COLOUR PURPLE 

A dress with a “dramatic drape” by Debashri Samanta is our pick for a chilled-out thandai get-together with friends. “Holi is a festival of colours and this purple outfit has a beautiful harmony of colours. It’s very apt for dancing and fun. Since everyone usually wears white, I think this dress helps you to blend in yet stand out,” says Debashri. 

Tip from stylist: “With this dress, you don’t have to worry about gulaal colours on natural, handwoven fabrics. The braided, wavy hair adds the right amount of drama to the look,” says Chikky Goenka.

This is my first Holi post-marriage.... This time I will be in Guwahati and I will be spending time with my in-laws. Jojo (husband Arjun Deb) doesn’t like playing Holi.... In the evening we might go out for dinner

THE SPARKLER 

This heavily-embroidered floor-length jacket in white from Garo is for the evening party, after a day of playing  with colours. You are with bae or besties and some nice cocktails are what you have in mind. “Multicoloured florals are a trend of the season and it is apt for Holi. It has a traditional vibe with a modern twist,” say Sweta Tantia and Priyangsu Maji of Garo. 

Tip from stylist: “This outfit is so Holi perfect. Keep the hair and make-up minimal for the outfit to do all the talking.”

SUNSHINE YELLOW 

This chanderi Anarkali and cape dupatta with pearl embellishment by Vasavi Shah is for the party that promises to be just about music and dance before lunch but you know the host will spring a surprise by bringing out bags of gulaal! 
“It’s yellow, it’s pink and it’s perfect for the onset of spring,” says Vasavi Shah. 

Tip from stylist: “It’s 2018 and capes are a modern version of dupattas. This outfit ticks all the right boxes: ethnic + bright hue + fun and classy. You can dress it up for a Holi party or play it down for the Holi puja.” 

PICTURES: Pabitra Das;
STYLIST: Chikky Goenka (outfits from her multi-city fashion initiative Travelling Trunk: Made in Bengal); 
HAIR AND MAKE-UP: Aniruddha Chakladar