SHINE LIKE A DIVA THIS NAVRATRI

Navratri fashion has evolved over the years and is more versatile than ever. With options galore, picking up the right costume and styling it might become overwhelming. To make it easy for you, Nitasha Chawla shares the complete style guide for a festive

It doesn’t matter how you celebrate it, the Navratri season lights up the entire country in a way no other festival does. From the first day on, you can hear the festive bells ringing everywhere. Be it Dandiya, Durga Puja or Ram Leela, there’s lots to experience in these nine auspicious days of Navratri.

These nine days of feasting and fasting, dancing and dressing g call for celebrations with family and nd friends. And when it comes to celebraebrations, you can’t ignore the need to o dress up for the occasion. During Navratri, you may see women wearing the traditional costume, Chaniya Choli along with silver jewellery, whereas, men wear Kediyu, sometimes accompanied with little accessories. The basic rule of Navratri dress is to play with maximum colours.

So if this makes you worry about your festive wardrobe, there are many ways to style yourself this festive season. Here’s how to rock your festive look.

LAYERED CHANIYA CHOLI

If there’s an outfit that can never go out of vogue for Navratri, it’s got to be Chaniya Choli (also called lehenga choli). Worn especially during Dandiya celebrations, this outfit has seen many variations over the years. If you are planning to wear it and want to stand out from the crowd, pick up a contrast layered Chaniya Choli. This will add a punch of colour to your outfit and you can pair it with oxidised silver jewellery.

If you don’t like to wear heavy ensembles, lehengas in cotton fabrics of bandhej, ikat weave lehengas, kalamkari print lehengas are much in trend. The figure motifs with panels, or patches and patch pocket lehengas in kalis or umbrella flare lehengas are always in trend. Choose the alternative kali concepts lehengas in prints or colours and weaves.

GRAB SOME BOHO JEWELLERY

If wild is your thing, then don’t forget to team up your outfit with tribal jewellery. There are plenty of ways to add raw and rough look using tribal jewellery... you can also choose to go all out with a tribal neckpiece, a Kutchi armlet, kamarband, anklets, and even a YOU CAN ALSO PAIR PRINTED BLOUSES WITH FLOWING SKIRTS, BELL SLEEVED BLOUSES OR INDO-WESTERN SHEER CAPES AND PRINTED CLOAKS WITH LEHENGAS. THESE ARE SOME WAYS TO LOOK STUNNING IN THESE EDGY CHIC SILHOUETTES. m maang tikka. If you like to keep it simp ple, a piece of heavy neckpiece with e earrings would also do.

OVERSIZED O MIRROR WORK

While W mirror has always been a part of Chaniya C Choli costume, the style has evolvede and oversized mirrors are quiteq a rage this season. This style is inspiredi by Rajasthani mirror work. If thist catchy oversized mirror work captures c your imagination, then look no n further. Get yourself a mirror work lehenga,l pair it with minimalist jewellery instead of high on bling ornaments (you don’t want to blind people with all that glare!).

GO UNCONVENTIONAL

For those who don’t mind giving their lehenga a bold makeover, a backless corset Chaniya Choli blouse is a perfect pick. Pair your Corset blouse with a bright ghagra and a choker that complements your look. And since offshoulders are in again, you can even opt for something like off-shoulder choli with a long tail lehenga. This will look chic and at the same time traditional as well.

You can also pair printed blouses with flowing skirts, bell sleeved blouses or indo-western sheer capes and printed cloaks with lehengas.

TAKE THE FUSION ROUTE

If you are done with the same old lehenga choli on Dandiya, fusion is the way to go. Pair a flared blouse with dhoti pants or a wide legged palazzo pants with a long or short kurti. These outfits are comfortable, chic and absolutely perfect for those who plan to break the dance floor with their ddandiyadi moves.

ACCESSORISE WITH POM-POM

While it has been a common part of Chaniya Choli, pom-pom jewellery has also become a must-have item. If you are not wearing a traditional Chaniya Choli, you can go for pom-pom jewellery instead. It will give a fun and whimsical twist to your outfit. Be it a bangle, a maang-tikka or earrings... pom-pom jewellery is definitely going to make your look more vibrant!