Check - Time to taste THE "Mango"

Just like the fruit, which everyone likes to gorge on during the summers, the brand Mango has some "should be in your wardrobe" wear especially for this season. Whats more, while Mango was previously thought to be a luxury label, the recent mushrooming network of Mango stores across Delhi has made the brand more accessible and of course - Likeable!

They have a commendable collection when it comes to formal wear and I love the variety they offer from smocked waist trousers to skirts to dresses to jackets and tops! Here are my top formidable formal wear picks from Mango.

 

Mango Contrasted Straight Cut [INR 3,790]          Mango Draped Sash Dress [INR 2,390]

 

Mango Retro Inspired Print Combi                 Mango Ruffle Dress [INR 3,990]
Dress [INR 3,790]

 

Mango Relaxed Fit Short Sleeves                         Mango Slim Fit Short
Blouse [INR 1,990]                                             Sleeves Shirt [INR 1,550]

 


Mango Short Sleeves Shirt [INR 990]                Mango Two tone Asymmetric
                                                                          Blouse [INR 1,990]

 

Mango Pencil Linen Skirt [INR 2,650]              Mango Peplum Skirt [INR 2,790]

 

Mango Pleated Flared Skirt [INR 2,790]         Mango Straight Fit Zip Closure Skirt [INR 2,650]

 

Mango Chino Trousers [INR 2,990]                   Mango Pinstripe Trousers [INR 2,990]

 

Mango Sash Trousers [INR 2,790]                Mango Slim Leg Cropped Trousers [INR 2,650]


So ladies..what are you waiting for..its time to taste the MANGO!

Are Colors Formal!?

Of course they are! (excluding neons!)

But a word of caution ladies, wearing colors may not really be a cakewalk as colors would definitely make you stand out among the sea of blacks, greys and browns i.e. your boring colleagues. So definitely do not make the mistake of wearing red pumps with your red dress (yes a red dress can be formal too!). Instead, opt for black pumps and match it with a black belt or white pumps and white belt or nude colored pumps and belt and voila - Professional! There are plenty of options available ladies..so go ahead and add some color to your formal wardrobe.

So try out purple..

Or REDS ;)

 

Or shades of blue..

the natural greens..

 

and while I personally stay away from yellows, flaunt it if you have it in you! I do like the DKNY yellow, white and black combo.  

 

Colorbest Ladies!!

Lets call it THE Classic Black Dress (CBD)!

Every working lady SHOULD have a plain classic black dress in her wardrobe. Hell, every female SHOULD have a plain classic black dress in her wardrobe. Period.

Now I'm not talking about the Little Black Dress or LBDs here, because in the end we are talking about the corporate world. So let's keep it professional and call it the CBDs or the Classic Black Dress!

It could be a straight cut, which is perfect for those with a not-so-slim waist and a heavier bottom. It will definitely make you feel taller and slimmer. 

It could be slightly flared from the bottom, like the A line. Perfect for the skinny corporate ladies. 

Or it could also be sharp and fitting - Ideal for those regularly hitting the gym! 

Now there may be more variations in the cuts and styles thanks to the burgeoning fashion and apparel industry. But haven't all of us tried to carry off our one precious perfect CBD in different ways!? 

I have listed my secrets below:

SHRUG: As we (or at least I am) hell bent on keeping it formal here, lets avoid the tight snuggly shrugs just barely covering your shoulders and instead pick up the more formal short jackets or formal boleros as Mango calls it.

Wherever acceptable, or if you just feel like having some fun, opt for the crotchet shrug as below

Since the base will be a classic black dress, you are at a liberty to choose shrugs with block prints or classy designs apart from shrugs in contrasting colors. So experiment away and tell me how you made your CBD stand out with a shrug!

FORMAL COATS: Formal wear gives you the luxury of wearing coats in office that can actually help you flaunt a toned torso even if you don't have one..Sssshhhh!

 A half sleeved formal coat you can find at most retailers

 I absolutely love this one! Price - INR 6,390 (Mango)

 Price - INR 3,490 (Mango)

Price - INR 4,990 (Mango)

BELTS: Both slim as well as broad belts help you transform your CBD into..well...a better CBD! Broad belts help you hide those love handles your love loves!

TOPS: Turn your CBDs into a skirt by putting a nice top over and keep 'em guessing!

All the best gals! Would love to hear any related ideas and more pics! :)

Keep it fun and formal!! 

Brand Check - Van Heusen

One of my favorite brands when it comes to affordable formal dresses is Van Heusen. They have over 125 stores spread across India, offering some fabulous chic and sharp dresses that will make sure you stand out. They also have a membership (Diva) card through which you get 10% discounts after you hit a purchase limit of INR 5,000 in a year.

I am a sucker for blacks, browns, greys and whites when it comes to formal wear. So the latest collection is a dream come true! I especially love the second dress with the black and white stripes being beautifully blocked by the soft brown.

Oversized T shirts are definitely in and provide the much needed airy comfort in summers. The third look scores top points with the oversized shirt being paired with skinny jeans to get the perfect formal look.

For more info including prices and locations, visit http://www.vanheusenindia.com/

Happy color blocking!! 

Hola!

While the saree is undoubtedly considered as the sexiest clothing by all Indian women, westernwear is not far behind in the list. Young Indian women working in large MNCs and corporate houses are fast embracing western-wear, preferring them over the salwar kameez (how hot can they get after all!) and sarees. Trousers, skirts and formal dresses are finding space (lot of space in some cases) in cupboards previously dominated by traditional Indian clothes and strictly partywear dresses.

Although trousers and crisp shirts are becoming ubiquitous, formal dresses are lagging behind, thanks to the unwillingness of some ladies (may be they think their legs are too fat) and also the unavailability of good dresses in India (which may make the legs look less fat).

After having faced such a transition myself, and spending hours searching for good formal dresses in the Delhi and Gurgaon malls, I decided to get a few stitched myself (and it was cheaper too!). This blog aims to be a convenient repertoire of everything related to formal dresses - the availability, alternatives, do-it-yourself, types suited to the Indian body, how experimentative can you get depending on the workplace and the likes.

Read on and make heads turn at your workplace!