Varanasi Saris

Sari is a favorite piece of clothing in India and is one of the most elegant of dresses. It is available in various textures. It is basically a 5.5 to 6 meter long piece of cloth some 4 feet wide. It could be made of chiffon, silk, cotton or polyester. It is draped around the waist on top of a petticoat with a lot of plaits in front and one end is taken over the shoulder and sometimes used to cover the head. There are various ways to wear a sari depending on the style you prefer. It is worn with a matching blouse. These days hand embroidered saris are very much in vogue and are a craze amongst the ladies in India. It is available all over India but silk saris from Varanasi are famous. In Bareilly is famous for zari-zardosi work and a lot of designers get it made from here. A lot of people wear printed saris too.

Multiple Thin Layers with Colorful Galoshes

In order to avoid looking bulky and lumpy, wear multiple thin layers. The layers will create pockets of air, which your body will warm, keeping you toasty and looking slim. Try something like a tank top, a blouse or cardigan, a jacket and a trench. Try boots with a rounded toe instead of square (which will make you look boxy), and a slight heel if you can do it without slipping on ice. Don’t be afraid of colorful galoshes if you have to stick with a heelless boot, as winter is depressing enough without sticking with black and brown boots.

Turtlenecks Reign Supreme!

Layering is essential to keep warm and fashionable during the winter weather. My favorite way to dress during the cold months is to put on a turtleneck pullover and then put a blouse or shirt over it. You can wear it buttoned or unbuttoned, tucked in or tails out, with or without a belt. The turtleneck is really the key component in the outfit. It can be any color to coordinate or match the blouse or shirt, or a contrasting color. I have two black turtlenecks (my personal favorite) and two red turtlenecks (my second favorite) and another dozen or so in assorted colors and hues. In addition to helping you keep warm and toasty, they draw attention to your face and can be dressed up with jewelry or scarves. I also wear a lot of sleeveless turtlenecks in the summertime, but they’re very lightweight and sheer.

Match your handbag!

One thing we seem to forget about while dressing is our handbag.  We must remember that the handbag is just as much a part of the total fashion package as the blouse or skirt.  If your wearing a well matched outfit from head to toe and it is say, lavender you certainly do not want to walk out of the house with a lime green handbag.  It would just throw the whole look of the outfit off.  While you may look fabulous everyone’s eye would be drawn to that bright lime green handbag.  It doesn’t take too much time to transfer the contents of one bag to another.  Take the time to make sure your handbag matches the outfit and style of what your wearing.  It does make a difference and a well matched handbag can give you a more complete and polished look.

Funky Scarves are in for Fall Fashion

This fall try using a lightweight scarf to spruce up an old outfit. Printed and colorful scarves work best. You can often find these at thrift stores.If you cannot find the scarf you like, try making your own out of vintage fabric.
Loosely tie the scarf around your neck or let it hang loose. You can also let the scarf double as a belt.  If you need to upgrade an outfit for work or a night out, pick a scarf with a hint of metallic threads in it. For the ultimate casual look, use a light knitted or crochet scarf. Pair it up with a blouse and a flowy skirt for a pretty hippie chic outfit.

Sound Fashion Advice

The best fashion advice I could give any woman is to dress appropriately for your age and body type. I hate to see a woman who has an abundance of curves trying to squeeze into things that do nothing to flatter her figure, or a woman who is mature trying to dress like a teenager. Now I am not saying dress like a prude, but what looks good on a twenty year old, will not necessarily look good on a forty year old. Something that looks good on a woman who is a size three, will not translate to a size fourteen. There is a lot to be said about leaving something to the imagination. A mature woman dressing in blouses cut down to the stomach, or skirts that hit mid-thigh are not sexy, but trashy and makes that woman look desperate.