X-mas fashion: Carefree styling is the mantra

Are you stuck with traditional red and white for Christmas dos? Fashion experts say it's time for a makeover - stay fierce and indulge in carefree styling. Dress in fresh green, muted ivory and cherry coloured outfits to flaunt your refined balance of taste.

Designer Aniket Satam suggests that instead of deadly green white and red combination, select "fresh green and play with analogous shades to green".

"Be matured and use intense palette like bottle green, ox blood, and cherry. If you want to wear red and white, add a dash of graphics and make sure they are not fresh but muted ivory and cherry," Satam told IANS.

If that's not tempting, take references from timeless Hitchcock look, 1950s glamour and Victorian dolls.

"Dress up like a grown up high street fairytale lead or intense Victorian doll. One can also invest in pajama dressing, coats with slinky slip dresses or silk pajama suits.

"Festivities are all about reliving childhood and so stay fierce and indulge in carefree styling," added Satam.

Stylists offer options galore.

For instance, red jacket teamed up with green shift dress can help break the monotony of red and white look.

Doling out styling cues, designer Monika Arora said: "Go for shift blouses and bodycon dresses in colours such as deep greens, blues with different shades of reds."

"Also, one can go for western separates such as beige jumpsuits or dresses teamed up with red shrugs or jackets. Try green lowers such as pallazo's with black top," she added.

It's winter time, so it's okay to indulge in leather, tweed and furs, feels designer Vandy Mehra.

"Christmas as a festival is perfect to adorn furs to get into the festive spirit," Mehra told IANS, adding: "One can pick them as a whole garment or accents of fur and leather."

What are the don'ts for Christmas dressing?

"Avoid flashy satins and luminous sequins sheath, instead opt for dainty foiled chiffon, lurex and light brocades. Metallic is trendy and it will continue as a big trend, so go for that," said Satam.

Also, avoid coordinating your look. Simply merge various elements for a unique makeover. Team up black with brown when it comes to leather and gold with silver in the context of shine but do maintain a refined balance of taste.

Party look is incomplete without the right accessories, isn't it?

A vibrant scarf or a cute clutch bag in a bold colours, or oversize necklaces, statement cuffs and dramatic chandelier earrings are perfect match for your renewed wardrobe.

Charm bracelets and layered pearl strands are classic and iconic for festive dressing.

Hair accessories are huge, so invest in a heavily embellished baroque head band or embroidered combs to get a Russian princess look.

(Nivedita can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in)