Sartorially speaking

In 2012, designers rattled from androgynous outfits to candy floss corals that added an instant pop of colour and brought out the playfulness of the ensemble. In 2013, however, hemlines are expected to become longer, stripes will meet digital prints and subdued hues of coral will bid goodbye to flashy neons. In beauty too, a dewy complexion will favour glances, lips will be coloured in various shades of pinks and the 60s Brigitte Bardot bouffant will make a comeback. Expect this and much more to rock your fashion and beauty world.

Makeup
Clean slate
A clean, dewy face always accentuates your features. In the coming year, the subtler your makeup is, the more elegant you will look. Namrata Soni, celebrity makeup stylist, says, "You don't have to go overboard. Just a hint of colour on your cheeks, a touch of mascara paired with your favourite lip colour and you are good to go."

Eye candy
The year 2013 is the perfect time to play up gorgeous eyes. We will move away from the same old black kajal and experiment with metallic hues of green, blue and purple. Soni explains, "Metallic colours are going to be huge next season. Pastel colours like violet and pista green look amazing on the Indian skin tone too."

Statement lips
Next year, we will bid adieu to nude lips as bright mouths will be the main focus. Neon shades of pink, orange and red will be seen in abundance. Mickey Contractor, Director of Makeup Artistry MAC Cosmetics confirms, "The best thing about bright lips is that it can be worn in the day as well as night. It is definitely going to be in trend till the end of 2013." He adds a word of caution, "Candy colours are good, but when incorporating it in your look, keep the rest of the face neutral."

Let's sculpt
Bronzers are expected to be the key elements to finish the overall look as they add more definition to your face. Soni says, "A highlighter mixed with foundation can be applied to your cheek bones. In the summer, one can skip the blush for a bronzer for a sun-kissed look."

Fashion
Midi matters
In the 1940s, a midi dress or a skirt was considered to be an ideal wear for the conservative yet elegant woman. In 2013 again, hemlines are expected to become longer. The good news is that wearing a midi will not get you labelled as ‘granny'. Nimish Shah, who owns the label Shift explains, "Longer hemlines add a certain amount of old Hollywood glamour. It brings elegance back to the wardrobe, is super easy to carry off and suits women of all body types."

Prints galore
Whether it's overall prints, quirky, geometric designs or print on print, this pattern is expected to sustain its dominance all through 2013."Prints are versatile - they look good on a top, skirt or any garment, as it doesn't look gaudy. It just adds to the exuberance of your personality," says, Pria Agni, fashion stylist.

Subdued corals
A pop of colour against an otherwise plain fabric adds contrast to an outfit. In 2012, Indian designers such as Nachiket Barve and Pia Pauro went all out to bring back flashy neons. Next year, however, subtle hues of coral are expected to rule the runways across the globe. Shah elaborates, "With everybody sporting neon, it is definitely a trend. Come next year, mustard yellows will replace flashy neons and funky tangerines will replace warmer tones of orange."

Stripy cool
Stripes were the runway's hottest staple as international designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Jonathan Saunders and Paul & Joe included them in their Spring/Summer 2013 collections. Closer home, Indian designers such as Anita Dongre and Yogesh Chaudhury too are experimenting with different shapes and sizes of stripes to bring out the edginess in a look. Chaudhury, an upcoming fashion designer explains, "Stripes are going to make a huge comeback in 2013. Thick, skinny, horizontal or diagonal - this is a trend to watch
out for."

Sheer Elegance
Sheer fabric is no longer considered to be a semi-transparent, flimsy cloth that exposes a little more than needed. Indian designers are using this gauzy thin material to bring subtle-sexy back. Anita Dongre, veteran fashion designer, agrees, "Sheer fabrics add a hint of sexy without being too OTT. It is not considered a cheap fabric. It is not only easy to wear, but also adds a feminine charm to
an ensemble."

Mens wear
Next year, menswear will go through dramatic changes. There will be attention to detailing through classic tailoring techniques - jackets will be cropped and pants will go slimmer. Fashion designer Raghavendra Rathore suggests, "Monochromes will be back in vogue. But mostly, the classic elegance of the suit and the bandhgala is going to be the prime focus of the next season."
Rathore lists these as the top trends:
1. Classic suits with detailing on the collar and pockets
2. Accessories including pocket squares and scarves in colours like neon, red and hot pink
3. Monochromatic colours such as black and blue will make a comeback for both summer as well as winter
4. Smaller prints in menswear, especially on pants
5. Denim will be the new cotton.

Hair
Ombre technique
The ombre technique, the newest addition to the beauty world, is a graduation of colour from the roots - which are the darkest - to the tips, which are in a lighter shade. This gives subtle highlights to the ends of your hair. "You can have a combination of highlights and lowlights. Backcombing while you colour is very important to create the unevenness so the finished look blends well. It is low maintenance and gives a nice sun-kissed effect," says Parigna Sitwala, Senior hair stylist, Dilshad Pastakia Hair and Skin Salon.

Riding the wave
In 2013, young women will no longer make a beeline for the salon to chemically straighten their hair, as curls and waves make a comeback. Sitwala explains, "Indians are blessed with gorgeous curly hair. Soft curls give a certain dreamy look to your face."

All bouffanted up
If you are among those who can't carry off soft waves, the bouffant will add a hint of polished charm to your look. "The bouffant is so elegant and lady like," says Sitwala. However, she thinks that those who aren't too comfortable with a large bouffant can opt for tied-up buns. She says, "A bun looks polished as well as casual and accentuates your features."

Messy hairdos
The days when mama told you to pull back your hair with not even a strand out of place, is the thing of the past. The messy style is going to stay on for the next year too. Sitwala confirms, "I love the look that a messy braid or a bun creates. It sets a bad hair day right."

Wrapped in layers
Layers not only define the length of your hair but give it dimension too. Priyanka Chopra and Bipasha Basu were recently seen sporting thick, floppy hair with a lot of layers. But while layers are good, Sitwala says that it should depend on the hair length and texture. "I think layers look very good on Indian hair. But if you have very thick hair, then you should go easy with the layers. People with thinner hair should opt for more layers to create volume."