ll of us could do with tips on how to dress well, whether it is corporate dressing, formal wear or a night out on the party circuit.
Fashion designer and image consultant Meera Mittal dropped in at rediff.com to answer your queries on how to dress right.
Here are Meera's tips:
vanitha: I usually wear salwar-kameezes and, occasionally, saris and jeans. I am 5'4", a professional, and my weight is in proportion to my height. I have broad shoulders and a slightly peeping tummy. What design and what cut would suit me?
Meera: Congrats Vanitha! You have a super figure. Experiment with Western wear, like skirts, blouses with interesting cuts and tailored shirts, which will complement your broad shoulders.
Jeans are good, but combine them with newer styles, like ponchos or tees with matching stoles. These will keep your wardrobe up-to-date with the season!
vivekbaligak: I am 29, a senior executive at a multinational corporation. What are the different styles I should adopt in my clothing, hairstyle and accessories, to look modern as well as elegant?
Meera: Right now, the market is abuzz with menswear. You have a large variety to select from. Look out for newer variations in stripes which are not too regular or bold. Look for dobby designs (woven designs in stripes, checks or dots or any tiny pattern on the fabric). These are subtle and elegant at the workplace.
For trousers, look only at flat fronts. Follow this thumb rule.
Don't wear stripes or checks on both your shirt and pants. Reserve a texture or pattern either for your top or bottom, and keep the other plain. Team a patterned tie with a plain shirt. Too many textures mess up the look. Hope this helps!
ann: I am 5 feet, weigh 75 kilogrammes, have a dark complexion and long hair. What designs/ styles would suit me?
Meera: Concentrate on the colours of your outfits. Follow the same colour through the length of the outfit so that your short frame is not visually demarcated by different colours.
Also, experiment with deeper necklines and vertical stripes to add length. In terms of colour, use 'off-colours', like dusty rose, chocolate brown and olive, which complement darker complexions.
As you are short, don't keep your hair longer than shoulder-length -- this pulls the eye downward, and makes you look shorter. Good luck!
Uday: What styles would best suit a man who works 12 hours a day and meets high and low profile clients? I am 6 feet with broad shoulders, a healthy body and have a wheatish complexion. Smart casuals and jeans are my favourites, but suits are the norm at work! Could you please suggest something?
Meera: You have a fabulous frame, a designer's dream! Don't be afraid to experiment with colours and newer graphics in ties. Button-down shirts would be a good option, giving you the effortless elegance required at work for someone who meets a lot of clients. Go for easy-care finish in shirts which work without creasing much and give you a smart look throughout the day.
If your office allows it, you could combine a pair of clean-finish jeans with a nice, striped shirt and a casual blazer to give a not-so-formal appearance. Experiment!
harsh: What does style statement mean? Does it differ with each individual? Or is there any common ground?
Meera: Style should be individualistic. You need not follow trends blindly. Pick and choose what suits your sensibility, personality and lifestyle. Work at developing a style that is your own. It takes time, but work at it and you will get there!
shapesin: Is it appropriate to wear a half-sleeved shirt at executive meetings or are half-sleeves considered informal?
Meera: Half-sleeved shirts are considered informal, and are a no-no for formal meetings!
Tomorrow: Meera Mittal on corporate styles and designs
Got a question for Meera? Write to us!
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