From: Aakanksha Agarwal

Step Out in Style   

Posted On Saturday, January 29, 2011

If you thought winter was all about bulky coats, think again. Read on to find out how you can be smartly attired this season...

Kolkata is chillier than ever before. This winter is all about dressing-up. For both men and women, elegance and sophistication is the key, especially if you are part of the corporate sector. Loud street wear, torn jeans and tracksuits are a strict no-no.

For women
Sweater coats are a great way to jazz up corporate wear for women. They come in different designs and can be used as outerwear over skirts, dresses as well as trousers. A blanket sweater coat looks good over leggings and skinny jeans. Hence, it can be worn over casuals.

A cocoon shaped sweater coat is more apt for your office dress code. You can wear it over formal trousers and even pant suits. It also looks great when paired with dresses and skirts. A sweater coat made out of textured yarn looks professional and feminine at the same time. With this, you can exude confidence and use it to accessorise your dress if you want to attend a party straight after work. This year layering is in for women. Surbhi Gupta, stylist, says, “Layering sure is one hot trend.”

Play it up
Want to jazz up your office wear? Designer Agnimitra Paul has an unconventional take on layering. To add a quirky touch to your ensemble, Agnimitra advises, “Wear a full-sleeved top or tunic with a tiered tweed waistcoat and pair it with a chic boyfriend blazer, all A-line silhouettes. Finish the look with a skirt, stockings and colourful socks with shoes. Even those who aren’t strictly into Western wear can sport this look by substituting the top with a tunic.” According to designer Kallol Dutta, “Women with heavy bottoms can experiment with the layered get-up in darker shades.”

For Men
It’s time you played around with coats, neck-ties and tailored suits. Tailored and structured pieces with a glaze of sophistication are the key elements for one and all this season. If there is only one piece you’d like to focus on this winter – go with the blazer. Blazers are very versatile and great for mixing and matching with various looks.
If you have the physique to carry one, then you must invest in a trench coat. Trench coats are good for casual dressing and you can even use them as great car coats when you know that braving the chill in the air is going to require quite an effort. Car coats with their notched collars are expertly crafted from the best quality leather and are must-haves for your work-wear wardrobe.

A slim-fit blazer made up of lamb leather and sporting two front buttons also looks great if you want to look your part at work. You can wear it over your suit or your corporate casuals.

Jacket jazz
Jackets, be in leather or suede are loved by all men. Leather never goes out of style. You can’t ever go wrong if you choose a classic leather jacket. This is one of the items you will be able to use in multiple seasons for years. It’s better to stick to conventional colours if you plan to wear one to work. A leather blazer buttoned at the front, scores the maximum points when it comes to male corporate wear for winters. It looks great teamed-up with a pair of cotton trousers or denims.

In Kolkata, you can always go for the iconic denim jacket. The jean jacket offers timeless style and can be a fantastic option for cool, casual mornings. Or, you could opt for military-style jackets. Designer Manju Agarwal says, “A well-fitted jacket can hide a multitude of sins.” So, get one for yourself today.

Colour palette
Embrace dark earthy colours such as black, charcoal, brown, grey and neutrals. They are most likely to keep you warm and cozy this winter. Playing around with this palette will ensure you look sharp and fashionable without going overboard.

According to Kallol Dutta, “If your office is fine with casual clothes, casual hooded sweatshirts go really well. The colour palette includes a plethora of options from the alluring jewel colours like green, purple, to camel brown, cedar and burgundy.” So enjoy the season and the oodles of style that it brings with it!