The showers may be unpredictable this year, but whenever there’s a downpour, it sets the monsoon mood. Namita Panda and Pratyush Patra of The Telegraph give a few tips on how city youths can make most of the season by flaunting the hottest trends and enjoying the rains with their friends and ensuring good health at the same time.

Fashion: Monsoon comes with its long list of accessories that can often seem like burden to youngsters. But they can also transform into style statements if carried the right way. One can slip into rainwear in colourful prints and translucent PVC material and venture out to enjoy the showers. If you prefer showing off your stylish attire, then the evergreen umbrellas are available in plenty and in wide range of colours and styles.

Multicoloured and monochrome three fold umbrellas can be always carried in the handbag. One may also go for floral prints, geometric patterns or again translucent material. Girls can enjoy endless gossips sharing an umbrella during their walk around the college, while young couples can walk hand-in-hand in the Raj Kapoor and Nargis way.

When it comes to choosing clothes and footwear, designer Sujit Meher suggests all youngsters to wear something that is skin fit so that the clothes do not get soiled in mud. “In monsoon, one should don a lot of vibrant colours, but make sure they are easy on the eye. When I say colours, I don’t mean a stark red. One should use floral motifs. Wearing capris and three-fourths are a safe bet. Women could go for kurtis and short tops while men may keep it casual with T-shirts. As far as footwear goes one should opt for for flip flops.” Wearing leather shoes or stilettos can prove to be disastrous, he added.

Health and hygiene: As more rain lashes the city is, greater becomes the craving for steamy pakoras and soups. Kebabs and dim sums are also must-have items during monsoon. There’s nothing like evening snacks in the season and ensure it is homemade. Avoid street food no matter how delectable it is. Dietician Guruprasd Das of city-based Aditya Care hospital gives a few tips to be safe during rains. “We are prone to cold and cough infection and indigestion in this season. Avoid spicy food and fast food. Since the appetite is sluggish in monsoon soups are healthy appetiser for the season. Herbal or lemon tea also help in digestion,” he said. Das also suggested to wash vegetables and fruits in lukewarm water with a pinch of salt. Lukewarm or filtered water is best for drinking.

When it comes to taking care of face and hair, scrubs and face wash should be kept handy and hair should be shampooed regularly during rains. Spas such as Sabai Thai at New Marrion, Ganga Spa, Presidency Spa and many others offer great body massages and treatments especially for monsoons.

Hangout: Great food and great hangout go together during rainy days. Friends could plan a get together indoors at one team member’s house and even try preparing some Indian snacks that go with the weather. Much to the delight of coffee lovers, Barista Lavazza came to the city recently. Even many other outlets such as Brown and Cream, Cookies Premium, Oxford’s Cha Bar, Café Italiano and Wrap Up offers one the pleasure of watching rain while munching snacks and sipping a hot cuppa and reading a book. Drop in at a coffee house and chit chat for as many hours as you like, sipping coffee and tea non stop along with steaming hot gossip! As far as films are concerned, team up to catch romantic flicks Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania and The Fault in Our Stars. Those with appetite for horror films, too, can pick between Pizza 3D and the Odia horror film 2014-Fear of the Year. On Friday, the much awaited action thriller Kick starring Salman Khan will also hit the theatres.