FINDING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

Is it important to have a personal style?

PRANU: Your style is a manifestation of your personality and can easily influence your personal brand which I believe is very important in the corporate world. Outfits, colours and accessories are important in defining your style, but more than these, for me – it is an ensemble of how you carry yourself, how you interact with people and how you generally feel about yourself.

MISHU: There are no hard and fast rules but in my opinion it is important to have your own personal style. Personal style is not about copying a style icon or wearing designer outfits ~ basically it defines who you are and how confident, comfortable and good you feel about what you wear.

SAREETA: It is definitely important to have a personal style as it indicates who you are and if you’re not completely able to be yourself, what’s the point?

MANISHA: Fashion and style remain a huge part of our lives especially in our twenties. However, through our lives, what we wear has a huge impact on how we feel. It can help us uplift, make us feel more confident, and enable us to express who we are. Your personal style is your trade mark.

I am a person who believes that the most important thing is to accept your body, the way you look and are. Style yourself by prioritising comfort over trend. When you do this, you will never go wrong.

TENZING: Certainly, your personal style expresses who you are as an individual, it reflects your mentality along with your interaction with the external world. It plays a huge part in your self-esteem, confidence and most importantly your first impression. There is a famous quote ‘A good first impression can work wonders’ – the quote in itself is self-explanatory about the importance of your personal style as it is a key aspect towards building an impeccable first impression.

What do you want your style to say about you?

PRANU: Confident, comfortable & chic!

MISHU: My style Mantra is classy, simple yet elegant.

SAREETA: Just who I am! Someone original, plain, simple, very comfortable with herself yet, someone who stands out.

MANISHA: I want my style to reflect the things I strongly believe in.

TENZING: My style represents a sense of elegance and portrays a bold, strong, well organised, confident woman.

Who is your style icon?

PRANU: Over the years, my personal style has been affected by age, phase of personal life and professional career rather than a celebrity or any other individual. However, if I had to pick a name a top of mind, it would be the timeless Princess Diana for her outfits, poise and personality.

MISHU: Late Franca Sozzani, Editor in Chief of Vogue Italia is definitely my style icon and I absolutely loved her simple and elegant style.

SAREETA: Audrey Hepburn, Diane Keaton for the way she wears her suits and Kangana Ranaut for sarees.

MANISHA: These two incredible women are my forever favourites. The epitome of grace and beauty, Princess Diana. Simply royal. I love her style and personality. And for her beauty and brains, it is former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. Whatever she wears or does becomes a style, a trend. If less and being yourself kills, then she is an ideal example. A favourite style icon I look up to.

TENZING: Unquestionably, Angelina Jolie and Naomi Campbell.

What do you repeatedly wear?

PRANU: My outfits tend to oscillate between corporate and casual. At the office, I like to wear chic formals and semi-casuals (depending on the meeting line-ups) but more importantly I make sure to wear confidence and a smile! On my days off, I like to remain casual and cool – both outfit and the mind 🙂
MISHU: Skinny or straight denim pants, white shirt with blue blazer. I find denim pant very comfortable as you can wear it to work as well as a casual day out. I love adding some colorful accessories and scarves to accentuate my look.

SAREETA: I wear sarees quite a bit!

MANISHA: I tend to prioritise comfort over trend and wear clothes according to the occasion. Mostly I wear smart casuals and semi formal attires. I prefer feminine long customised Indo-Western attires for parties and events.

TENZING: My black turtle neck body suit. Black is a timeless and elegant colour that is never out dated in fashion or style. It can be coordinated with skirts, jeans and trousers, sometimes I like to wear a tennis necklace over it or overlap it with different neck pieces making the piece look fresh every time.

A favourite item in your closet

PRANU: Right now, Trench Coats.

MISHU: My silver dragon brooch, can’t get enough of this.

SAREETA: My mother’s old silk saree and a BCBG’s LBD that I still have from my college days.

MANISHA: Michael Kors sunglasses and a Louis Vuitton handbag.

TENZING: It would have to be my mother’s chuba (traditional Tibetan robe) that was handed down to me. It by far is the most pulchritudinous, one-of-a-kind custom made chuba I have ever laid my eyes on. It’s dark golden raw silk with colourful intricate flower designs stitched carefully on the beautiful piece.

What do you think is a fashion trend for 2023?

PRANU: We live in an era where skinny, flare, wide, ripped, tapered, bell-bottom, boyfriend etc comfortably co-exist and this is just a small example of the variety of jeans! Therefore, not just 2023 but I think the future will have something for everyone so that we are able to defy the trends and create our own unique personal style.

MISHU:
• Straight and baggy denim or regular pant
• Floral print drop waist maxi dress or skirt
• Oversized blazer or boyfriend jacket
• Metallics and shear fabric with floral embellishment
• Trend colours: pastel pink to fushia, lilac to lavender and pastel blue to deep blue

SAREETA: Fashion has evolved over time. Something comfortable, oversized sweaters, sweats, hoodies seem popular among youths and I think the saree will probably be the elegant top fashion trend for all times.

MANISHA: 2023 is going to be a year dominated by film, ballet-core and grunge trends. We can expect to see sheer and ethereal styles as well as a comeback of the grunge and 1990’s fashion. Despite the financial crisis, shopping tends are strong. Oversized flannel shirts, leather jackets, slip dresses and chunky boots are in. Ballet inspired attires in subtle shades of greys, nudes, creams and whites will be a defining trend of 2023.

TENZING: Professional wear being worn playfully is definitely a trend I see in 2023. I see more people wearing professional trousers and shirt with a sweater and air forces whilst women like to wear oversized blazers as dresses or suit coats on top of their dresses. Fashion is all about experimenting, so if the fit suits you then go for it!