Fashion statement, financial independence and social changes.

Fashion is associated with young people.Most of the fashion shows are eager to have  younger models . We at Pushpneer believe that every women is a fashionista in her own right.

Think of your grand mother in that right pallu saari with big bindi , long hair either tied in simple bun or long pranda wali "choti" ,bright kohled eyes and the beautiful smile, she was a fashionista!
Our fashionista is not expected to follow the fashion trends. She is the one, who is happy and confident wearing what she feels like.

With so many platforms to interact with the world, exposure is bound to happen which ends up in lots of learning of styles and trending options. It also creates fusions of different cultures. Fusions and such interactions opens up different (eg.-indo-western) styles of clothing on the Indian street. Yes, we are not talking about ramp fashion as it's mostly left at ramp or once in a while seen on celebrities. As more and more women are becoming financially independent, they have become confident of trying dresses which are far cry from Indian traditional dresses like sari, salwar-kurti or lehenga, choli with duppata. Skirts, frocks, mid-length maxies, full length gowns, capries, shorts, tights etc are becoming preferred dresses for women. The two major factors of shifting to these styles is comfort and confidence of making choices. Many first generation financially independent women have taken this as an expression of freedom to do what they want.

I remember a very interesting observation made by a university professor in a university in a small town in Haryana in late 70's and early 80's. The girls from the villages have their first haircut, which is generally a boy-cut within the first week of being in hostel. Next comes the change in wardrobe. One jeans and few tops was affordable for most of the rural students within a month from the pocket-money, they were provided. Within six months, the changes were very drastic and positive. The changes, which education must brings in. A confident women, who is doing the things which she always wanted to do but was never allowed.

A home-science college was opened in the university campus to bring in the girls from the villages to the fold of education. Women were always a suppressed lot in Haryana as society is strongly patriarchal. It was difficult to convince the parents of girls to send them to co-educational institutions, so a girls college was the best option , which a university can offer to change the fortune of girls/ women in the area.

In the new session, we used to see lots of girls with oiled hair tied in one or two plaits with ribbons from rural Haryana roaming in groups on the university campus in the typical rural dresses of salwar or ghaghra paired with short kurti with pockets and a duppatta. With in a week, the girls used to get the smartest and "in" hair cut. The easiest change that can be brought with minimum risk and financials. Hair-cut in those days was from two to five INR in the beauty parlours in the university campus. Few more months in the hostels and transformation was admirable. The total wardrobe changes and the changes in  language, confidence and carrying themselves with ease was remarkable. Many were my friends too. We used to discuss and laugh  together at the changes they make in their lifestyles. The girls said they have learnt to breathe now. it was so suffocating at home, where all moves were guided and guarded by father or brothers. Youngsters are mostly open to experimentation.

Most of the women in their late 30's or 40's have been witness to these changes of more educational opportunities, work opportunities, financial independence , opening economy and social changes towards progressive trends. This generation was the torch bearer and has mostly paved ways for the future generation to have personal freedom.


Now in cities, we can see women in late 50's and 60's wearing knee length frocks, shorts without giving a damn to anybody. This self expression of freedom and "let's do it" feel is still missing in smaller cities for women. The major reason is the conservative societies, which have not changed much in giving women the freedom and safety, they deserved. It's the weakness of menfolks in such societies rather than the strength of the women which curbs a women right to live life the way she wants. Education is the tool which brings in the key to independence, confidence and living life on own terms.

Indian society is very judgmental and nosy. They take it as their right to interfere and be opinionated about  the actions or decisions of  anybody or everybody. It takes lots of courage here to follow one's heart here. It's good to see so many women rising against such mentality and following their hearts. Who can forget the Phogat sisters, coming from the conservative society of most conservative state, Haryana to make a name in world sports scene? There are numerous examples.

It's painful to see the exploitation of girls/ women by men. The recent incident of molestation of a girl on the streets of Rampur, a city in Uttar Pradesh, inspite of the "romeo squad" put in place by the UP government clearly shows there is no fear of law in the people. The law and order and other systems, which help in having a safe society have been misused by the successive political people, thus giving rise to a corrupt police force who work only for the agendas of politicians and not for the citizens, for whom the force is answerable. Few of the 6 molesters have been arrested , as per the latest reports. I have seen a video of the family of the girl, who were asking for justice. What is the justice? Few years of jail to the wretched men.. who knows, if some one brings the age certificate of being under 18, then he will be released again into the society  as an experienced criminal and as they say, experience makes a man perfect. Next time, he may rape, instead of molestation.

The girl, who has undergone all this must be under so much trauma. Will she ever be able to forget and move on, giving the kind of society, she lives in? We need  five fold action to create a safer society.
1. Strict laws
2. Strict and honest implementation of laws to create a fear in outlaws.
3. A proactive, reliable and sensitive police force
4. Creating a respectful approach towards women in general.
5. A non interfering government (politicians and bureaucrats)

Will there be a day, when India will have safe systems of police and governance so that common people feel safe ?

LBD - LITTLE BLACK DRESS

The LBD is an abbreviation used for little black dress. An LBD is an evening or cocktail short dress and with simple cuts. The  little black dress was brought on fashion scenario in early 1920s and intended to be long lasting, versatile, affordable and in neutral black colour. Coco Chanel and Jean Patou were the designer who perceived this dress.

The LBD is considered  an essential to complete the wardrobe of a fashionable women. LBD may be worn with a jacket or ornate jewelry or just like that , depending upon the occasion. As LBD has never been out of fashion and not yet expected to be, it's ideally should be as simple as possible and should not be part of the trends.

It was in 1926, when Gabrielle Coco Chanel published first picture of short simple black dress in American Vogue. It was simple and accessible to women of all social strata. Actually it became a uniform for women of taste.

In 1950s, the LBD returned as a symbol of dangerous woman. Hollywood's  fallen women characters were often portrayed in black halter style dresses in contrast to more conservative dresses which were worn by housewives and others. With availability of synthetic fibers in 1940s broadened the availability and affordability of many designs.

The generation gaps of 1960s created dichotomy in the design of the little black dress. The younger modern generation preferred mini skirt , creating cutouts or slits in skirts, using sheer fabrics etc.

In 1980s and 1990s, LBD again came into vogue. With new fabrics like knits and fitness craze, new fitting and designs and internet windows to access the world made LBD popular in Indian continent.  Combining LBD with different styles of footwear adds another kind of freshness to the LBD style. The resurgence of body hugging clothing, muted colour schemes paved way to the resurgence of LBD in 2000s.

Usually LBD is taken as a dress for young and slim women. But if one has grown up with LBD should one stop wearing it as it's supposedly for the younger lot? Its true that with age, the body shape changes but somethings do not change. LBD is one of them. So wait for the next post to know more about LBD for not so young and slim women.

Till then connect with "PUSHPNEER" ,feel your inner beauty and look beautiful !

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Standout In The Crowd and Fashion Trends.

Its an innate human desire to stand out of the crowd. Its more so, when dressing and looking and feeling good is concerned.
Just ignore the fashion trends and styles. Wear what suits you and makes you happy and confident. This should be the criteria for selecting your dresses. The dress should complement your personality rather than it covers up you.
"The dress is very pretty" , is the most common compliment. This is the compliment for the dress and not for the wearer.  Always look for a dress that enhances your personality and the ease with which one can carry it. Leave the heavy weight dresses for film heroines to shoot.


Its always advisable to wear a dress that enhances your looks and personality. The brands and high price may act as ego booster but not always enhances the looks of the wearer. Invest your time in creating a dress of your choice or if you are very busy, choose a boutique who has enough time and creativity to make a pretty and different dress for you.

Ethnic styles always standout. They also help our artisans. With fusion of latest styles and embroidery and weaving styles of different regions, one can design an excellent dress for any occasion.

Though most of the boutiques will refuse to do this much trouble, there are creative people around who will help you make an exclusive outfit for you.
                       

As for matching jewelry, do not  overdo by wearing all the pieces of the set. If your dress has a heavy designs in front, avoid wearing the neck piece but wear ear rings. If your hairstyle is covering your ears , then go for a bigger neck piece or an attractive bangle set or bracelet.
 You must have been matching your lipstick shade with your dress. Try not to and see the magic of standing out!

Leggings - Comfort & Style.

The knitted legging is the new name of the "slacks" which was in fashion in seventies. The  women now in their forties and fifties must have the feel of wearing them when they were light weight and had the dream figure of
36 -26 - 36.

The latest entrant into the wardrobes of women and girls is leggings. Another smart and comfortable leg-wear is "jegging", which has the wearing comfort of a legging and smartness of a jeans.

Leggings have taken the market by storm as these are very comfortable to wear and gives a chick feel to the wearer. When combined with a pretty kurti, it becomes a smart outfit which one can wear at workplace, shopping, travel , party or picnics.

Earlier leggings were available in solid colours but now these are available in multi-coloured designs, which can be worn with contrast or matching coloured tops and kurtis.

Heavy women must wear long tops.

A short top or T-shirt makes it a western style.

Leggings add versatility to the wardrobe.
 It can be combined  with ethnic style
 tops or western tops.







Though, the leggings or jeggings have entered the wardrobes of almost all kinds of women and girls, the wearer must select the upper garment depending upon their body structure.

 A vertical stripped legging will
create an illusion of slimness.

Very heavy women with layers of fat on hips must wear long tops to cover the hips. Women with heavy thighs are also advised to wear knee length tops to keep thunder thighs under cover. Its advisable to cover heavy or obese body parts of the body to look slim and feel good.

 Last but not the least, please make sure neither your panty line nor your front lines are not visible . It is important while wearing light coloured leggings like white, offwhite, cream or light pink.

Such colourful designs are
favourite of young girls.

There is an ample choice of footwear, which one can pair with leggings. You may wear smart stilettos, flat slippers, floaters, sports shoes depending upon your comfort or the place you are at.

Follow Fashion Trends - Don't.

The styles and fashion trends shown on ramp and films are not always wearable, though they may look good on the models or through the eyes of camera. 

So, what should one do to be fashionable and to look good ? 

One need not follow blindly the fashion trends or styles introduced in fashion shows or films. 

Its of utmost importance to analyze one's body structure and look for clothes and styles which enhances the positive points of the body. 

Anarkallis are the latest style in Indian ethnic styles. They look divine on the models or slim and tall actress 

 like Sonali Bendre or Deepika Padukone. Its very much natural to have a desire to add at-least one  anarkallis to the wardrobe. Before investing any money, its important to explore the kind of anarkallis available in the market.
 The heavily embroidered and heavy flare are mostly seen in the formal parties or celebrations like family marriage. These again suit very slim, tall women who can wear heels comfortably. They are on a higher range as far as cost or design is

concerned. You may not be able to wear it very often. that means you may not be able to get value for money. Besides this, I feel draping in heavily designed or embroidered garments may have eyeballs rolling in your direction, but they only admire the dress and not the wearer, most of the time. It may not be true for models or filmstars because they add value to the dress because of their star power. But it may not be true for an ordinary women. So, one must select a dress which enhances your personality rather than overshadowing the personality.

Since anaarkallis are in fashion and everybody is wearing them, a women with heavy body should not be denied the pleasure of wearing it. There are anarkallis with less flares and lighter work available in the market. They can opt for these and feel glamorous. 

Looking good and feel good is every body's right and every one is beautiful in her own right. The only exercise one needs to do is to look for clothings which suits on them and their pocket.

Money can not buy style. You can yourself make it or ask "Pushpneer Fashions" to help customize your styles.

You can mail us at : pushpneerfashions@gmail.com