Be fashionable, be comfortable

When Diane Von Furstenberg the Belgian priestess of fashion came up with a collection that had models strutting in easypyjama pants and printed dresses in her Spring Summer collection 2012 fashionistas took notice Soon Marc Jacobs Stella McCartney and Dries Van Noten also followed suit with different versions of printed silk pyjamas Critics were baffled Could style and comfort really go hand in hand College student Yashraj likes to replace the blazer with an oversized plaid shirt to look stylish yet comfortable Jeena Sharma a fashion writer teams up a highwaist pencil skirt and a crop top that is both appropriate for the day as well as night Pic Shadab Khan Lately it hardly did Looking trendy very often meant suffering silently While pumps made one look tall and elegant they cause serious injuries to the toes But the good thing about fashion is that it changes so often And this season it might just bring a sigh of relief in the form of easygoing fabrics in silk and cotton silhouettes that suit every body type and hemlines that will make your parents proud of you Designer Giambattista Valli gave a whole new definition to full skirts during Paris Fashion Week AutmnWinter 201314 Comfort with style Explains fashion designer Nimish Shah who is known for his minimalistic designs and clean cuts ldquoIt is about building an individual identity and not just following a trend People are more aware of their bodies now and know what suits them best Maxi dresses pyjama pants and midilength dresses are not just trendy for women this season but have now become classics that transcend erasrdquo ldquoFashion has been an amalgamation of different trends This season it is more about clothes that are antifits loosefitting something that makes people comfortable in their own skinrdquo says fashion designer Rajat Tangri High street brands too are not far away from capitalising on this trend Increasingly a lot of standalone boutiques as well as individual brands are running out of maxi dresses and flats on a daily basis Extreme left Aditi Rao Hydari in an easy jumpsuit Centre A model in a white maxi dress by Nimish Shah Right A model u00a0sports a grunge look in the Dries Van Noten menswear SpringSummer show 2014 Says Mohita Rastogi head of design Elle Fashionwear ldquoFashion at one time used to be a very uniform code and used to be targeted towards the more affluent customer Today with the democratisation of fashion people have developed their unique sense of style They have significantly moved towards casual wear We currently stock a lot of midi length dresses and palazzo pants that are very much in vogue this seasonrdquo Mix and Match Since maxi skirts oversized shirts and jumpsuits come under the loungewear category it is very important to style them the right way without making things look too casual say experts Nikhil Mansata a stylist elaborates ldquoWomen can wear anything in satin fabric as it doesnrsquot stick to the body and creates a nice contrast against it Men can wear oversized long shirts with flared printed pyjamas to give a very easy yet stylish lookrdquo But simpler silhouettes are more easy to carry off Shah cautions ldquoStyle should be an inspiration and not a mockery It is great that loungewear is doubling up as day wear and club wear but that doesnrsquot mean you wear a pyjama that makes you look like you have come straight out of bed In such times the fabric and the cut become very important u00a0For example a midi length skirt will demand a court shoe and not flats Similarly the length of the maxi dress makes a huge difference it should be long enough for you to walk without the fabric coming in between your feetrdquo Left Jumpsuits were a clear favourite in Stella McCartneyrsquos Spring Summer 2013 collection during Paris Fashion Week Right A model walks the runway for Etro menswear SpringSummer show 2014 in Milan PicsGetty Images Day for Night A simple play of accessories and layering makes it a very versatile offering for the day as well as night Especially for someone like fashion writer Jeena Sharma who juggles with odd timings at work ldquo I donrsquot really have fixed timings and therefore it becomes extremely important to put on something that is easy to carry off in the morning as well as night A crop top a welltailored blazer and a midilength pencil skirt works great during office hours The same blazer can be taken off during the night to create a subtle yet sexy look for sit down dinner or even a nightoutrdquo she says Veteran fashion designer Anita Dongre thinks that apart from styling accessories play a big role in defining the look for women ldquoSlip on a pair of platform sandals along with layered necklaces and stacked bracelets During the day replace the platforms with ballet flats and add a kick of color with a multihued bag For the truly daring add a bold bracelet like a neon cuffrdquo Men too usually slow on the uptake when it comes to fashion are happy they can finally be cool without much effort Says Yashraj a college student ldquoI love blazers but the weather doesnrsquot really allow me to wear them every day and besides the fabric can make it very uncomfortable In such times a handy oversized shirt in plaid is my goto Linen pants and dhoti pants work bestrdquo With so many options you are spoilt for choice In a way the fashion critics were wrong style and comfort can go together Style dos 1 Wear crop tops that cover the belly button You donrsquot want to show too much skin 2 Sport flats as they are not only comfortable but also versatile 3 Accessories play a crucial role in accentuating a look Donts 1 Wear heels with maxi dresses Instead opt for sandals 2 The length of the maxi dress is important It should neither be too short nor too long A little below the ankle is just fine 3 Instead of cotton pyjamas that give you an outofthebed look settle for a printed silk one to appear chicu00a0