PLAY JAZZ

How can you use that simple dress of yours to make a unique statement?

STYLE QUOTIENT:
Use small elements to make a funky outfit

WHY not turn those boring blue jeans and that drab white shirt into a fashionable ensemble? The simple dress you are wearing to the cinema can become chic and stylish within a few minutes. A little bit of creativity is all you need to jazz up your overall look. “The accessories you choose can make an old outfit look dramatically different.

Whether you want to change your ho-hum outfit for a killer night at the hottest club in town or make your best first impression for your first day at work, it doesn’t take much to revamp your existing outfit with a couple of accessories and a bit of panache,” feels designer Atithi Gupta.  To give a fresh look with an old outfit, you can use strings of pearls or go funky with coloured stones.

With so many options of beads and stone chains, which are funky and trendy as well, you are spoilt for choices. And they don’t pinch your pockets too. You can also add an element of fun to the boring casual attire. It’s not necessary to wear a m at ch i n g accessory; you could also go for contrasting jewellery. You could choose from the vibrant long layered necklaces, pearls to coloured stones, semiprecious ones too. “A simple outfit can look totally different with the way you accessorise it. The little black dress of yours can look different in five ways. You could wear the same dress using turquoise necklace and handbag or make it look like another outfit by using goldbeaded necklace another day,” says Malini Agarwalla, an accessory designer. Using accessories cleverly, you could create the illusion of many outfits out of one. “You don’t have to opt for the expensive always. Embroi- dered bib necklaces are very popular- either the ones made from crystals or you can opt for the ethnic style. Any kind of statement pieces — nice, big or funky — can add that twist,” Malini adds.

If you do not wish to concentrate on the neckline, you can wear a simple pair of earrings or accessorise your hand with the very chic diamond-studded watch or a sporty one. Wearing a simple demure ring could also do the trick. If you aren’t very fond of accessories, designer Swapnil Shinde has a solution for you. He suggests, “To have that extra element of zing, one can add jackets and shrugs to layer a basic dress. You can wear interesting chunky belts which are ‘in’, unlike the slim belts that are out. Boots are in fashion too.” Do not mix and match too much, or you just might end up overdoing it. States designer Kunal Anil Tanna, “You need to pick up just one accessory. Jazz it up with a striking belt or a bling bag or go for the footwear. Also, you could create that impression with striking makeup- smoky eyes or red lips- or an interesting hairdo.”  

A few simple changes, a bit of panache and oodles of confidence is all it takes to jazz up a simple outfit. Are you game for it?