Let's make a splash with a stylish rain-proof wardrobe

What to wear Women u00a0A model in an Aniket Satam floral tunic The springsummer season in India saw a lot of bright hues colourblocking trends and prints in the runway In terms of silhouettes the asymmetrical highlow hemlines ruled the roost ldquoI think monsoon is a great time to wear bright colours that can instantly lighten onersquos mood even when it pours and you are stuck inside Women should wear kaftans and tunics or similar loose fitting clothes which donrsquot stick to the body Opentoe plastic shoes is a musthave in the monsoon toordquo says designer Aniket Satam Aniket Satamrsquos Top 3 Cotton in lycra out Though cotton absorbs a lot of water and takes time to dry it is lowmaintenance Other fabrics such as georgettes and chiffon are light and dry easily Stay away from synthetic fabrics such as polyester and silk as they stick to the body and makes one feel heavy Short is hot Monsoon is probably the only time to flaunt those enviable short dresses skirts and tops But make sure you sport bottoms in dark colours Light coloured dresses or even skirts get dirty easily Darker shades of pants go with a lot of colours and wonrsquot embarass you even if you do get drenched Kneelength culotte pants too work well as they are not too short Neon is in Though fluorescent shades have always been in fashion new lsquoneonbrightrsquo hues in hot pink green and even blue are very much in vogue this season Apart from incorporating such bright colours while dressing up a neon seethrough raincoat or even a windcheater can glamourise an otherwise drab outfit Men A model showsu00a0of Rajdeep Ranawatrsquos menswear collection in the Wills India Fashion Week 2013 ldquoCropped pants should be a staple in every manrsquos wardrobe during the rainsrdquo says Delhibased menswear designer Rajdeep Ranawat He also opines that other than sporting bright colours men can also opt for bold with prints that can give a dimension to the overall ensemble He says ldquoPrints are very versatile especially abstract and geometric prints Men should also not shy away from floral prints as they not only look good but also gives one a relaxed feelrdquo Rajdeep Ranawatrsquos Top 3 Crop it up Crop pants and even shirts complement the Indian male physique Team a whitecropped shirt with bermudas It looks very laidback and perfect if you are running errands during a downpour Prints galore Donrsquot go overboard with prints as they can make or break an outfit Wear one print at a time If you are wearing a printed shirt then the rest of your outfit should be plain and subtle Windcheater magic Windcheaters are a great way to layer up in the monsoon Team a lightweight windcheater in black nudes or even maroon over a shirt or a tshirt This is ideal if you want to sport that lsquojacketovershirt lookrsquo Beauty Sport a clean face and bright lips this season Skin During the rains your skin and hair are probably the worst affected Dermatologist Bindu Sthalekar suggests that one should go easy on the makeup and use products that suit individual skintypes ldquoPeople with oily skin should use a gel based facewash while those with dry skin should use a cream based one Many people stop using sunblock during the rains which can have adverse effects on the skinrdquo she says u00a0 Makeup Want that glowing skin that others are jealous of Itrsquos not tough if you have the right beauty products says celebrated beauty stylist Samantha Kochhar She advocates the use of smudgefree make up and during the rains so you can enjoy the rain on your face Samantha Kochharrsquos Top 3 Mineral Makeup Mineral makeup does not stick to your skin and also tends to give a healthy glow Choose from a wide array of foundations and blushes that are now available in the market Pop tints Instead of lipsticks experiment with lip tints or stains that usually come in a stick or gloss form Choose them in bright pink and cherry red make your skin look brighter Prime right Primer is very essential before you apply makeup since it makes your makeup last that much longer It comes in matte and illuminating options Accessories u00a0 Thr right accessories not only complete the overall look but also act as a lifesaver during heavy rains Here are three musthave monsoon accessories Sonya Vajifdarrsquos top 3 Waterproof bags Bright is the way to go Be funky while you protect your things from getting wet Artistic umbrellas Roll over dull drab black or singlecoloured umbrellas Opt for umbrellas in quirky prints and if you are feeling flushed snap up one of those supremely expensive ones with swarovski elements embedded on them Colourpop bangles Glass bangles in different colours look great Pair them up with a monochromatic outfit to create a contrast u00a0A colourful tunic can instantly lighten up your mood during the gloomy evenings Best monsoon buys What Flat Bata ballerinas Where Across all bata outlets How much Rs 499 What Lulursquos NY Cherry bag Where Lulursquos Linking Road Bandra How much Rs 5495 What Handmade Umbrella Where Anemos Krishna House ground floor Raghuvanshi estate How much Rs 26000 What Sonya Vajifdar Transparent raincoat Where wwwsonyavajifdarcom How much Rs 6000u00a0