New Delhi: The festival of dancing all night is back after a two-year long hiatus and has gotten people from across the country grooving to the dandiya beats and putting their best foot forward.
When it comes to garba fashion, the traditional garba outfit includes a chaniya (skirt) that is paired with a choli (blouse) and a dupatta for women and a kediyu (flared short kurta) with a pair of fitted cotton trousers and a turban for men.
The post-pandemic garba trends have been constantly evolving as several influencers and fashion creators are constantly setting trends.
However, most people are opting for easy-to-carry and comfortable looks over the traditionally flashy and heavy attires that are Bohemian chic in nature.
There is a clear blend of ethnic and modern aesthetics in terms of fabric, colours, prints, and embroidery this festive season. The balance between comfort and style is the highlight of the Navaratri 2022.
Check out this year’s list of attires that are an acceptable venue outfit and a go-to fashion statement of the season:
- Asymmetrical Attire
An asymmetrical bordered lehenga is one of the seasonal favourites this year. Though hemlines with asymmetrical or high-low patterns have been in style for long now, they’re still very much in fashion.
Try wearing a lehenga and a dupatta in contrasting colours to achieve this look. For example: combine yellow and purple colours in different parts of the outfit. Don a statement headpiece or earrings with a bunch of hand accessories to complete the look.
The complimentary colours and hemlines will lend a chic and sophisticated look.
- Chaniya with Peplum Choli
A new fashion fad of the season, women can pair chaniya with a peplum choli for a graceful look. The flared top completes the ensemble and works wonders for those wishing to avoid the dupatta hassles.
Extremely minimalistic yet fashionable, this look also works wonders for women who want to avoid being flashy or avoid showing off too much skin without compromising the style quotient.
- Half-n-Half Chaniya Choli
A fashion fad that has resurrected post-pandemic, Half-n-Half refers to a half patched and half plain parts of the attire that combines to form a garba outfit. A show-stopper, this look can overpower every paired accessory and make-up.
The best half-n-half examples include a chaniya with a patola print, Ajrakh, Kalamkari, or Bandhej design with a contrasting or plain dupatta.
- Layered Attire
The very trendy and the IN-thing this Navaratri season, layered attire is designed to make heads turn. Try substituting a dupatta for a cape over the choli to achieve a layered look.
Besides, opt for layered chaniyas this year to achieve extra flare. The numerous layers on the chaniya will provide a royal look with enough leg-room to spin and dance with élan.
- Chaniya-Kurta
An extremely sophisticated style, opt for a long kurta over a sprawling chaniya. This minimalistic look can be experimented in several ways. One can opt for an exquisite and embroidered kurta over a plain chaniya or a plain block-coloured kurta against a heavily printed chaniya and a complementary multi-coloured dupatta to achieve the look.
One can accessorize the look with traditional and basic jewelry to act as statement pieces.
- Lehenga-Styled Saree
Why need a lehenga set when you have a saree! A comfortable yet easily achievable, the look requires a saree to be worn as a chaniya-choli. Women can wear an exquisite pre-stitched or embroidered blouse or choli and drape the saree as a lehenga with the pallu substituting the dupatta.
This comfortable yet sophisticated look is sure to make heads turn. Besides, having a saree saves the hassles of donning and managing three different pieces of clothing in an outfit.
- Jacket-Styled Attire
One of the most popular Indo-western looks of the season, flashy and traditional jackets have replaced dupattas this navaratri. One can don an embroidered jacket over a plain crop top and a heavy embroidered skirt.
One can pair loop danglers with a nose-ring and a dark lip colour or bold smokey eyes to achieve a modern yet stylish garba look.
(Avya Mathur)