When dressing up cannot be at the cost of warmth, think layering. With the right kind of layers & silhouette, you are ready to rockCoat unquote

Manpriya Singh

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About a month ago, when Kiara Advani came calling in the city to launch the song Chandigarh Main, all decked up in a coral backless sequin number, a journo couldn’t help asking the obvious, whether she wasn’t cold, considering all the men accompanying her on stage, were comparatively well clad.

“I do have a jacket along, which I’ll wear once I step out. Inside it’s still okay. And C’mon, I’ve dressed up for Chandigarh,” though the lady made her point, but not without making us ponder for the Nth time; should dressing up be at the cost of warmth, whether uber stylish can be cozy too.

A few red-carpet inspired looks on when temperatures drop to single digits. Starting with Max Mara’s fall/winter19 collection that revises all the possible rules of layering, especially with oversized outwear like teddy bear coats. The brand’s runway featured models in a minimum of three layers all put together in one colour; from the pastel camel shade to the eclectic cerulean, turquoise to black on black on black.

We find a mention of the buzzwords like oversized outerwear and skintight inner wear, further giving weight to the proverb, ‘There is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.’

Nods Chandigarh-based designer Div from the Indo-western label Doethereal, “Keep working on that layering game and each season the ramp throws up a few more innovative ideas on how to layer right. Just know your body type. If you got curves and thin waist, pick a coat cut to highlight the waist. Otherwise, use a belt over the coat to create the hourglass look.”

For anyone referring to the royalty for winter style knows the versatility and the power of a belted coat all too well. Let the tights replace the pants, sweater the sweater dresses and knee-high boots and socks for leg warmers and stockings. New York-based designer Sanjana Jon feels Indian winter is just perfect to experiment, add style and stay cozy.

“Unlike New York winter, which is extremely harsh, North Indian winter is amazing. One can throw in so many elements like boots, caps and work the entire look around them. But, of course, layering is the most important and it’s not about putting on one weighty thing but several lighter layers.” Adds Div, “For a night out, same colour top and pants, with a complimentary embroidered coat is both dressy and warm. Throw in a brighter lip shade and you are ready to rock.”