An affordable fashion lookbook for college-goers

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Comfy gym look: A coordinated black and grey activewear from Adidas and Nike, paired with trending chunky sneakers. “I went for coord sets for this look as right now coord sets are in. Though people are opting for colourful activewear, I chose the classy black as it will never go out of trend,” explained Manya.

Keeping the style game strong these days is no longer restricted to special occasions; it is an everyday thing. At times this can be a little challenging for college goers, with limited resources in hand. Personal style creates an impression, and keeping it poised at all times, for all occasions — campus, office internships, party, family functions — can be arduous. Recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and simultaneously scoring followers on Insta with her style hacks, 21-year-old Manya Ahalani shares five looks with The Telegraph that can come handy for collegians in keeping their style game affordable and sustainable.

“I have always been into fashion since I was a young girl. My mother used to inspire me a lot. During the pandemic, besides college I started doing a lot of podcasts and videos on Instagram on affordable styling and recycled fashion. I design out of passion and am looking forward to starting my own brand soon. With my styling and designing, I want to inspire young girls.In today’s world, we have style personalities and are always under the pressure of dressing up. I want to show young girls how to style their looks without spending a lot and recycling the wardrobe,” said Manya.

Comfy gym look: A coordinated black and grey activewear from Adidas and Nike, paired with trending chunky sneakers. “I went for coord sets for this look as right now coord sets are in. Though people are opting for colourful activewear, I chose the classy black as it will never go out of trend,” explained Manya.

Trendy campus look: Thrifting is affordable and a sustainable fashion trend these days. For the college campus look, Manya chose comfy and trendy wide-legged cotton denim palazzos, paired with a self-designed fuchsia top. Wavy hair and a light lipstick complete the look. “I wanted to go for something comfortable and trendy but not very revealing to make it appropriate for wearing to campus. The fuchsia pink colour is in right now and is a happy and bright shade. I paired it with a watch and sling bag to accessorise the look,” said Manya.

Smart internship look: Internships are perfect for donning the semi-formal styles and channelling a smart vibe. Tailor-fit pants paired with a printed sleeveless shirt make it a perfect summer look for office internships. “A pair of tailor-fit pants is a must-have in the wardrobe for women. I chose to pair it with a shirt, which is formal, but adds colour to the look. Prints are very in. I paired it up with simple jewellery and a big bag to carry the office essentials,” said Manya.

Fusion evening look: Manya draped a hand-down classic black sari with silver zari border in style, with a corset blouse from Zara for the contemporary fusion look. Perfect as an evening wear, she accessorised it with high boots and a metal chain around the waist. Dramatic eyes and the hair worn open complete the look. “Corset with a sari is very much in fashion right now. Everyone is into recycling these days, so I chose a hand-down sari and draped it in style, making the legs visible like a slit dress,” said Manya.

Night-out look: The party scenes mostly begin in college, be it house parties or at the pub. The metallic gold dress from Zara with ruffle detailing, paired with a sleek belt, metal jewellery and a multi-purpose bag complete the look. A little drama on the eyes and the hair pulled up enhance the look. “I chose a tube dress with ruffles as it is trending right now. The transparent heels have become a staple in every woman’s wardrobe and the sleek purse with a detachable sling is perfect for partying. Shimmer is trending for party wear for quite some time now,” said Manya.

Pictures: B. Halder

Hair and Make-up: Subrata Naskar

Location courtesy: Bunaphile cafe (72, Hindustan Park, Gariahat)

Find Manya on Instagram  @manya.ahalani