Transcript Power Dressing in India

Power
Dressing
First Impressions
90% of our impressions are formed within
the first 20-30 seconds on meeting a
stranger.58% of our impressions are
based on how we look, 33% on how we
sound and 7% on what we say.
Do Clothes
Really Matter?
Since about 90% of
you is covered by
apparel, the
clothing you
choose makes a
significant impact.
POWER
DRESSING
IN INDIA
WOMEN
TRADITIONAL
OR
WESTERN?
Whichever style
you opt for, the
keywords are
comfort and style.
There is no point
struggling with a
floating dupatta or a
wayward saree
(unless you are used
to it and can carry it
off with élan) while
giving that
boardroom
presentation.
Work clothes
for women
have
graduated
from sarees
to salwar
kameezes,
from
westerns to
what are
called Indowesterns.
Fusion fashion
has given the
traditional
salwar kameez
a new lease of
life.
Short kurtas, styled with
trouser-like pajamas,
look chic and very
Indian. Stoles and short
scarves have replaced
difficult-to-manage
dupattas
Long Tunic
like Kurtas
are being
teamed with
pants as
well.
The comfort factor is
crucial in this regard,
which is why
western outfits are
popular across the
age board among
women. The
emphasis is on fussfree, wash-and-wear
clothing.
The look is
vibrant yet
understated.
Jackets,
popular with
older
women, are
getting
shorter and
more
flattering to
body
contours.
Shiny nylon and
bright nail paint
are a strict nono . Make sure
the nail paint
isn’t shiny and
avoid colours
such as black,
red and orange.
Hair should not
be falling all
over the face
Flat-front trousers,
three-fourth-length
tops, cotton-linen
blended shirts in
bright colours,
multiple-function
jacket suits, and long
wrap-around skirts
are among the many
options here.
One is on the larger side,
wear loose fitting clothes.
Take into effect the size.
Cuts should be classy.
Basically, one should
follow the guidelines that
one did while in school
— neat uniform, polished
shoes, well combed hair.
Elaborate
embroidery
has been
replaced with
crystal buttons,
slick necklines
and textured
silhouettes.
Sensible and
comfortable shoes,
in soft leather and
neutral colours,
complete the
corporate look for
today’s women. All
that remains it to
put your best foot
forward in the
workplace.
Corporate colours are
grey, black, navy blue,
brown and white. The
Indian palette is a
national asset and can be
skillfully corporatised
into pleasant but
unfrivolous pastels and
solids like beige, beigecoral, deep rust,
terracotta or tone-on-tone
shades of green, blue and
even red.
Even for
business
casuals,
sleeveless is
unacceptable.
It's either a
formal collared
shirt teamed
with a pair of
formal trousers
(never jeans) or
a skirt.
For a formal
occasion, business
suits are ideal or a
knee-length skirt.
The shortest is four
inches above the
knee. No visible
cleavage.
Trouser length
should be one
and a half inches
from the floor to
the back of the
heel. Buttons,
belts and fly of
the trouser
should be neatly
aligned.
Bad corporate wear
includes heavily
embroidered clothes
and flashy colours.
Clingy clothes,
transparent blouses
and georgettes. Noisy
jewellery. Bright
footwear, silver and
gold sandals and
open-toed chappals.
These days,
when women
are equally
comfortable
chairing
boardroom
meetings,
corporate
dressing has
taken on a
whole new
meaning.
When it comes to working
women, dressing up is all
about blending the casual
with the chic. Nothing too
loud or flashy, but
definitely a mix of
buttoned up business
basics along with a
weekend casual business
attire. The idea is to be a
little conservative yet
stylish without going the
casual way.
Sophistication
Sophistication can be
achieved with smart
accessories and colour
combinations. In the last few
years, however, corporate
dressing has, more or less,
come to mean trousers and
shirts. So, if that’s what you
are comfortable with, and
you have the figure to carry
off pencil trousers, then why
not?
However, not all
women are ready
to do away with
sarees and
salwar-kameezes
yet, and these
Indian dresses are
still considered
‘formal’ by a
many blue-chip
companies
But, more and more
women in their 20s
are opting for western
attire. Semi-formal is
an all-time favourite
as it suits many of
those who attend
meetings and then
probably meet up for
cocktails or dinner.
Also, there is a wide
range that you can
choose from. Style
apart; opt for cotton,
Lycra and linen, as
they suit all weathers.
Linen and Lycra
trousers maintain their
crease and fall, and
with a little care, they
can retain the new
look for a couple of
years.
Choose colours with
care. All-time
favourites are black
and white. But
browns and beiges
are making inroads as
well. For the
weekends, reserve
more feminine
colours like mauves,
peaches and pinks.
Jewellery
When it comes to
jewellery, stick to the
bare essentials. Go for
smart sleek designs for a
sophisticated and
professional look. Ear
studs, a single bracelet, a
slim chain and pendant
combo for the neck
should do fine.
There’s nothing to
beat small diamond
solitaires for the
ears in terms of
simple class and
elegance, and
platinum is the
power dressing
metal. But since not
all can afford it,
gold will do fine
too.
Handbags
There are a range
of ladies’ leather
brief cases
available in the
market. Though
expensive, these
go a long way to
create the right
image.
So invest in
one.
Equally
smart will
be a leather
bag in
black or
brown.
Watch Out
An elegant wristwatch is a
must to complete the look.
Leather straps and widebase simple ‘masculine’
watches look sexy on any
woman’s slim wrists. The
other option is to go for
the ultra feminine slim
gold or silver chain
variety.
Footwear
Now this is very important. The right kinds can
perk up your entire attire. Leather shoes would
go well with semi-formal western wear and
sandals would be fine for Indian outfits. No
bright colours, sequins, crystals... keep them
plain, yet latest in style. If your job stretches to
long hours, heels must not be so high as to
cause discomfort. You definitely can’t remove
them for a while and put your feet up,
remember that!
The heel on
the shoe
should be
about 1 1/2
to two inches
high
Hairstyle
These are the times of
wild styles and wilder
colours. But not for
you to try out. No
bizarre platinum
streaks either...
Hair colour, if you
must opt for one,
must be natural and
should also
complement your
complexion .
If you are sporting
a short, bouncy
style, leave it open.
Else a French knot
spells class, a
French chignon or
bun projects a nononsense attitude.
No ponytails ,
please.
Nails
Short, wellmanicured
nails.
Long nails with
exotic , over-thetop shades are for
the filmy babes.
If you must use
nail paint, go for a
single tone in light
shades of peach,
silver or pink.
French manicures
are ideal.
Makeup
Minimal.
Naturalistic.
Pastel shades of
lipstick with a light
eye liner should do
fine.
You’re dressed like a
winner. Now, look into the
mirror and perfect the
winner look and attitude.
Square that shoulder, stand
straight, look in the eye.
And stride ahead in the
corporate ladder.