Rashbehari Das

It’s that time of the year again, when you hunt through your wardrobe for those quick-dry outfits and above-the-ankle hems. Comfort topples style on the priority charts and the colour palette brightens up dramatically. If the grey skies and dull colours you encounter during the monsoon months are bogging you down, help is on its way. Turn to the experts for some style therapy as five Calcutta designers show you how to look stylish even when it starts to pour. There’s a look for different occasions — a casual outing, a brunch with friends and a formal night out.

Kiran Uttam Ghosh’s colour cocktail

Get set to beat the monsoon blues with bright, acid colours. “Fluorescent colours like orange, lime and

yellow look great during this season,” says designer Kiran Uttam Ghosh. She dresses model and actor Debi Dutta in a bright orange, double-layered wrap dress that has a beaded tassel thrown over the shoulder. The material, a

specially created pleated georgette which dries easily, doesn’t crush in the humidity or need ironing, is perfect for the season. The look is cheerful and chic, forming a striking contrast to the prevailing gloom of the monsoon.

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Style meets comfort for Abhishek Dutta

Abhishek Dutta’s look for the season goes something like this: Pleated slim pants with zippers at the bottom that let you roll them up when it rains and a laser-cut tee paired with a jacket that has a contrast-colour lining. “You need bright colours to pep up your mood during the monsoon,” says Dutta, who chose a faded orange for model Neeraj Surana’s trousers. The colour is reflected in the lining of the jacket’s hood as well as its cuffs and hem, while the greyish-blue jacket’s printed detailing notches up the

style factor. “The hood protects you during a drizzle and nothing is more comfortable than cotton during the season,” says Dutta.

Ekru goes for glam

A brunch with friends? Ekru’s halter neck, white silk-chanderi dress with colourful

appliqué near the hem may be just the thing. The silhouette and light fabric beats the humidity as well as the stifling heat of the afternoon while the shimmer around the neck adds a dash of glamour. “The fabric dries easily, which is essential for this season,” says Ekta Jaipuria, one of the designers of Ekru. The bold

appliqué in rainbow colours and embroidered hem brighten up the outfit.

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Dev r Nil say it in layers

Model Krishan Vraj steps out in style in a light cotton appliqué kurta, crack batik denim jacket and slim fit trousers designed by dev r nil. “You don’t want a structured look during the monsoon but layering makes an outfit interesting,” says designer Nil. The striking batik jacket complements the rich purple tone of the ombre (shaded) kurta and the works well for a semi-formal occasion.

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Shantanu Goenka styles a rainy night out

Shantanu Goenka chooses to dress model Satarupa Pyne in an A-line emerald green chiffon dress for a formal evening. While the colour reflects a “flash of nature”, the material and silhouette make the outfit comfortable. The delicate black trimmings around the neck and on the front of the dress were sourced from Paris while the stretch Swiss lace sleeves fit like a second skin.

For Kiran Uttam Ghosh — Make-up and hair: Abhijit Chanda; location courtesy: designer’s studio lFor Abhishek Dutta and Shantanu Goenka — Make-up: Abhijit Kayal; hair: Sujoy Banik;
Location courtesy: The Park, Calcutta