From bright colours to warm outfits, here are some fashion tips to jazz up your look this Lohri

Gurnaaz Kaur

Bonfire, dhol, gidda and bhangra… Lohri, the first festival of the year, is here. Lohri, which marks the time for harvest and signals at the onset of spring, is celebrated with much fanfare in Punjab. And on this folk festival deeply rooted in culture, you can’t afford to go wrong with your outfit. So, here are some fashion tips for your perfect ensemble.

Right footwear

“To style a jutti, one can opt for classic gold or silver with brightly hued embroidery. For a more understated look, there are printed options. Juttis with heels are available as well,” says designer Laksheeta Govil.

Says designer Archana Jaju, “Lohri is an occasion to opt for indigenous styles. Kalamkari, a traditional hand-craft that involves bright colours, hand-painted or block-printed on fabric, is an interesting option.”

Keep it warm

One should keep in mind the weather too. “With the cool weather, one must not forget to keep warm. Velvet is the perfect textile for it and can be seamlessly incorporated into the traditional Patiala salwar kameez,” says Yashraj, spokesperson of Label Varsha.

Designer Shruti Jamal of Scarlet suggests traditional gararas and shararas with short-length shirts that make for very nice Lohri outfits. She says, “Of late, even khadi salwars or straight salwars have made their way back into the fashion scene. It looks great with a long or mid-length shirt. Phulkaris can be teamed up to add cultural flavour to your festive look.”

Colour code

This vibrant festival calls for equally bright colours in your choice of clothes. “Bright hues like squash orange, sunflower yellow, scarlet red, paired with fun patterns and motifs like parrots, swans and peacocks, can bring the right amount of style to your day,” says designer Nimrat Kahlon.

Apart from the evergreen salwar-kameez, a fitted kurti with palazzo, which is either ankle-length or floor-length, is also trending. But if your mood is to experiment with what’s already in your closet, Nimrat recommends, “Pair a Banasri dupatta with a plain salwar kameez. Just jazz it up with a Punjabi jutti and a long braid with paranda and danglers in the ears.” To sync the ethnic and the modern, Nimrat says, “Umbrella-cut sleeves with a long shirt, paired with a fitted pant, is another look that helps you make a statement.”