fashion
Romancing the rain
Ragini Malhotra

The rains will shortly be here for the good of the nation. But the downpour and dampness can be horrible for your appearance, even if you do not get drenched in a sudden downpour. With rains in high fashion, you can become really ‘unfashionable" with eyeliner running, mascara getting smudged , hair falling limp and your favourite stilettos festooned with mud.

But there is hope for you if you plan your monsoon beauty campaign well. The aim is to make you look well with good health, perfume wafting gently and make-up that is on and not running.

Fashion designer Ramchandra Amin opines that you must be willing to pack way all your denims and ensure that your monsoon wardrobe consists of cool cottons and linens. For the rainy weather, in which you often have to get enclosed in a rain coat, "cottons will keep you from getting clammy, while cotton blends will not crush". It is preferable to have cotton blends that have at least 75 per cent cotton, and synthetic yarns, such as polyester, are good for the rainy season. Not only are they easy on maintenance, they also take the limpness out of the cotton when the moisture levels are high. Fabrics that dry easily are a sensible choice. The thicker type of linen can be worn in this season but if you are on the move most of the time, then remember, linen tends to crease easily and your damp or wet clothes will dry up to give horrible creases. New fabrics like Tencel can also be worn in the rainy season.

Another designer Janaki Bhatt advises that the other ideal material for rain-soaked days would be seersucker, cotton knits, chiffons and georgettes. Seersuckers are pre-creased, light on the body and quick drying, while knits are porous and help the skin to breathe. Synthetics such as lycra are still around but can be avoided in the monsoons. The closely constructed synthetic fabrics tend to cling and keep the humidity and heat in, leading to raw skin and even rashes.

Many college-goers prefer winkle-free pants and capris that can be kept out of the reaches of running water and still will go well with mix and match tank tops and T-shirts. For example, in western wear, wear a vest under a T-shirt and a jacket. So if you get wet or dirty, you can take off a layer and still be dressed. Ankle-length skirts in Indian prints with kurtis will help you step over the puddles as will cropped pants and capris. Capris can be worn with 3/4 sleeve shirts for a semi-formal/ casual look. Salwar kameez in crepes and drip-dry fabrics are good buys. Drip-dry salwar suits just need to be hung and they dry in a jiffy.

When it comes to the colour of your attire, it is preferable to keep away from white and ensure bright colours like orange, pink, turquoise, green, coral—anything that will mean cheery. If you decided on prints and florals, that also will ensure that the gloomy mood caused by the monsoon can be kept off.

The footwear is another accessory for which you have to pay maximum attention. The ideal choice would be flat, open-toed sandals, floaters and trendy sneakers.

Your well-groomed hair is the main casualty on rainy days. According to hair dressers, hair ‘can’ look good even when the air is moisture-laden. So what goes wrong with the tresses during the rainy season? It can get limp, greasy and loaded with dandruff. Rain is sure to make the hair look dull and lifeless.

The answer would be mild shampoos and conditioners for the duration of the monsoon. Hair sprays are banned but a weekly oil massage can help control the so-called flyaway hair.

Skin specialists say that funnily enough it is during the monsoons that the skin can become, oily, dry, dehydrated and the high levels of humidity can cause unwanted pimples/blemishes. In fact the monsoon can have a de-moisturising effect on dry skin and an over-hydrating effect on oily skin. The solution is mild soaps and moisturisers. Keep the make-up light and waterproof. Besides the water-resistant mascara and eyeliner, stay with powder blushes and eye shadows that are safer than their cream-based counterparts which can get patchy. Avoid foundations.

Umbrellas are the most popular choice but differently styled raincoats are definitely not pass`E9 for the rain either. There are many trendy outerwear styles to choose from. Raincoats, jackets and trench coats in the latest styles are fashionable and practical. And there you are looking fresh and feeling great — despite the gloom outside. — MF