Campus couture

What’s in fashion in college

June 26, 2015 06:49 pm | Updated 06:49 pm IST - Thiruvananthapuram

Indo-Western wear from Shalini James' Mantra

Indo-Western wear from Shalini James' Mantra

It’s style to be in style and it’s no different in college. Everyone wants to look like they’ve stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine and college students are kitting themselves out in the latest trends to make a style statement. It’s a world where blingy salwars and saris, baseball caps and backpacks, once the fashion staple on campus, don’t make the cut anymore.

Anagha Roy, a second year psychology major, for example, is a fan of boho-chic. “My clothes reflect my identity and my personality. I couldn’t wait to get out of school uniforms and have embraced fashion with all the freedom of expression that college allows – within the dictums of the dress code, of course,” she says. She likes to fashion “a unique look” out of vintage, ethnic wear – mostly from her mom’s old saris – mixed with Western clothes. “College has just opened for the academic year and it’s like a fashion parade here. You’ve got to dress well to stand out from the crowd,” she adds.

Management student Lakshmi Menon, who is studying in Pune, also says that her college mates, especially postgraduate students, take a lot of effort to look impeccable. “Most of them go all out with their clothes, down to colour-coordinated accessories. I’m one of them!” Her personal style, she says, depends on her mood. “Sometimes I wear ethnic wear like kurtis and sometimes I go for the smart casual look. I think it’s like that with most people,” she says.

Closer home, engineering student Tinu J. Issac, meanwhile, believes in dressing classy, even when there’s a lab class to attend. “The de rigueur uniform – for men and women – in labs in engineering colleges seems to be plaid shirts teamed with jeans and sneakers. It’s ostensibly to protect the body while handling equipment but there’s no harm in adding a dash of glamour to the ensemble, is there? I improvise by wearing fitted jeans and with a funky shirt, paired with a light-weight jacket and a stylish pair of ballerina shoes or Oxfords,” she explains.

And therein lies the key to dressing up for college, according to young designer Sreejith Jeevan, whose label, Rouka, is a firm favourite with fashionistas. “College wear is definitely about functional fashion because college life is not just about sitting in a classroom listening to lectures. You would most probably be taking part in various on activities that require you be presentable at all times. Therefore, it should be a style that’s implementable,” explains Sreejith. It’s one that should allow you to transition from a class to a meeting or from day to evening, seamlessly, if say, for example, you are going to meet sponsors for a college event or hanging out in a mall after class.

Sreejith adds that both men and women could well do this by pairing different things together. A jacket, for instance, ups the style quotient as soon as you wear it. The same with a stylish stole knotted around the neck, which can also instantly lift the oomph factor of plain old jeans and tee.

Remember this is also the age and time for people to experiment and find their personal style. Lakshmi says: “Team mojiris with ethnic wear or Western wear, wear jumkas, cart around your stuff in hobo totes, try palazzo pants and kurtas like Deepika did in Piku …It’s the right time to experiment because nothing is going to look bad.” Well-known fashion blogger and IT professional Anuradha ‘Anu’ Mohan, 23, who passed out of college a year and a half ago says she came into her own style-wise in college. “I have evolved from being a teenager who buys something that can be worn seldom to a young woman who is versatile in what she chooses. Being experimental back then has helped me to actually find a style for myself, to choose the right shade for my skin tone. I have made some really bad choices as well but you learn from all that. Now, I know what compliments me; from Kanchipuram saris to the little black dress, I can carry them all,” she says. Anu’s top picks for the season are crop tops and maxi dresses/skirts. “I personally love them; they are super comfy and looks chic on every one. If you want to stand out then start experimenting and find out what’s best for you. As a start, experiment with various cuts and jewellery and try to play around with colours. For example, I love the floral hair accessories these days, you can opt one if you love some attention,” she explains.

Designer Shalini James of Mantra, who specialises in ethnic chic wear, meanwhile, adds that apart from the usual denims, ethnic pants are trending this season. “Kalamkari and Jaipuri block prints are popular as are Indian stylisations like dhoti pants. Purely western silhouettes are being tweaked into an Indo-western look with a touch of ethnic accessories…” she says. Maithri Anand of local brand Vedhika, picks up the conversation thread: “Youngsters are mixing and matching fabrics and prints, design and patterns in search of a one-of-a-kind look. For example, straight cut pants with legs in two different colours.”

Accessories too are huge at the moment. “Bags of all sizes and shapes, big chunky watches, belts, trinkets for ear and arm are integral to campus fashion. Many college-goers use them intelligently to give a snazzy edge to everyday clothing,” explains Shalini.

The idea is to not go OTT, say the designers. “What you’re aiming for is the smart casual look. That means absolutely no bling and no loud colours as far as possible. You should realise that it’s to college you are going, not a party or a disco! So, don’t even think of wearing anarkalis with zardosi borders or carrying a backpack. Are you in school? Try leather satchels and rucksacks and be in with the trend,” says Sreejith. WARDROBE ESSENTIALS

For women

Blue Jeans

They are perfect for those lazy days when you hate dressing up. Plus they look super chic. Depending on you body type, choose the right cut (it can be skinny or a boot cut but completely depends on what works best for you).

White Shirt

They are most versatile. You can pair them up with almost anything apart from using them as both formal and casual wear.

Dark Coloured Cotton Salwar Kameez

Again very versatile, comfy in summers and graceful. They are crisp and defined; get one that fits you right, for you don’t want to appear/feel baggy.

Maxi Skirt/Dress

My favourite of all. The elongate your legs especially if you are tiny and give an illusion of having long legs. If they are made of lighter material, they feel light on the skin

LBD (Little Black Dress)

Most important of all, comes pretty handy when you are out with your friends. They look so elegant and you can just accessorise them differently to turn then into something new.

Courtesy: Anuradha Mohan

For men

Jeans

Casual trousers

Smart casual shirts

Satchels, backpacks in leather and faux leather, rucksacks.

Courtesy: Sreejith Jeevan

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