1. Wearing the wrong foundation shade

This is the commonest mistake. The shade of foundation is judged from two things—the undertone and the shade itself. Unless these two are correctly merged, you will not get the right shade of foundation for your skin. Firstly, identify your undertone by looking at the veins of your wrist. Green indicates warm while blue indicates cool undertones. Select a foundation that matches your undertone and is one shade lighter than your skin-tone. In general, it is advisable to apply the foundation on the face and test it under natural light to see whether it matches your skin or not. Otherwise, a shortcut method is to take three closest shades and apply on the jaw line and simply dab them to blend into your skin. The colour that merges onto the skin quickest is the shade for you. Remember, foundation is the base and if your base isn’t matching your skin tone, the whole makeup will look wrong.

2. Not blending your foundation onto your neck

When you don’t blend the foundation onto your neck, it looks like you have a mask on. This gives a “made up” look. The purpose of applying foundation is that it should provide an even tone to your skin, especially to areas that are not easily covered by makeup. Take your time to apply the foundation on to the neck and blend it evenly.

3. Wearing the wrong blush shade

Once again, the formula for choosing the correct shade of blush lies in the identification of the undertones. Blush is the natural flush of colour that you want to add. Start working with very little colour and blend it thoroughly in an outward motion. Then, keep in mind the shade of your lipstick and apply the blush once you have applied the lip colour. For bold lips, choose a colour with same undertone as your skin and lip and apply very softly. For muted lips, apply the blush with an undertone of your own skin tone.

4. Applying too much concealer

Concealers are great for covering and concealing the flaws to make you look impeccable. Then again, too much concealer will not only highlight the flaws [read fine lines and wrinkles] but will also crease up and ruin the whole look. Hence, the whole purpose is defeated. So, choose a concealer that is lightweight and blends easily into your skin. For under eyes, use a lightweight brightening concealer, while for acne and scars use a slightly thicker one that matches your skin tone. Remember, blending is the key here. All you have to do is dab the colour until it looks just like your normal skin. Don’t load up too many products at a time; if you are looking for high coverage just build up the layers gently.

5. Forgetting to prep your skin before applying makeup

A lot of women skip prepping and priming their skin before applying makeup and that’s why their makeup doesn’t last long. Prepping the skin involves cleansing, toning and moisturising your skin, which gives you a clean canvas to start off on. Make sure you select a good moisturiser for your skin type and give it 3 – 4 minutes to be absorbed. Apply a good primer that will even out the skin, fill in the pores and hold the makeup throughout the day.

6. Applying too much powder

Applying too much powder won’t save your face from looking oily; on the contrary, over-powdering your face will simply clog the pores, stimulate excess oil secretion and ultimately lead to acne and blemishes. Firstly, do not apply powder where it isn’t required [For example, if you have an oily T-zone, you don’t need any powder on cheeks or jawline]. Secondly, always apply powder with a brush, using carefree and light strokes. Also, make sure to dust off the excess powder from the brush before applying it.

A lot of women skip prepping and priming their skin before applying makeup and that’s why their makeup doesn’t last long

7. Applying too much blush and bronzer

This makeup blunder is known to make women look clownish and fake. The purpose of a blush and bronzer is to add colour to your face or just to contour and add dimensions. Use both, blush and bronzer very sparingly so that there is a minimal chance of it going wrong. Also, while application, make sure the lighting is perfect or use a natural light as a source so that you know how much to apply. Again, always tap the brush for excess before slathering over the skin. Spend some time on blending! Here are some more tips on applying blush.

8. Over-applying liner on bottom lash line

If you don’t wish to look like a raccoon, do not over-apply liner to the bottom lash line. Simply, apply a stroke of kajal and use a precise pencil brush to smudge it. Too much kajal or kohl on the bottom lash line can add years to your face and ruin the whole look.

9. Doing bold eyes and lips, together

This is a mistake for which the makeup police will not forgive you. Our eyes and lips are both expressive features, hence both should not be highlighted at the same time. While going for a bold lip colour make sure the eye-makeup is minimal with a simple winged line. Similarly, for the bold eyes, choose a very neutral or natural lip colour.

10. Not blending your eyeshadows

Eyeshadows are wonderful if applied properly. Sometimes even single colour on the lids can make you look glamorous provided you blend the colour properly. Make sure you have at least one transition shade. A good matte transition shade is a must if you are using 3 or 4 eye shadows together. Use a medium size fluffy brush to blend the colours. Keep blending the colours in a wide swipe motion until the harsh lines completely disappear. Do not layer too much at a time; slowly build up the intensity you desire.

Applying makeup is something you get better at with practice. Just follow the above tips, get your basics right and you’ll never go wrong with makeup.

This was first published in the April 2016 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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First the basics

1. Foundation: I recommend a mineral powder foundation because it offers different levels of coverage, is easy to apply and blends well without streaking or leaving lines of demarcation. It  looks natural, and stays put all day. Many women who use mineral powder foundation do not need to use a concealer or setting powder, though some still prefer to add these products to their regimen. Mineral powder foundation also contains fewer chemical ingredients, is less likely to clog pores, and is less at risk for contamination.
2. Powder blush: Again, I recommend a mineral powdered blush—this can either be loose or pressed, and should use natural pigments. Blush can be used to brighten up the skin tone, but can also be used as an eyeshadow for touching up on the go or, if time is tight, in the morning while getting ready. A light dusting of blush on the apples of your cheeks [smile!], on the forehead, and on the eyelids can really enhance skin tone. I recommend applying blush with a large, fluffy brush, a little bit at a time. It is easier to add more colour than it is to remove excess colour.
3. Eyeshadow: While each season brings new colour trends for eyeshadow, I recommend sticking to a neutral colour palette for the workplace. Neutral colours include brown, taupe, ivory, tan, beige, gray, charcoal gray, and black. Sometimes a muted plum or forest-green tone can be used as an accent on the eye, but women working in very conservative environments should use these colours with discretion. Mineral shadows are available in loose and pressed forms, are easy to apply, and last all day. Eyeshadow brushes of varying sizes and shapes can be used to achieve different looks. For work, stick to one or two shades of shadow—a third accent shade may be applied sparingly for a special presentation or if the workplace environment is less conservative.
4. Mascara: Keep it simple, keep it black. Brown mascara rarely shows up even on lighter skin tones and lashes and coloured mascaras are inappropriate for the workplace. I recommend only one coat on the bottom lashes and one to two coats on the top lashes. Use a lash comb to remove any clumps. Mascara is often full of toxic chemicals, but safer formulations are available. Look for mascaras that are free of parabens, petrochemicals, and tar. Safer formulations include natural waxes like beeswax and carnauba or palm wax, natural gums like that from the acacia tree, and other natural ingredients.
5. Lip colour: Lip colour is available in a variety of different textures, finishes, and application methods. Some women prefer a conventional lipstick in a tube; others prefer sheer tints or shiny glosses. For work, stick to colours that are close to the natural colour of the lips—not further than one or two shades lighter or darker. Anything too far off may appear distracting or unprofessional. Also stick to a matte, satin, or creamy texture. Shiny glosses or shimmery finishes may also appear unprofessional and may not stay on as long. Look for lip colours that are made with natural pigments, waxes, and oils such as jojoba, beeswax, and iron oxides since many conventional ones contain lead and other heavy metals, as well as petrochemicals. Remember that a large amount of what is applied to the lips gets ingested, so pay close attention to lip product ingredients.

Optional add-ons

Other products that may be added to the make-up bag are concealer, eyeliner, and lip liner. Concealers must match your skin tone—ones that are darker or lighter may actually attract more attention to the blemish or area to be covered. With eyeliner, again keep it really simple and stick with black for work. The application should be a sharp, thin line along the lash line—nothing too thick or dramatic. Lip liner should be neutral and should match the colour of the lips, not the lipstick. This allows for a more natural look without unattractive lines of demarcation.

Your professional appearance not only represents you, but also the brand or company being represented. It’s important to present an appearance at work that is confident, elegant, and polished—especially if the job requires attending conferences, giving presentations, or representing a specific brand. Properly selected and applied make-up can help you achieve this look.

This was first published in the August 2013 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Before you add another item to your wardrobe, let’s talk about creating a signature style.This is a look that people associate with you because it is consistent and memorable. A signature style expresses your personality, makes you smile every time you get dressed, and gives the world a clue from the outside as to who you are on the inside. And you want to be sure you are giving them the right message! Understanding your style will make you a savvier shopper and a smarter dresser.

Remember that creating your personal style is an ongoing journey, not a final destination. Your body will change, and fashion will change, but if you take one step at a time and celebrate each change that makes you feel good, you will get there.

These 10 steps will allow you to move in the right direction. Take notes as you do these. These insights will be invaluable when you shop.

1. Hold it right there!

The first step is awareness. Fully allow the realisation to surface that you aren’t happy with your wardrobe right now. Do not wallow in it, but fess up and take responsibility. Agree that you will no longer support this habit that is not serving you. Every person, no matter what age, weight, height or colour, can look fabulous. You are no exception. Sure, you might have to come to terms with the fact that you are not going to grow five inches taller or that your weight has stabilised higher than you want it to or that you will always have slightly bowed legs no matter how toned they are. But, you can always dress in a way that minimises the parts you don’t love and maximises what you do love, even if you don’t believe that right now.

2. Go beyond comfort

I am not saying sacrifice comfort. I’m saying allow for other aspects of your ideal wardrobe to be present along with comfort. Yes, you can wear a dress that is comfortable, and it can be beautiful and reflect who you are. Comfort and personal beauty are not mutually exclusive.

3. Be yourself

Many people have a wardrobe that looks more like everyone but them. As a result, what they have does not delight them. They are bored or uncomfortable!

When I say be yourself, I’m talking about who you are at a gut level, not whether you are an entrepreneur, mother, wife, CEO or speed skater. Are you radiant, down-to-earth, quirky, fun, bold, gentle, spunky, elegant, unconventional or something else entirely? If you are over 40, how have you changed, grown and evolved from when you were in your 20s? What positive words would you use to describe yourself now? These traits must be reflected in your wardrobe, or you will never feel fully satisfied.

If your wardrobe doesn’t reflect your personality, do not berate yourself. Exploring different styles helps you determine what you like and what you don’t. What often happens, however, is that if you are at all uncertain, you assume others know better. It is now time to take back control of your own style.

Before you go any further, take a few minutes to think of three or four positive words to describe yourself. Think big! Use a dictionary or thesaurus for inspiration. For example, are you dynamic, impish, enthusiastic, fiery, poised or saucy? Ask a friend to help—just be sure the words resonate with you, not just your friend, because you want them to be reflected in your wardrobe. Note: When you are choosing your words, do so without imagining how they will translate into clothing. That part will take care of itself later. It is easier to see how a wardrobe can be colourful, smart, sweet or down-to-earth than it is to imagine clothing that is humorous, determined or sensitive. Do not get sidetracked right now; focus on words that best describe you.

These words can tell you a lot. If, for example, one of your defining words is luminous, and you dress in all neutral colours, perhaps it’s time to add some pizzazz! Or, if you are wise but your wardrobe consists of pastel T-shirts with silly sayings on them, it might be time to bring in more rich colours, textures and styles.

4. Know what you have

Pull three or four of your favourite outfits out of your closet. What do they have in common? Look for these themes:

Colour—Do you love to wear colour, or are you a black and white or neutral person? If you wear colour, are there particular ones you favour?

Fabric—Do you like fabrics with body and structure, or do you prefer them soft and airy or flowing and drapey?

Fit—Do you like fitted, loose, flowing or softly tailored?

Solids v/s prints—Do you wear one more than the other?

5. Know what you want

What characteristics do you feel are missing in your current wardrobe? Pizzazz? Elegance? Beauty? Drama? Flamboyance? Spunkiness? Or something else?

6. Know your accessory style

Consider how frequently you accessorise and the types of accessories that interest you.

• Do you always or never wear jewellery?
• Do you like ties? Do you know how to wear them?
• Are shoes your passion or just a necessity?
• How do you feel about cardholders, handbags, eyeglasses and even your hair?
• What makes your accessories distinctively you?

7. Know your dislikes

Perhaps you cannot imagine wearing ruffles, anything embroidered, turtlenecks, or polo shirts. It’s up to you! What you do not like can tell you as much about your style as what you do enjoy wearing.

8. Let the universe inspire you

Spend five minutes a day visualising yourself wearing clothes that make your heart sing. Remember, you do not have to see a specific outfit. It’s more the feeling that the outfit elicits that you are going for. Imagine looking in the mirror and saying to yourself, “Wow, I look stunning!” If stunning is too big a word to start, choose something that feels doable to you right now. Try sophisticated, darned good or even so much better. The universe will say, “Hey, he wants more of that,” and that is what you will get. It might be in small doses and in surprising ways, but you will get it.

Spend five minutes a day visualising yourself wearing clothes that make your heart sing

9. Start small

You don’t want to scare yourself by completely overhauling your style overnight. It probably took you years to get in a style rut, so give yourself a break and start small. If you’ve been wearing mostly neutrals, add a new colour in a tie, scarf or pair of shoes. Do not buy an entire outfit in a bright colour if you usually wear all black or neutrals! Get a great new hairstyle or hair colour to reflect the image you want to project. Hint: If you do that, you might find you need to make another change fairly soon to keep up with your new hairdo! Or maybe buy a handbag in a colour you’ve been admiring, and use it every day for a week. See what happens!

10. Buy it and wear it only if you love it

As I have said before, do not settle for functional or something that will just get you by. If you don’t love it, don’t buy it! There are no exceptions to this rule.

A smaller wardrobe may actually be better Despite what you see on the TV makeover shows, creating a wardrobe is not a one-time proposition, and there is certainly no magic bullet. Like most people, you will still probably have to try on many things before you find the pieces you love, but at least you will feel more confident about your final selections. Building a wardrobe is a lifelong project and, ideally, an enjoyable one. The more you see your wardrobe taking shape, the more fun the journey is! As new and wonderful things come into your life, you will feel more comfortable letting go of more of what is cluttering your closet now. And, you will also find that your wardrobe is smaller than you expected. Surprisingly, it will not feel smaller, because you will wear everything. That’s when you know you are right on target!

A final word of advice: Pay attention to detail. Remember that a signature style is all about consistency. You will get discouraged if you do it half-heartedly. For instance, if you have a fabulous, elegant look and throw on your old running shoes with it, you are going to feel frustrated when it doesn’t feel right to you. You want to feel great in everything you wear, and when you follow these guidelines you will.

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Essentially, how others judge us has more to do with how we look than who we really are. This is not necessarily fair, but it is reality. The good news is: we have control over the image we project to the world and how others view us. Change what you wear and how you wear it. Learn power dressing.

Power dressing explained

Beginning in the late 1970s and continuing into the1980s, ‘power dressing’ was a term used to reflect a style of clothing worn by women in particular but men as well to look competent and authoritative. The style was influenced by popular television shows at that time, and was followed by influential people and people in the public eye.

The concept was popularised by the book Dress for Success by John T Molloy in 1976. It is during this decade that the connection between success and image was made. Women and men began to pay attention to their image and style of dress to move up the corporate ladder and to convey an impression of assertiveness and competence. From it emerged a style of dressing, aimed at giving the wearer an appearance of more power. Women power dressers or who ‘dressed for success’ donned themselves in clothes made from expensive materials such as silk and wore jackets that had a masculine shape.

Today, things have changed. Although image is still an important part of appearance and moving ahead in a career, the styles are less rigid and have more variety and colour. Also, the idea of power is beginning to change. Power is no longer seen as an outward force, but as an internal strength.

Power dressing for men

The original term ‘power dressing’ for men was less distinctive and leaned more toward a more expensive business suit. Today, power dressing for men focuses on a sharp, clean, polished look. The first step in power dressing is to take into consideration your working environment and the image you want to present. For example, a man who is the president of a bank will want to communicate that he is intelligent and trustworthy. He is delivering a different message than a man who works in a training and consulting company and wants to make a statement about commitment. Both will want to be impeccably dressed, but in a way, that demonstrates their messages.

The second step is to take care of details; details make the difference. Always choose quality clothing items. This says you care about yourself and you make good choices. Don’t misinterpret this to mean you should visibly wear designer labels. It could send a totally different message—the message that you are unsure of yourself and are trying to appear confident. For men, power dressing means always dressing appropriately and staying well-groomed.

Power dressing for women

Today power dressing is less severe and more polished, colourful and friendly. The idea is not to dress for authority and push to the limit, but to let others see that you are competent and reliable. The business professional look [for those who work in banking, law or government] still includes a classic suit in a solid colour, such as, navy, dark brown, black, grey or pinstripe. The lines are softer and colours are more acceptable.

An informal professional look includes wearing colourful jackets, sweaters and blouse styles. You can also wear print dresses and skirts combined with tailored jackets and sweaters.

It is important to be aware of your company’s dress code when selecting your wardrobe. Look at what the top brass in your company wears to make decisions about what you should wear and ask yourself this question, “What message do I want to portray”?

Power dressing with colour

In business settings you can use colour to create an impression of power, understanding or security. Generally, the darker the colour of the suit the more authority is bestowed upon the wearer. For example, navy is the universal colour for authority and power. This is a great colour to wear when making business presentations. Charcoal is a colour that creates a sense of security. It is a colour worn by those who want to be seen as honest and trustworthy. Earth tones create a feeling of understanding—a great colour to wear if you want to build rapport.

Colour is one of the most important aspects of looking great. The colours we wear have an effect on how we look and how others view us. Some colours have a calming effect while others arouse. For example, blue has a peaceful, calming effect, while red arouses. This is something to consider when choosing colours for your wardrobe and the occasion on which you will wear them. Wearing yellow will make you seem joyous; while blue creates a feeling of calm.

At the same time, the wrong colour will make your skin look dull, lines and wrinkles more apparent and dark circles darker. The right colours will make you look radiant, make your eyes sparkle and make the lines, wrinkles and dark circles less noticeable.

Colours are either warm or cool. For example, candy apple red is cool and rusty red is warm. If your skin has yellow undertones, you will look best in warm colours. Yellow will make your skin look radiant and your eyes shine. If your skin has blue undertones, you will look best in cool colours. Blue will make your skin look radiant and your eyes shine. Usually, we get drawn to colours that look best on us, but if we pay attention to how different colours blend with our skin tone we will make better colour choices.

Even though colour is divided into categories, you don’t have to be stuck in one, you can wear any colour as long it matches your skin tone.

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According to Mumbai-based designer, Prakruti Nanavati, it is better to pick pants that highlight and enhance your look than to blindly follow the latest trends.

She suggests the four basic aspects to consider when buying pants: comfort, right fork length, material and colour [preferably in that order].

“Most people are impulsive shoppers, but when it comes to pants, one should refrain from this kind of shopping,” warns Nanavati. She recommends doing some research and hunting before picking up the right pair.

Body type

Here is a guide on choosing trousers based on your body type:

The petite shape

These people are shorter and have smaller frames. So, they need to wear clothes that are well-fitted. Some tips:

• Opt for straight-legged, neat-cut pants
• Go in for the fitted skinny pants look; it really complements your body shape
• Choose lighter colours like white, beige, creams, pastels.

An hourglass shape

These people have a curvy figure and a proportionate body with slim hips. Here’s what is good for them:

• Flatter your body type with fitted jeans or wide-legged pants
• Avoid wearing pants that taper from below. Cut pants [churidar] are also an absolute no-no for you.
• Opt for looser open-styled pants.

An apple shape

These people are heavier on the upper torso—women have a bigger bust line and larger waists. But, they have slim legs. A few tips for them:

• Prefer pants in a single colour tone
• Wear knee-length pants to look slimmer
• Choose medium-rise pants with a flat front
• Opt for pants that taper below and cut pants [churidars].

A pear shape

These people have a round figure with more weight on the hips. They have narrow shoulders, but heavier thighs. Here’s what they must do:

• Opt for dark-coloured pants
• Go for boot-cut pants
• Try flared, baggy pants in cotton or khaki
• Avoid wearing bulky jeans as they make you look plumper
• Prefer draw-string pants.

A rectangle shape

These people have a slender built and don’t really need to worry about what they wear.

Some tips for them:

• Choose from a variety of colours available in the market. All colours will look great on you.
• Try and sport the athletic look like tight track pants.

Seasonal trends

There are pants for every mood and occasion and you can team them in so many ways to create new looks every time you step out. “With fisherman pants, dhoti-style pants and jodhpuri pants, you can literally be spoilt for choice this season,” says Mumbai-based fashion designer Sabbah Sharma. She tells you what’s hot this season:

Wear palazzos [women’s pants that have wide legs flaring at the ankle] and fisherman pants [lightweight unisex trousers that are wide in the waist; one size fits all] when indoors or in a casual mood. Palazzos, fisherman pants and dhotis look good on almost all body types

Make a style statement with jodhpuris teamed with ganjis or fitted shirts tucked in. Jodhpuri pants make you look super-chic.

Create the boho-look effortlessly with dhoti pants.

Opt for straight-cut and slim-fit trousers for a formal occasion. A good choice of colour in single tone can make them look interesting. They are better when tailored for the perfect fit.

Some more expert tips

Varsha Bhawnani, a wardrobe stylist from Mumbai, gives her advice on buying pants this season:

Denim leggings are the way to go this season. With the killer skinny fit and wide choice of colours to choose from, these can be apt for all occasions and body shapes.

The boyfriend jeans/fit looks good when teamed with a fitted tee-back t-shirt and a great belt.

A formal look with high-waist pants that highlight the thin upper waist adds glamour to your outfit.

This summer, linen is the fabric of choice. It looks particularly good with bright-coloured blouses or shirts.

Straight-fit pants that give a modern and retro look are in style this season.

It’s all about looking glam this season. Style gurus from across the world believe that you should wear pants as per personal style and body structure. We just made it easy for you, by telling you all what’s chic and stylish this season.

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Today, there is a high level of customisation when it comes to sports shoes—every sport has a unique need that a particular kind of shoe alone fills. However, some shoes, like the skateboarding shoes [often seen as a beat up pair of high-tops], are versatile enough to wear even when you’re not playing. Before we discuss the fashion side of sports shoes, let’s understand where it all began.

Back track

The first ‘Keds’ are said to have appeared in 1917. They were mostly white or all black and boringly bland. All there was to a ked was a canvas upper fused to a rubber lower or sole. The rubber soles resisted slipping and the canvas uppers allowed air into the shoes. These were called sneakers as one could pad around or ‘sneak’ around quietly on the rubber soles!

The sneakers have come a long way and involve a highly developed and stylised design that ensures optimum performance whatever the sport in question. There are racing flats, track shoes, skateboarding shoes, climbing shoes, wrestling shoes, foot ball cleats and dancing shoes.

New-age technology

Shoes are now developed by podiatrists and scientists to achieve just the perfection one needs. Old canvas and rubber plimsolls are replaced by air cushioned and gel-filled capsules loaded soles. Foam, silicon, air and gel are the most popular materials used to cushion the soles.

Some shoes like the basketball shoes even included a pump valve. Customers were encouraged to pump up their trainers as if they were bicycle tyres. Purchase of the trainers included a pump.

Types of material used

Leather and canvas though still vastly popular are thin and low-density making them unreliable in sports that exact a higher level of strength from shoes.

Ethylene vinyl acetate, which was invented in the 1970s and which consists of millions of miniscule air bubbles packed tightly, revolutionised the sports shoe. The air bubbles absorb the shock while holding your foot snugly. The material can be injection moulded, which means it can actually take the exact shape of your foot allowing for maximum comfort. Meshes are added in the uppers to allow easy breathing.

Another material that is popularly used today is polyurethane. This unique material offers the elasticity of rubber combined with the toughness and durability of metal. Elasticity is paramount as the shoes need to bend and flex under the pressure but bounce right back when at ease. Polyurethane offers just that.

A well-known sports gear brand has now unleashed shoes that are, in fact, like socks. The entire shoe is in one piece and extends over the heel and ankle to grip the whole foot and can actually make you feel like you are running bare foot! No laces, no uppers or lowers.

Putting them on for style

Hollywood stars like Woody Allen wore sport shoes to the Ballet; Dustin Hoffman wore them in All The President’s Men. By the ’80s prominent public personalities picked up the trend and brought it to the masses. Justin Timberlake started the fad of wearing sports shoes with suits and jacket!

Rock stars took them to extremes by studding them with Swarovski crystals. Some even went as far as getting them in solid gold with real diamonds! Hip hop stars epitomised the look with their bulky white shoes and oversized clothes. Before long, everyone who wanted to be seen as hip, was trudging around in sneakers.

Finally with fashion, technology and comfort taking precedence over all else, sports shoes have become a fashion statement. They exemplify personal taste and identity more than just being used for a sport.

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Fabrics that breathe

The fabric used in workout wear nowadays is aerodynamic, lighter and better-fitted for the gym, track and the street. The lightweight and transparent fabric is breathe-easy and highly flexible, making it ideal for any sport no matter how extreme. All premium brands feature moisture-wicking fabrics, to enhance breathability with perforations and vents to allow for body heat to dissipate simultaneously as the person wearing those works out. Colours are more brilliant as lycra and other synthetic threads add lustre to the supple nature of the elastic.

Design sensibility

Modern workout wear incorporates all the necessities needed when working out while keeping the look hip. Renowned designers are being roped in by brands worldwide to bring together functionality and aesthetics in a way that will attract the discerning buyer.

Vintage looking stains and dirty looking splat marks are another trend in work out apparel, with typical street wear elements and vintage details instilled in the design. In addition to this modern photorealistic or computerised prints and embroidery are combined with zoomed up graphics and graffiti.

Bold colours and even fluorescent colours are predominantly in vogue with sports superstars’ faces on the fronts. Another trend that is picking up rapidly is metallics. Figure-hugging tees and tights in eye-watering metallics have taken over from the usual drab cottons. This trend not only makes the body look more appealing and sexy but also lends a very futuristic feel to any ensemble.

Comfort + style

Today’s well-informed buyer wants to include elements like fun, funky and cool to his workout wear. Ergonomics, aerodynamics and an astute study of anatomy and the human movements is involved in creating some of the newer gear. Air flow is very important while working up a sweat and this is kept in mind to place strategic pockets and vents for convenience. The clean lines are inspired from the linear forms of muscles in the human anatomy to make silhouettes that actually sculpt themselves on the musculature therefore improving performance with the sheer comfort provided.

Lesser seams and stitching are now employed with some brands introducing seamless garments. The absence of seams and stitching allows for lesser discomfort and chaffing. These garments are constructed in one piece. Moulded comfort in fabric is what these garments aspire to bring you.

The wrap around or new draped designs too add more support and elasticity to the workout wear as they criss-cross over the body straddling the points where support is most required.

The right pick

Often, we get carried away with the sheer profusion of workout clothes that are available now at every mall and lose sight of what is appropriate for the form of exercise we choose to do. Each workout routine is exclusive and should be treated as such. Even when you do decide to go for funkier stuff, remember it should be in your size, allow you to move your arms, legs and head with ease.

For women, it is important to see that the garment affords ample support to the bust to prevent sagging; use proper sports bras. For men, the same stands true for the shorts. Proper support is important if one has to avoid injury or hernias. While swimming, make sure there is no buckle or strap that is restrictive as this could mean disaster if it stifles your movements while swimming. Also, swim only in swim suits or bathing trunks/briefs, as this is not only practical but also expected.

Leotards [a skin-hugging one-piece stretchable garment designed for both sexes that covers the torso and leaves the legs free] and unitards [a skin-hugging stretchable garment with long sleeves and legs designed for both sexes] that were extremely popular in the sixties have made a resounding come back and for a very good reason. These are appropriate both for yoga as well as Pilates, T’ai Chi and other such routines, which require maximum stretching. The one-piece garment allows you to stretch and bend in peace as the garment stays in place no matter what. Shorter tees and low-slung pants can cause unnecessary ward robe mal functions where none are wanted. There is no point in working out if you are self conscious of the gear.

Always check for the weather before stepping out to work out. Dress accordingly to avoid being frozen or broiled. It is best to layer and de-layer rather than wear thicker fabrics if one is subjected to a variety of temperatures especially in air-conditioned gyms.

Dressing for yoga

Along with the rest of the workout apparel, yoga wear has also had its own upheaval. Gone are the kurtas and tracks, welcome snug, yet supple unitards and leotards with funky Batik prints in eco-friendly fabrics and dyes to boot. Many of these also sport spiritual imagery. Devnagri print in orange is quite the thing to wear. Hemp, jute and bamboo fabrics have joined the ranks of the traditional cottons and linens. Accessories like jute jholas and head gear to complete the look.

With so much variety and functionality available there’s no excuse for you to get into your old exercise clothes. If you have to sweat when you work out, at least do it in style.

The post Workout wear: Go for the fun, funky, functional appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Coloured perceptions

For a long time, a notion prevailed that fair-skinned people can wear or rather pull off any colour of garment. Fair was the preferred skin colour. This has changed gradually but surely; today, wheatish or dusky is largely looked at as glamorous in the field of fashion. But I believe that the colour of a person’s skin is not the only deciding factor in fashion.

And I advise people to wear more of a particular shade in garments based on their personality in totality than just their skin colour. A darker man with a vibrant personality, for instance, may carry off a bright orange sweater with more ease than a fairer man with a calmer, subdued nature.

A whole lot of social conditioning goes into subjugating people of darker skin tones into being wary of wearing brighter colours like yellow and red. It is only a matter of perception. Feel free to experiment with any and all colours of the palette in casual wear. And soon you will find the colours that work best for you. How? By the number of compliments you get or by the general disapproval of your close friends and family members.

Your shade card

When deciding on the colour to wear, you need to consider: the occasion, time of the day, season and finally, the colours in vogue.

For the day: For day-wear, opt for a lighter palette—pastel shades like off-white, peach, pinks or pale yellows, blues and aquas are perfect as they suit any skin colour. For corporate wear in particular, pastels work well as they can be teamed with the darker shades of suits, skirts, jackets and ties.

The darker skin, however, looks better in solids and tonals. That means you wear a tie or a jacket that is perhaps only a few shades removed from that of your shirt or formal blouse.

So, if you are wearing a sky blue shirt, a medium charcoal grey suit is better than a jet black one. Your tie in that case can be a navy blue or a maroon even, but in the same key. This helps you maximise on your richer skin hues and keeps the attention more on you than on your clothes. Fairer people should ideally wear more contrast. Like say, a sky blue shirt with a navy blue suit and a yellow and navy tie. This is because their lighter skin tends to blend with the light clothes.

Post dusk: For evening or party wear, as a rule, darker, richer or jewelled tones work best on all skin tones. By jewelled tones I mean striking colours like bottle green, deep purple, turquoise, deep red and so on. This is because such events are lit with chandeliers, candles or fairy lights and this kind of light is great for these colours.

Fabrics too play an important role in selecting the colour that suits your skin best. If you pick black as a safe colour to wear to parties, then imagine the same black in velvet, silk, satin, cotton and wool. Ditto any other colour. Select fabrics on your comfort level with a particular feel.

The earlier conception that men should wear rougher fabrics like tweed, wool and flannel is now being challenged. Women are experimenting with worsted woollens and men are sporting fine velvet jackets—both to great effect and to the tacit approval of us stylists.

Again, the selection of fabrics depends more on the occasion than anything else. The finer or richer fabrics like silks and satins are best flaunted at evening events like weddings, parties, balls and galas. Breathe-easy fabrics like cottons and linens are better suited to the day events like the Derby or a brunch at a fine dine place. Comfort and practicality was perhaps top of the mind when formulating these unwritten rules for dressing.

As per body type: Above all, common sense is paramount when deciding on what to wear. If you are short, stout and fair, choose a medium-key colour—like a basic blue or grey—even in a slimming print like a vertical pinstripe, or small all-over print.

If you are tall and dark but slim, wear lighter colours that will add dimension or body to your frame.

It’s in you

Our eyes are sensitive to colour at its most basic level and how people perceive us depends largely on our choice of colours. Follow your head and heart to arrive at your own unique palette and you will see the difference it makes to the way you look.

The post Choose clothes as per your complexion appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

There are far too many men and women, who follow fashion blindly, and end up looking like a disaster. It’s easy to stay away from looking like a member of that group.

Latest fashion not withstanding, there are some key things to consider when picking clothes for yourself that will help you look good, confident and that you can carry off well.

Fit

The fit is the way the garment adjusts to your body. It is essential to wear clothes that fit you well. If they don’t, you’ll look like you’re wearing something you borrowed from your father’s closet. So, when you are considering buying a garment, don’t just hold it against yourself; try it. If it’s a skirt or a pair of trousers, squat down in it and judge it from different angles—does the waistband poke out at the back, is it too tight on the knee, does it give you enough room in the rear?

How high does the skirt ride when you cross your legs? [A pencil skirt will ride higher than one that has slight gathers in the waistband.] When you try on a jacket, bend your elbows—how tight are the sleeves? Does the collar sit flat against your collar bones? This is crucial for a jacket to look and feel good. Check all this, then buy.

Cut

The manner in which the garment is cut, defines the style and shape of a garment. It plays a huge impact on the way you look. The clothes that you wear are usually cut larger than your body size in order to provide comfort or ease while wearing.

The amount of space between your body and the garment reflects the cut of the garment, which determines your ease in it.

So if you like a relaxed fit, a loose-cut shirt is the right way to go rather than buying a slim-cut shirt [that hugs the contours of your body] in a size larger.

Go for the cut that flatters your body. If you are a lean person, try slim cuts as they accentuate the curves of your body.

On the other hand, a potbelly protruding out of a slim cut T-shirt is revolting. Short people wearing loose cut clothes, look even shorter. If you are large at the hips, cover it up with clothes that are slightly roomier. Take care not to overdo it, or else you’ll look like you’re in a sack.

Personality

If you are not a member of a rock band or a heavy metal enthusiast, you should not be strutting around in grunge T-shirts, metal chains and leather wristbands studded with spikes. The first thing to do while buying clothes and dressing up is to analyse your personality. It’s completely okay to be the simple boy-next-door or the perfect bride. And if you are really that, remember to dress the part rather then trying to look cool and ending up looking like a bad impersonation of Elvis Presley.

Occasion

You’d wear your swimwear to the pool rather than a pair of rugged jeans, right? Follow the same rule when dressing for other occasions as well. For work, dress formally in something that fits your work environment. When you’re out with friends, wear something between casual and formal. When you’re out for a movie, it’s okay to throw on a pair of flip-flops.

One of the places where most people break the rule is when they try to adapt the concept of Friday dressing. Because it’s the end of the work week, does not give you the leeway to wear a pair of shorts or for that matter even a tattered pair of denims. Your workplace is still a formal organisation irrespective of the day. While you may ditch the jacket and trade the solid or stripe shirts for a more casual open-collared shirt, maintain the cotton chinos and closed-toe shoes. Alternatively, you could use a pair of really dark denims. Women can trade their pencil skirts for a more casual skirt and or some jeans. Remember: wearing proper footwear is crucial.

Season

As simple as it may sound, it is one aspect where many people falter every now and then. It isn’t rare to see women wearing heavy leather boots during summer months.

Wear clothes that suit the climate of the place. For instance for a weather like Mumbai, what you need are fabrics that breathe; so think cotton, linen and very fine quality high count wool, which won’t make you look like you are roasting over a fire.

Colours and patterns

Always consider your skin tone as the base colour before buying any piece of garment. So, while the bright red dress may look good on the white mannequin, if you are slightly on the darker side, it may not be a good idea for you.

That’s another reason why you should try everything before buying it; it immediately tells you how that piece is going to look on you.

While solids are versatile classics, you must also have clothes with pattern in your wardrobe. However, tread with caution when choosing patterns: horizontal stripes make you look wider and vertical ones increase your height. So if you’re heavy on the top, refrain from using horizontal stripes and large patterns. Go for vertical stripes instead, which make you look taller and slightly slimmer.

And though it is safe for thinner men to wear checks, it is not a good idea if you are short [especially refrain from larger checks]. If you’re wearing a pattern on top, team it with solid colour bottoms rather than patterning all throughout and ending up looking like a wallpaper. Often men wear a striped tie over a check shirt. To pull it off, the shirt should have micro-mini checks and the stripes on the tie should be large.

If you want to wear checks on checks and stripes on stripes, follow two simple rules: the pattern on the shirt should be smaller and you should migrate out to a larger pattern on the tie; and there should be at least one colour on your tie that matches your shirt.

The post Attire basics appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

But even a suit can fail to make the impression, if you don’t know how to choose the right one. Choosing a suit is an art and here we tell you how to master it.

Follow suit

Know the different kinds of suits to choose the best one for you.

• The full dress: These are tails or tailcoat. They are long jackets, often worn for dinners. Another name for tail coat is dinner coat. It looks great on tall men, but is now rarely worn.
• The Mandarin suit: This is the stand-up style coat with no lapels [collars]. Commonly known as the ‘jodhpuri’ coat, you can wear it for weddings or other such occasions.
• The Tuxedo: The most common, straight-fitting coat that can be worn to most occasions by most body types. It is also known as the ‘black tie’.
• Pinstripe: It’s one of the most stylish of the suits. The fabric used for pinstripe suits are of premium quality and are ideal for business meets or at work where you need to have a serious-looking appearance.

Suits can be worn in two styles:

• Single-breasted: Suits of this style have a symmetrical front with buttons at the centre and an option of leaving coat buttoned or unbuttoned, which makes the style a favourite for most men around the world. It is the preferred corporate-world style.
• Double-breasted: They are coats with a cross-over centre to button, which means one side of coat overlaps the centre and buttons across to the other side. This usually gives a fuller look in the chest area and one should wear these coats buttoned at all times while standing. The style looks great on slimmer men.

Suit yourself

London-based Jasweet Singh, who has been in the suit-tailoring business since the last 22 years, gives you some buying tips

• The first to consider is the occasion—is it for a wedding, interview, travel or business?
• For work, go for basic suits. Do not experiment much with cut, style or colour. Dark suits like black, charcoal or dark blue with amplified pinstripes look chic for presentations.
• To wear for a wedding—yours or someone else’s—a white suit makes a lasting impression.
• For travel, get a suit in wrinkle-resistant fabric. Neutral colours [grey, beige or black] are good for the go.
• If you rarely wear a suit, go for the ‘all-purpose-suit’ in grey or black in a straight cut.
• Wool is the first choice of fabric if you are wearing it abroad. For the Indian weather, suits in micro-fibre or linen go well.
• Suit should compliment your skin colour: Wheatish skin, beige and coloured suits; fair complexion, white and grey; dark skin, navy. Black is classic and suits all complexions.
• Go for quality fabric that fits perfectly.
• Tailored suits are better than off-the-shelf ones due to the better fit.
• Corduroy is in and looks chic for formal and casual occasions.
• An affordable, yet good fabric option is a blend wool and polyester.

Accessories

“To make a look more fashionable, it is very important to wear accessories as per the occasion”, says designer Ashley Rebello, who gives you a few tips on stylising your suited-look.

• A dignified-looking briefcase or leather binder adds grace.
• A chic pen adds elan.
• Any jewellery like gold or silver bracelets should be worn light and non-flashy.
• A good formal watch is a must. A sports watch with a suit is forbidden.
• A good pair of cufflinks on a full-suit complete the look.

Suits for women

Delhi-based designer Seema Batra, shares some tips for women

• Season’s trends in women’s suits include skirt suits with fitted and shaped jackets.
• Asymmetrical, non-collared and portrait necks are in vogue.
• Trends in women’s business suits haven’t changed much over the decades. The peplum jackets [long jackets] with pencil skirts are still a rage. This style is best accessorised with skinny belts, jewelled brooches and ladylike gloves [to be worn only for parties].
• Dress up your look with a high-heel pump. Add a silk brightly-coloured scarf and delicate jewellery, preferably pearls and diamonds.
• Classic colours for women’s suits are black, navy, and grey.
• A suit with a pattern should be conservative with no lapels.

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