Every woman's guide to daywear: What not to wear, the AM edition

By Yatan Ahluwalia  Wardrobe essentials 1: day wear; first in a series of three on what to stock in your wardrobe. Tops Styles: You must have a fair amount of comfortable and well-maintained t-shirts (both round and v-neck cuts), blouses (low neck, high neck and the occasional Chinese or Nehru collar) and casual or work shirts (sleeveless, half, mid and full sleeve – both with and without cuffs and collars) in your wardrobe. [caption id=“attachment_75945” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Based on where you are wearing them to, your tops could be plain, printed, textured or embellished. Getty Images”]  [/caption] Prints and more: Based on where you are wearing them to, your tops could be plain, printed, textured or embellished. Abstract and floral prints are a staple standard for womenswear. The general rule to follow: the wider or fuller you are, the smaller or finer the print should be. Those of you, who are more into power dressing, can always experiment with pin or chalk stripes – especially as part of your work wardrobe. When wearing stripes, always choose horizontal over vertical – as this way make you appear both taller and leaner. Colours: Your tops can be in light pastel shades: pink, blue, green, lavender or white, beige and grey. Irrespective of the season, or where you are — light or bright colours (red, yellow, orange, blue and green) are always a safe option for the day. Darker tones and shades are advised only for those of you find it hard to keep light colours clean or have problem areas that you need to hide or conceal. Fabrics: Crease-free fabrics are the order of the day and certain day fabrics can be demanding in terms of ironing, upkeep and maintenance. If you prefer to be hassle-free or tend to frequently gain or loose a couple of inches, I suggest you embrace materials that have an element of stretch (or elasticity) in them – this will make you look in shape. Lightweight and soft cottons, knits and certain synthetic blends are light, airy, comfortable and easy to wear and are therefore highly recommended to wear during the day. Lowers You will always need a pair (or more) of trousers, pants and skirts to wear with your tops. It’s a good idea to have lowers that are neutral so you can mix and match your tops with them. Casual trousers should be comfortable and allow ample and easy movement —especially if you spend long hours shopping at malls, walking or moving about on foot. A lot of women I know make the mistake of choosing style over practicality. Never blindly follow new trends (which may not always be relevant to you). I therefore suggest you choose lowers that have the right cut and form to suit your body type. Based on your personal preferences and what you are comfortable wearing, your skirts could be short, knee length or longer. Flaunt the legs only if they are in perfect shape and if they are your strong point; cover them, if you know they don’t make the cut. If you have unusually dark knees and ankles, ensure they stay hidden or as much out of view as possible. Similarly, unusually heavy thighs and calves should be discreetly hidden and concealed under dark colours or straight fit (long) skirts, pants or trousers. Must have commodity: Jeans you can live in. A reliable pair that will survive your moods, cope with your ever-changing routines and that will not let you down when you gain that ‘little bit’ extra weight or have managed to shed a few unwanted kilos. [caption id=“attachment_75932” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“You must have a reliable pair that will survive your moods, cope with your ever-changing routines and that will not let you down.Ever. Flickr”]  [/caption] USP: Your favourite pair should give you the perfect fit, must be durable, stretchable and long-lasting. Fit, not fat: If you have the typical Indian figure (wide hips and slim waist) then the low waist styles or ‘hipsters’, as some brands call them should be avoided —more so, if you are not skinny, athletic or anorexic. Crack open: Flaunting your butt crack or showing off a pair of g-strings under your jeans is only acceptable if you have the body or personality to carry it off or if you are on the right side of your 20’s (under 25). Straight only: A slim or straight cut will always look better on you – whatever your body type. As a general rule, avoid the boot cut, flared or skin tight pair —especially if you are in doubt about what works (or doesn’t work) for you. Colours: Most jeans will be blue or black. However you could also wear a white, beige, pink, green or red pair. Be warned though, that unlike the blue, black or white pair, your coloured jeans will look so distinct that you may not be able to repeat them too often. Continues on the next page Work wear Whether you work to make ends meet or to afford your jam and cheese, your daywear needs to include a considerable amount of work wear you can wear to office. Besides fitted shirts, jackets and trousers (business suits), your work wear could also include long skirts worn with standalone blouses, shirts or tops (see above) as well as traditional clothing (saris, kurta & pyjama or salwar & kameez sets). While you need to look and feel good with what you wear to work, it’s more important to focus on looking smart and well turned out. The office has never been a place to make a fashion statement and I suggest you try and keep it that way. Therefore incorporating radical new trends or wearing bold prints, plunging necklines, low backs, short skirts, very bright colours, metallics, sheen and gloss to the office are all best avoided. To look different, mix and match your work wear as often as you can – especially since you are going to meet and interact with the same people on a daily basis. [caption id=“attachment_75943” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“There is a fine line between dressing down and looking unkempt - ensure you are always on the right side! Getty Images”]  [/caption] To switch from day to evening (a lot of you head out straight from work), you can get rid of your jacket and dress your neck or ears with a strong and eye catching accessory (which you can keep handy in your carry bag). If you wear ethnic wear and don’t wear business suits to work, ensure to at least change or add some fresh colour on your lips and cheeks. Leisure wear Your day wardrobe must include some clothes to wear to those casual weekend lunches and short weekend retreats. At such settings, it’s better to look relaxed and easy than uptight and formal. Therefore, I recommend wearing single piece dresses, casual shirts and trousers (in a comfort fit) or conventional (but subtle and simple) traditional clothing. Wherever you may be or however laidback the surrounding, your leisurewear wardrobe should always look and be crisp. There is a fine line between dressing down and looking unkempt - ensure you are always on the right side! Next: Evening and party wear.