Want to up your monsoon fashion game? Here’s an easy styling guide

From vibrant colours to breezy fabrics, the monsoon season is screaming fashion. Both, celebrities and commoners gear up for monsoon by making essential changes to their wardrobes. Recently, Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone was seen stepping out for dinner at Mizu in a super-flowy printed Coord looking absolutely vibrant and stunning. To suit the Mumbai monsoons, the actress also tied her hair back in a tight bun completing the look with Stilettos. This had us looking for some of the best monsoon looks to pull off putting in the least efforts.

It is the best time to get experimental with monsoon fashion instead of letting the rains dampen your spirits to look stylish. Besides, this wet season is probably the only one that lets you look stylish even when you don't plan to, be it flaunting your frizzy hair or wearing basic rubber footwear. It all just says, you are monsoon ready.

Acing a perfect monsoon look is easy given the vast variety of outfits that suit the season. However, at times, deciding what to wear can also get a bit confusing due to the very same reason. Mid-day online spoke to fashion pundits to help navigate a way out of monsoon fashion that guarantees style as well as comfort.

Decoding fashion in monsoon
"Monsoon fashion refers to the clothing and style choices that are suitable for the rainy season. It often embraces vibrant colours, playful prints and tropical motifs to add cheerfulness to rainy days," says Pooja Gupta, founder of multi-designer store, Amiraah. "One has to consider using the right fabric colours, accessories along with the appropriate hair and makeup in monsoon."

Shravya Varma, celebrity fashion stylist seconds Pooja and adds: "Monsoon fashion encompasses the use of vibrant colors, florals and patterns to counter the dreary ambiance of the season. The preference for outfits that provide a cheerful boost during this rainy period, however, varies among individuals, with some opting for neutral tones to suit their personality."

The stylist says, "It is advisable to go with fabrics that are lightweight, quick-drying and have moisture-wicking properties." Usually, pure cotton polyester blends, nylon, rayon and linen fabrics are considered to be suitable and skin friendly during the damp weather of monsoons. They don't stick much to the body, feel nice and smooth against the skin and also feel comfortable.

Besides wearing the right fabric, Gupta says, "It is advisable to opt for loose-fitting or relaxed garments to allow ventilation and accommodate layering."

Monsoon friendly options
Torrential rainfalls can make handling a heavy outfit annoying. Opting for hassle-free clothing can be the best favour you do on yourself during this season. Varma suggests, "Best outfits to wear during monsoons are those that strike a balance between style and comfort. Wear light and breathable fabrics, loose and flowy silhouettes, waterproof or water-resistant outerwear, cropped or ankle-length bottoms, bright and cheerful colours, layering with light cover-ups."

Seconding this, Gupta insists on wearing a dress with layered jacket, denim shorts with rain boots, or boho maxi dresses for a simple every-day look.

Monsoon shades
While you can experiment with any shades you wish, fashion pundits suggest playing with vibrant hues, pastel shades, earthy and muted tones, and contrasting pop of colours. Lilac, peach, blue, pastel blue and all-time favourite white are common colours to wear during monsoon.

The thing about wearing whites in monsoons
White is undoubtedly the colour of all seasons. While there are no major reasons to avoid wearing white in rains, expert's advice to avoid the colour for the season simply to protect the garment from stains. Varma says, "It is a matter of personal preference but I won't suggest them as they are prone to stains, transparency in case you get wet and challenges in maintaining the fabric. Ultimately, the decision to wear white garments during the monsoon season depends on your personal preferences, specific occasion, and the practicality of keeping them clean and presentable in potentially wet and muddy conditions."

Adding to this, Gupta says, "There is always a risk of spoiling your white clothes, but you can surely go ahead and wear it if you are up for styling it smartly. For white garments, style the look using accessories that have a diverse colour palette. For white tops, opting for a blue denim can be a good combination, the one that can never go wrong. Pair it with vibrant coloured footwear like orange, fuchsia or baby pink.

To wear or not to wear denim
Experts say a big yes. Gupta speaks about a variety of patterns one can try in denims. "You can opt for denim skirts, tops, oversized shirt dresses, shorts, and much more. You don't always have to wear jeans. Nevertheless, if they are your best friends, choose baggy loose-fitting ones, which are not just presently in style but are also comfortable to wear. You can pair them with shirts and accessories like chunky jewellery."

Varma's suggestion is to wear cropped jeans with rain boots, a denim skirt with lightweight sweater, denim jacket with a layered dress. As a pro tip, she suggests, "Fold your denims at the ankle and style it with a striped t-shirt."

If you're concerned about heavy denim during the monsoon, you can explore other lightweight and quick-drying fabrics like cotton or synthetic blends. They can provide comfort and better moisture management during rainy weather.

Fabrics to avoid during monsoon
Gupta shares a list of fabrics that you can avoid for the wet season.

Heavy denim should be avoided in monsoons. They can be uncomfortable as they tend to retain moisture and take longer to dry

Fabrics like silk and satin should also be avoided. These materials can easily get damaged by rainwater, resulting in water spots or stains. Additionally, silk and satin tend to cling to the body when wet, causing discomfort and making free movement challenging.

Leather garments and too many accessories are not ideal for monsoon fashion. Leather can get damaged when exposed to water, losing its texture and shape. It also takes a longer time to dry. If you do wear leather items, make sure to protect them with a water-repellent spray and promptly dry them if they get wet.

Fabrics like suede or velvet should be avoided during this season too. These materials are delicate and can easily get damaged by water or humidity. They can develop water spots, lose their soft texture, and become difficult to clean.

Lastly, both experts share their mantra to ace the fashion game this season.

Varma says, "Personal style and preferences may vary for every individual, so feel free to experiment and take these suggestions into consideration according to your own taste while ensuring comfort and functionality in wet weather conditions."

Gupta says, "Opt for looks that make you look comfortably stylish. Add a variety of vibrant colours to your wardrobe to amp up any fashion look you choose to try."

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