Every girl wants to know which dress suits her. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but you have to do your part. You have to be aware of the suitable dresses, the color patterns and the cuts in vogue. Most importantly, you have to be aware of your body to be confident about it.
Here’s a list of FAQs on dressing up to reflect your personality.
1. I am lean though my legs are pretty heavier. I love putting on leggings. What should I keep in mind?
Choosing dark-shaded leggings will help cover up the extra fat. Avoid body-hugging materials. Choose slightly thicker stuff instead. Coffee brown, dark green, black, navy blue and purple colors may suit you. You can pair them with light-colored kurtis or tunics.
2. How do I drape a sari perfectly to accentuate my curves?
If you are on the leaner side, you can experiment with jute silk, tussar, stiff cotton or organdy. You can pleat cotton or organdy saris. If you are opting for a silk sari, do not pleat it. Drape it in one layer. Avoid thin and loose materials. You can go for thicker material if you are tall and thin.
Light shades, bold prints and wide borders will suit you. If you are short and plump, soft silk, matka and malgudi will be suitable for you. Choose dark shades that complement your complexion. Pleat it neatly and you might get a tall and trim look.
3. Which style suits professionals the most?
Professionals always do good when they are in the minimalist mode in dress, accessories and makeup. The fewer the accessories the better. Go for a slightly bold single ornament. Kurti and sari can guarantee a semi formal look. So do linen pants and tops.
Whatever dress you choose, try to accommodate high colors, three-fourths or full-length sleeves. Check out stripes and self-prints. You might want to keep away from magenta, lemon yellow and such bright colors. Brown, beige, gray, black and dark blue will give you an elegant and serious look.
4. How do you style your hair in the casual dressing?
Careful nonchalance is the byword in casual dressing. If you have had a good haircut, let it loose. Or pin it in the side only. This will give you a younger look. You can also try rolling your hair up. You could experiment with any article in these situations. Nobody will roll an eye if you choose a paper clip or a silver paper to style your hair.
5. How do you choose a dress in accordance with your skin tone?
A majority of people in Kerala have a honey-hued skin tone. The best color to go with it is the ivory of the Kerala sari. Other complementary colors are light brown, maroon, light pink and light blue. Fairer skin tones generally go well with any color but it is advisable to avoid shades that have too much of resemblance to one’s skin tone. Bright colors suit fair people the most. So do metallic shades. Darker skin tones are well suited to pastel colors and darker shades of warm colors such as green, yellow and red. If you are the skinny type, it is best to avoid brown and gray.
6. I have heard that horizontal lines and patterns help the wearer look heftier. What are the other means? What factors should skinny people bear in mind when selecting dresses?
Bold prints such as digital and floral prints, block prints, color block designs, light colors such as off-white, peach and baby pink suits skinny people well. Avoid well-shaped body-hugging tops and t-shirts. Use balloon tops or layered tunics with medium fit jeans or trousers. If you are a fan of loose-bottom, you can pair it with short tops with medium shaping.
7. Long skirts are in trend. How do you select one?
Long skirts are the best fit for tall upright people who walk with confidence. Boho skirts that reach the ankles are a particular favorite. Single-color skirt with board border is the latest trend. Kalamkari or Jaipur print materials are good on borders. Anyone would look pretty in a skirt with geometric or floral prints.
You can also go with a tiered skirt. A-Line skirts and asymmetric hemline skirts are also in vogue. Always try to go with a single-colored top with these skirts. Sleeveless tops are another good choice. Silver accessories and tribal accessories are good accompaniments. Scarves and stoles add to the style quotient.
8. Everyone wears three-fourth blouses with a sari. What if these blouses make me look fatter?
You can go with materials such as crepe, chiffon and soft silk. If you have picked a thick garment to stitch a blouse, use same colored Lycra or net for the sleeves. Avoiding lining for the sleeves also give a slimmer look.
9. How do I select a yoke?
A yoke is the horizontal cut separation on top of the dress. Usual shapes are arches, straight lines or V shapes. The yoke piece determines the look of a top or a kurta. If you are on the heavier side, avoid a neckline below the bust level. Frills and gathers may not suit you. V-shaped yokes may give you a slimmer look. If you are really slim, opt for a curved cut yoke with small gathers. Yokes below the bust level will suit you.
10. What to wear for a party without being too flashy?
Opt for back open tops and blouses to boost your appeal. Princess cut blouses would be more attractive. Dresses with transparent shoulders made of net-like material are definite head-turners in any party. Do not forget to wear a brassiere with a transparent strap or better a strapless one. Whether you are wearing a sari or a gown, go for bright colors if it is a party wear. Midnight blue, deep purple, chili red, bottle green, aqua blue, wine maroon or reddish brown are good choices.
11. How to choose a matching neck pattern while stitching a salwar top or kurta?
If you have a long neck, avoid broad neck patterns. Low neck patterns will make your neck look longer. Avoid V neck and U neck patterns. Patterns that cover most of your neck, collars, high neck and semi high neck may suit you. If you are stout and your neck is thicker, semi high neck, flat high neck and V neck will suit you. If you have a slim body, boat neck, heart shape and round neck may be your thing. Whatever you choose, take care not to have it very low cut. You could avoid stand collars.
