The thought of walking out that door with pressed clothes and neat hair is nearly frightful in the wet season. One downpour and your hair is all limp, your clothes are all drenched and your teeth are all clenched. But don’t go cursing the dark clouds. Put a little bit of thought into your dressing and you’ll be better equipped for monsoon. As someone correctly pointed out, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!
Formals
Girls - Keep it short and simple. Long is a big no-no this season. Choose shirts and jackets with short sleeves, or sleeves which end at the elbow. Avoid wearing ankle-length skirts and trousers. Go in for knee-length skirts or short shirt-dresses. It is better to wipe off dirty hands and feet, rather than enter the office with long sleeves and trousers that are drenched and murky! White shirts in monsoon are like inviting trouble. Choose darker hues like like olive green, brown, and indigo. For an evening dinner or a party, go for well-cut Lycra shirts, pants or suits that are easy to wash. Avoid layers altogether.
Guys - You can not help but wear full-length trousers at work. Choose fabrics like blended cotton and poly-nylon which dry away easily and do not crush.
Traditional
Ladies - this is the time to flaunt your colourful kurtis. Team them with snug-fit churidaars. Put away your heavy salwaar kameez - with that long dupatta, it is just so messy and difficult for monsoon. And if you must wear a saree, wear rayon or even better, silk. Silk is lightweight, bright and easily manageable. Chiffon and crepe sarees should be avoided as they lose their sheen when they get wet. Cotton sarees are not so pleasant when drenched.
Casuals
Say goodbye to harrom pants and long, flowy skirts. Bring in the capris and short denim skirts. But make sure your denim skirt is not too tight! You want enough ‘leg room’ to elope from a sudden cloud burst. Wear t-shirts in happy colours like lime green, hot pink and deep blue. They’re the perfect rejuvenator for gloomy surroundings.
Guys – say no to baggy pants this season. Pull out your denim jeans and cut them or simply fold them to a length comfortably higher than ground level. Or go the Ashton Kutcher way, sporting stylish mapris!
Hair
Monsoon hair is confused between summer stickiness and winter dryness. Wear your hair short, or select a style that can bounce back into place easily after being wet. Avoid hairstyles that require your hair to be straightened, crimped or curled since the high levels of humidity in the air will make the hair go limp. Hair also tends to get dirtier in monsoon. Wash it frequently with a mild shampoo. Avoid use of conditioner this season, as it will only make your hair limper. Guys - avoid use of hair wax and hard gels. You don’t want the monsoon dampness to ruin your style!
Makeup
The trick is to keep it light. Use water-proof makeup (mascara, liners, foundation) when required. For the cheeks, stick to pastel shades with rosy undertones. Add some drama to the eyes using pencil eye-liners in fresh colours like green and blue. Use matt lip colours or lightly tinted lip balms.
Foot wear
One rule for monsoon footwear – it should be good enough to protect your feet and protect itself! That’s why you should put your leather and suede shoes away until winter. But if you must wear shoes, wear socks. They act as a barrier between the skin and the leather, preventing bacterial growth. And pick water-proof materials. Flip flops often flap when you’re walking, causing long stripes of dirt on the calves. Go for sporty sandals or floaters with straps, which hold the shoe in place. Crocs can be very slippery. Go for rubber chappals – they are easy to wash and let the feet breathe. Lycra boots look great and survive monsoon. You could also experiment with gum boots and incredible rubber heels – some real fancy ones are available online. Enjoy the season!
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