Nine nights of revelry
Nine nights of dancing to folk garba
Nine nights of indulging in midnight snacks
Nine nights of catching up with the old and new friends…
Yes, that’s what Navratri is for most people in Gujarat !
People travel from across the world to partake in the celebrations of the biggest dance festival; bigger than Tomorrowland or Electric Daisy or Sunburn. No wonder then that the preparations start early on. The original mecca for street-shopping – Law Garden, starts bustling with the new fashion trends for the season. Besides some colour variation, hemline of the skirts changing and additional cuts and detailing on the sleeves, the quintessential Navratri fashion still remains the same. Kutchi and rabari work dominate the handcrafted techniques used in designing ghaghra cholis for the festive season. Oxidised jewellery with mirror work brighten the streets of the city and usher in joie de vivre.
Few decades ago however, women were happier stitching their own ghaghra choli and swapping their precious finds with their friends to keep refreshing the looks for nine nights. The scenario has changed rapidly in the recent times. Besides street shopping traditional style chaniya cholis, market is flooded with Designer exhibitions showcasing only Navratri fashion. Fashionistas meticulously plan nine outfits in advance to remain high on style quotient. C’mon its Navratri after-all right! It’s like humongous fashion ramp albeit in real life. It is only prudent then to buy outfits that not only are versatile but also can be mixed and matched to create different looks.
We, at Ciceroni, bring you 11 different looks ranging from fun and flirty to sophisticated minimalist and from nomadic bohemia to traditional kutchi style.
Polka dots, ruffles and button masala detailing are the latest trends for Navratri 2018 that you must catch up on. Pastel shades like mint green, lilac, mauve, peach, banana yellow, powder blue and dust rose are in.
PANTONE 2018 -LILAC LOVE
Mix a polka dotted fun crop top with lilac skirt. Add that boho chic edge by pairing it with coloured neck piece and statement earrings. You can create second look by pairing the same lilac skirt with yellow noodle strap blouse and brown dupatta to lend it sophisticated elegance.
RUFFLES OR TUBE TOP ?
Go flirty with ruffled neckline in pastel shades like peach and pair it with pistachio green coloured skirt. Add the soft look with side twisting of hair and pearl studded silver earrings. For the ones who want to go bold, wear the same skirt with monochromatic tube crop top and add a statement neck-piece in silver. Conversation starter, right ?
CANDY STORE IN THE HOUSE
Be the Jasmine from Persia with a candy pink tube top and fuschia skirt styling. Add a statement neck-piece and style your hair with soft twist. You can team up mint green sphagetti top with polka dotted pink skirt to go minimal and classic ; especially for the ones who refuse to wear traditional for Navratri …
COLOUR ME BRIGHT
Lovers of colour always look for colour blocking techniques. Go bold and mix pinks and greens but in different fabrics. Opt for fuschia pink skirt with green organza shirt with pearl detailing to lend it a royal touch. Style your hair in a messy side bun as you flaunt your statement earrings. If shirt and skirt is not your style, opt for yellow skirt and pink choli with multicoloured dupatta to evoke the ‘Rangeelo Gujarati’ in you…
NOMADIC BOHEMIA
Experimental ones will always try something new. Try traditional with contemporary. Opt for polka dotted black skirt with quintessential burgundy kutchi blouse. Let pastel contemporary crop top be paired with age old coffee brown embroidered skirt; making old wine look younger by the day… If mixing isn’t your thing, then just add some chutzpah with embroidered halter top and skirt.
Pastels, brights or traditional – take your style pick and revel in the nine nights of Navratri this season.
Models – Ishvari Desai, Aashna Bajaj, Riju Chaudhary, Dhara Motipara, Aishwarya Menon
Location Courtesy – Priya Desai’s home
Garments Courtesy – Label Sugar, Shreshtha, Atrangi by Aayushi and Kachchi
Assistant Stylist – Neha Khan
Photography – Neha Khan and Falguni Patel
Concept, Styling, Creative Direction and Words – Falguni Patel
( PS – We respect and adore women of all sizes and age group, be it a teenager or a mother of one. Our shoot is reflective of our ethos)
Falguni Patel is the Editor and Head – Strategy & Operations at Ciceroni. With a keen eye for aesthetics and ardent love for words, wit and sarcasm, she critiques fashion and lifestyle unapologetically. She doubles up as a strategic communicator in her other life. Self confessed Bibliophile, travel enthusiast and sucker for humour in mundane, Falguni loves food analogies in all her conversations.
