Style
manthra in the rainy season – dress and foot wear
It's tough to make a style statement in the
rainy season. Fashion during the rains should be simple, funky
and fun, but never full-length. In a formal setting, choose
sleeves which end at the elbow. And ditch those ankle-length
skirts and trousers -- it is more comfortable to wipe wet hands
and feet clean with a hand-towel, rather than enter the office
with full-length sleeves and trousers that are dripping wet.
In the rains, it's best to select skirts that streamline
your body (the same goes for dresses). Go for a
knee-length straight fit, or an A-line fit. For
a formal look, pair it with a shirt. A billowing
skirt in the rain is a disaster waiting to happen.
The denim skirt is an option for college wear (that
doesn't mean ultra-short or ultra-tight -- just
above or below the knee is fine). Team it with a
striped tee shirt and belt, slung low at the waist.
For a night out, a denim skirt will go well with
a lightly embellished top.
Even when it comes to jeans in the rainy season,
they are best avoided. They tend to get heavy with
water if you're caught in the rain.
The best option pants-wise in the rainy season is
Capris. You can team them with tee shirts, strap
tops and halters. To make a statement, choose a
long tee and a wide belt to go with your capris.
At work, opt for a shirt or fitted kurtis over your
capris.
Avoid
wearing white in the monsoons, as any splashes or
streaks of dirt will show prominently. Lower body
garments should preferably be dark-coloured (to prevent
them going transparent) -- choose from shades like
olive green, brown, and indigo, teaming them with
tops in bold and bright shades.
As for monsoon fabrics, avoid synthetics as they tend
to cling to the body, trapping the humidity and heat.
Instead, opt for cotton knits, which are porous and
let your skin breathe.
Thin fabrics reveal all when wet. Select thicker fabrics
like silk, poly-nylon and cotton blends, which will
not crush. Jersey dresses, short shirt dresses and
salwar kameezes in drip-dry fabrics are apt rainwear.
Rainy season
is a time when footwear takes a beating. Trudging through
the water, one always runs the risk of ruining good
foot wears and further developing foot odor as well.
With the rain, all the dirt on the ground turns into
mud. Shoes are not suitable footwear during those times.
When wet weather arrives, some types of shoes should
be kept in the closet until dry days come. Some type
of black shoes will develop black stains on the feet
or socks when they get wet. Flip-flop wears should also
be avoided as they will smudge the clothes from behind.
Suede shoes will not with stand moisture and its color
will fade if kept under damp conditions.
If
it is necessary to wear leather footwear during rainy
season, feet should not be slipped in and out of the
shoes directly, and must be opened only by the laces.
Socks are a must; even if they get wet as they act
as a barrier between the skin and the leather. Direct
skin contact with leather footwear can cause bacterial
growth.
Rainy foot wears should be selected with straps so
that they do not flap and cause long stripes of dirt
on the back of the clothes. A sturdy pair of rubber
boots or sports sandals would help.
It is preferable to keep the new and favorite foot
wears at home and wear the older ones during the rainy
season.