HELLO, HOLOGRAPHIC JACKET
Ditch your go-to flared denims for a pair of shorts when it’s pouring. Team it with a tee and a water-resilient jacket for the fun factor, like Frederika Park, one of our two models for the day. “This look is perfect for people who love dressing casual and want to give the whole long sleeves and full trousers a miss. Keep a transparent umbrella handy because it’s trending,” says Ankita.
t2 tip: Monsoon and bad hair day go hand in hand, so go for a high pony. The fewer the wisps on your face, the neater you’ll look. Spunk your eyes with a dash of a pop shadow; go for broad brows.
RAGE IN A RAINCOAT DRESS
If you are a clumsy and lazy dresser, a raincoat dress will come to your rescue in the wet months. Colourblock like our model for the day — Emma Thomson — and get ready to splash water in style! “Chic and smart with a cross-tie belt and flared sleeves, this raincoat dress is perfect for women who want an easy silhouette and yet to make a mark,” says stylist Ankita Banerjee.
t2 tip: Going minimal is the key for this look because the raincoat dress itself is statement-y. Wear very little makeup but a lot of gloss on your lips.
TRENDY IN TRENCH
Who says monsoon party style is boring? If you don’t want to skip your LBD, just slip on a water-resilient holographic trench coat over it. Pair with gummies and carry your bare necessities in a transparent envelope bag.
t2 tip: The weather being damp, there’s always a chance your blow-dried hair will go flat before you even get on the dance floor. So, try the space bun hairdo, which is fun and chic. Do a pop mouth and pale eyes (you don’t want your eyeliner to run down your cheeks, do you?) Highlight the cheeks for that glow. “This is a flirty look and the camo gumboots make it smart,” says Ankita.
THE DAY WE BECAME FASHION MODELS FOR T2!
In Calcutta, the month of August comes as the height of the monsoon season when the city experiences long and heavy showers, a dip in temperature, and high levels of humidity — a strange time for an outdoor fashion shoot you might think. But just because it’s wet outside doesn’t mean you have to let the rain put a damper on your day!
Shooting in various locations round the central area of the city, we took candid strolls along muddy paths, dodging the puddles and soaking in the nature while the rain drizzled down upon us, yet the PVC-inspired wardrobe meant that we were well-protected from the rain without needing to sacrifice our desire to be stylish, fashionable and practical!
Wearing a camel-coloured raincoat dress with a forest green trim, the piece offers a new take on the classic trench coat style and can be effortlessly paired with a belt — allowing you to take the runway look straight to the streets of Calcutta.
— Emma Thomson
(An English literature undergraduate student from University of Glasgow, currently interning with t2)
I come from Dartmoor, in the south of England. If you’ve never heard of Dartmoor, I will describe it to you. Or perhaps you’ve read Tess of the D’Urbervilles? That’s Dartmoor! It is windy, wily, wild and WET. It is very beautiful but can be hard to handle when the skies open, especially if you are always ill-equipped, like me. I think this is one of the reasons I feel so connected to India. Like my home, it is so beautiful but the weather has a mind of its own.
Yesterday I got the chance to try on these fabulous clothes, made to withstand the monsoon but still totally fashion-friendly. A really funky iridescent raincoat over a simple slip dress and a pair of camouflage boots — perfect for the music festivals back in the UK, which are notoriously muddy! The second outfit was a little more laid-back but just as cute. Despite being waterproof, the jacket was so light that I didn’t feel too warm or weighed down. I was inspired by the idea that practical clothing doesn’t have to be boring and had a great day splashing around!
— Frederika Park
(An English literature undergraduate student from University of Glasgow, currently interning with t2)
“This was merely an experiment with the sheet leather that led to these creations. Calcutta lacks options when it comes to something edgy... but I’d love to wear the raincoat dress,” said Esha Sethi Thirani, fashion designer
Text: Pramita Ghosh
Pictures: Pabitra Das; location: The Astor; styling: Ankita Banerjee; make-up: Saikat Chakraborty; monsoon wardrobe: Esha Sethi Thirani at Advitiya (8C Queens Park); transparent handbag: On Fleek (6/3 Balaram Bose 1st Lane)
DON’T LET THE RAIN DAMPEN YOUR BEAUTY GAME. BRIDGETTE JONES TELLS YOU HOW
Day
For the face
Choose a light BB cream. Use waterproof mascara, a cream blush that also works as an illuminator and gives a glossy look to beat the gloom.
For a pop of colour on a dull monsoon day, apply blue kajal on the waterline and go for magenta on the lips. A matte lipstick will avoid smudges if you accidentally get wet.
For the hair
Go for a wet, gelled slick look. It is perfect for this climate with the humidity in the air, and is a natural monsoon look. For this, towel-dry shampooed hair and apply a dollop of gel right through your tresses and you’re ready to go.
Dusk
For the face
Keep the base light to avoid streaking from the rain and humidity. Prep your skin with a hyaluronic cream (that adds moisture to the skin and fights humidity). Instead of foundation, use a BB cream that is sweat-proof, waterproof, contains UV filters and gives a light coverage and a tinted effect. A pop of pink eyeshadow and some waterproof mascara would make the eyes pop. Use an eye pen for the winged liner. Some blush and highlighter complete the look.
For the hair
A zigzag parting or pulled back into a ponytail or a side-swept chignon go great with this look.
