It’s that time of the year when all that’s blingy and jazzy in your wardrobe must come tumbling out to honour the party season. Should it be sequin or crystal embellished chiffon saris teamed with backless cholis or jersey dresses paired with boots and overcoats? The mind boggles.

The colours creating a buzz in fashion circles are jewel tones of emerald green, pink, plum and ’t forget to wear those belts, mufflers and scarves. The dapper man about town should consider dark shirts teamed with well-cut jackets and jeans to seamlessly blend the casual look with the formal one.

Here’s what the fashion gurus would like you to wear when you go party-hopping.

While Suneet Varma recommends sheer chiffons in colours like pink and lilac (below) this party season, (top) Ritu Kumar places her faith in the little short dress as a perennial party favourite

Suneet Varma

Varma would like you to go for sheer chiffons in pink, lilac, aqua colours and shades of beige with velvet and gold lamé appliqué detailing. “Corsets and backless blouses with thread embroidery and Swarovski elements look seductive,” says Varma. He feels that knee-high, embroidered socks can be worn with tunics instead of churidars for a contemporary look. For a touch of spring in the midst of winter, the designer says you could try out dramatic, floral headgear in silk and organza.

Ritu Kumar

Kumar recommends jersey or handloom tunics paired with jersey tights for a funky look. Churidars (which can be paired with tunics) and scarves are the hot favourites of the party circuit. “But of course those little short dresses will never go out of style,” says Kumar. But if you rather be traditionally attired then go for casual silk saris or dressy ones with crystal or gold embroidery and team them with sexy blouses. “The styling should be young and fun,” says Kumar.

(Top) Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra feel that Indian women look hot in vintage colours like deep red, emerald green and royal (Middle) David Abraham is all for going to town with chiffon saris embellished with gold and silver sequins (Below) Dresses teamed with boots and overcoats are Ranna Gill’s party picks

Ranna Gill

She’s dressing her women in party frocks and jersey dresses this winter. “Black knitted and jersey dresses teamed with boots and overcoats is my kind of partywear,” she says. As for colours, she suggests you go for jewel-toned dresses with splashes of chocolate and black.

Rina Dhaka

She gives the thumbs up to silk, satin, velvet and chiffon. Dhaka has what she calls her favourite four options: you could wear a chunky knit sweater dress or go with a long, flowing red dress. The third is an informal look and women can fall back on pleated, sheath slip dresses. And if you want to create a sense of drama, her fourth option is a black mini bubble skirt (voluminous skirts where the hem is tucked back under to create a bubble effect at the hem).

Rahul Jain

He feels that women could dress down a bit this season especially in the wake of the terror attacks. “The emphasis is on subdued elegance, A-line silhouettes and quiet clothes,” he says. Women could wear high-waisted skirts in organza, crepe and satin which can be paired with structured blouses, short jackets and boots. Men should plan on wearing silk or heavy linen shirts in forest green/black/brown/white. For a formal look, Rahul suggests that men go for a one- or two-buttoned suit.

David Abraham

He proposes that women should wear chiffon saris embellished with glitter and gold and silver sequins. “Saris could well be cocktail partywear especially the sequined chiffon variety which look sexy and svelte,” he says. Men need to put on their chocolate, black or navy shirts and pair them with matching jackets. “Dark denim jeans and trendy shoes in dark patent leather will further enhance the look,” adds David.

Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra

The designers say that women should consider wearing trenchcoats with dresses as that’s the coolest look for the season. “In case the weather is chilly, a woollen dress with a belt is a clincher,” says Shantanu. And don’t overlook the accessories. “A glossy clutch bag with minimal embellishments is a must-have accessory. Go for unusual shapes or long bags as they are classics and never go out of fashion. A bag with minimal jewel or stone-work in deep colours also looks very good,” adds Nikhil. And last but not the least, the designers feel that Indian women should wear vintage colours like deep red, emerald green or royal purple. He implores: “Don’t ape Western fashion and overload your wardrobes with black or white”.