Baby steps to building a great wardrobe for the young Indian woman

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http://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Basic-Wardrobe-(for-Girls)

I found this article on the Image Consulting Business Institute’s page on Facebook. Like all the articles there, this is extremely informative and covers a great range of items that can be used for formal and casual wear. However being essentially western, it does not address the average Indian girl’s entire requirement for clothes or the items required to survive the weather.  Here is my take on the wardrobe essentials for the young Indian woman living in a city. This is for those in college or in the first years of their career.

CLOTHES 

  • 4 basic cotton t shirts – White, black, steel grey, maroon
  • 3 cotton camisole or spaghetti tops – White, black, grey
  • 2 denim jeans – Light blue and dark blue (you can swap the dark blue for black)
  • 3-4 skirts or capris or shorts – Can be patterned
  • 3 formal shirts (cotton or linen blend)  – White, black, off white or blue
  • 4-5 casual shirts
  • 2 formal straight cut pants – black, beige
  • 3 summer dresses – Fun florals
  • 1 formal dress – The classic LBD works for everyone!
  • 1 blazer – Black (avoid pure cotton)
  • 3 leggings – Plain or patterned
  • 3 churidaars – Black, beige, maroon
  • 3 short kurtas – Ensure there are 2-3 colours only per kurta
  • 3 long kurtas – Select colours that can match with the churidaars above
  • Exercise clothes (for those who do!)
  • Socks and innerwear – as many as possible since you can never have enough of these!
Remember this is a very basic wardrobe and you will need to add on to this based on your taste, location, lifestyle and of course budget. Note that all colours and patterns do not suit everyone, so take care to dress according to what suits YOU and not just what your friend or colleague is wearing. Go pink if it is your colour, experiment with patterns that look good on you. You would need heavy suits or saris for very dressy occasions like weddings.  Most parts of the country has warm weather so cottons and fabrics made of natural fibres and blends would work well. Even when it cools down, a camisole with a shirt on top is adequate cover. A light denim or corduroy jacket can be added if required. Those in the north would need a fair bit of winter wear, so go for chunky pullovers, jackets, coats and thermals.

SHOES 

  • 1 pair of sneakers (2 if you go to the gym or run regularly)
  • 2 pairs ballet flats – Black, beige
  • 2 pairs medium heeled peep toed shoes (or sandals if you want to show off your lovely feet)
  • 1 slightly dressy sandal/slipper – To go with ethnic clothes
  • 1 flip flop – For home use only!
  • 1 pair rain shoes (do choose something that can survive 3-4 months of rains without looking dog eared)
You can also try Mary Janes for a cute, back to school look. Boots would be a must for very cold weather.

ACCESSORIES

  • 1 formal purse – Black
  • 1 backpack or laptop bag (for college or work as the case may be)
  • 2 tote bags – Go fun and colourful with these if you wish to
  • 2 belts – Black, beige
  • Scarves – As many as you want to
  • Dupattas – As many as you want to. These can also be teamed beautifully with western wear!
  • 1 watch
  • Jewellery – small to medium size. Silver is a good option. Avoid plastic.
  • 1 pair sunglasses – Medium to dark tint

Note: All images are for reference purposes only.

 

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