They love cool cottons
Rajshree Sharda

Come summer and everyone digs clothes that look and make one feel cool. Pure cottons in soothing pastel shades are the usual favourites for the summer wardrobe. A peek into some Chandigarh folks’ summer wardrobes certainly bears this trend out.

Pinky Keith is strong willed and creative. Her taste in styling interiors is classy. It is evident from her house, which is not only spick and span but gorgeous, like her personality. She says, "I wear only natural fibres and cool shades of white, blue and lilac. Artificial fibres like lycra and nylon can lead to heat rashes and they are an absolute no-no. I hate to dress up like a Christmas tree. For me the all-important factor is good styling, fit, cut and finish. Apart from ready-to-wear western casuals, I also like to wear crisp cotton sarees in the evenings. Somehow sarees have a timeless beauty. If they are in shades of white they become my best defence against the heat. I never wear slinky or draped fabrics like satin. I opt for clothes that let my skin breathe."

Her husband Tipu is a sailor and a captain in the Merchant Navy. He is an avid reader and lover of jazz, classical music. "I like clothes that are natural and simple. No frills and formals for me. I like wearing loose clothes woven in cotton, in subdued and muted shades and with lots of ventilation. All synthetics are a taboo for me. For evening wear, party wear, office wear, leisure wear, formal wear, travel wear, day wear or casual wear, it is only cotton and cotton for me. Basically, I have three parameters for clothing —comfort, more comfort and maximum comfort".

Monica is a fashion designer who is bright and friendly. Her passion for clothes is unabashed and therefore, refreshing. She says, " I have always had a passion for dressing, be it summer or winter. I know that it takes the same amount of time to pick something beautiful out of your closet as something raggedy, so why not opt for the former. In the scorching heat of May, I prefer funky clothes with pastel shades? I like wearing georgette shirts with well-fitted jeans or loose shorts or skirts. Floral prints are a wow and I prefer to wear a fusion of Indo-western styles. But the underlying fabric is almost always thin cotton or georgette for me. My clothes and accessories are almost always unorthodox and glamorous, which is why I am very much at ease with western designer stuff. "

Pankaj, an industrialist and a health freak, has a well-sculpted body ."In the blistering Indian heat I love cotton T-shirts or cotton blend shirts. The colours have to be pleasing to the eyes. No gaudy shades for me. More than anything else, my clothes have to have a good cut and finish. I like wearing body-hugging T-shirts with a nice belt and nice loafers for casual evenings. I can't think of any other way of dressing. I like to look good and anything with a superb fit turns me on. Clothes speak a lot about a person's personality and I like to be well turned out always."

Monika Singhal holds workshops for young girls/women in saree dressing and personality grooming. She says, " Summer to me signifies cottons and only cottons. I normally wear sarees as they excite and make me feel feminine. I don’t mind the effort that goes into wearing a saree and the fact that it hides all the fat. I always do different things with my sarees like attaching a woven Bengali border on to an organza saree. The same thing goes for my blouses. Whether I am going out for a party, a wedding, or staying at home, it takes me just 5 minutes to wear it so I do not find it cumbersome at all. Basically, sarees give you a classy look so I stick to simple cotton ones, even hand-woven. They definitely make a statement."

Jasjeet Singh is a doctor by profession and a tennis player and enthusiast. He comments, " Come summer and pure cotton and pure fibre takes precedence. Cotton is light, cotton breathes, cotton is cool. The trend in clothes is changing in India. From the stiff formals we are moving towards more relaxed clothing. In our country's blistering heat only cottons are sensible. We are now moving back to what our ancestors wore. I am most comfortable in wearing only cottons so I stick to them wholeheartedly. They could be trousers for work and loose shorts or khakis while I am relaxing with my family in the evenings. Even for party wear, cottons are not only in but they are also preferable."

From kurtis to capris, pick anything chic
Ambika Kumar

While putting together your summer wardrobe it is essential to choose fabrics, colours and styles that will help you to cope with the heat. There are a variety of fabrics and styles available in Chandigarh’s shopping malls.

Voile, crepe, chiffon, cotton, khadi, georgette, organza and net are some of the fabrics that are in vogue. But cotton is the all-time favourite—be it woven or knitted. Cool shades of blue, lilac, green and white are in.

The men are going in for bright shirts in shades of red, orange, yellow, green and blue. Bright checks are hot and look smart . Formal shirts in cotton are in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 1200. In fact, the men are going in for cotton and khadi kurta-pyjamas in a big way. "For golf I wear a cool pair of shorts and a T-shirt, not to miss my golf cap, and after the game, I relax in a kurta-pyjama as it is very comfortable," comments a golfer, Mr Mann.

The youngsters are opting for the informal stuff. "Waistline and bodyfitting shirts or the floral prints with big collars and T-shirts are in demand. They cost anything between Rs 200 and Rs 600," informs Mandeep Chawla. "The range for the coming season is planned six months in advance keeping in mind the customers’ choice and comfort. Every summer brings new shades, designs and trends," asserts designer Anuj Sundran.

This summer, the city damsels are going in for sleeveless, halter-neck and sphagetti tops, bustiers, tube tops, short shorts and capris. The tops are available in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 700, depending on the fabrics ,which could be cotton, lycra, polyester. Cool colours like white, lilac, lemon, blue and bright ones like red, orange and hot pink are in. Embroidered shirts and hot pants give a cool look. "To chill out, a pair of smart pyjamas are fine, but for a party, a pair of trousers and a spaghetti top is perfect. Shorts and a sporty T-shirt is my casual wardrobe," informs Abha, a college student.

The Indian outfits comprising suits are cotton based or in synthetic materials like georgette, chiffon and crepes. Kurtis teamed with either salwars, churidaars or pants are the style of the season. Pastel shades of onion pink, fuscia, lemon and beige are the all-time favourites. For the evenings, women prefer chiffon sarees embellished with mukaish, thread and appliqué work.

Cotton, which is ideal for summer, can be either woven or knitted. "Khadi, a pure form of cotton, is hand-woven and available for Rs 50-Rs 150 a metre. A lot of people are coming back to khadi which gained popularity during the swadeshi movement led by Mahatma Gandhi," asserts Rakhuram of the local Khadi GramUdhyog. "Pure cotton is more healthy and comfortable," he adds.

Summer clothes should be cotton-based, loose flowing and light coloured. Since cotton absorbs sweat, a loose cut facilitates easy breathing and proper airing of the skin, while light coloured clothes reflect sunlight, keeping you cool. Artificial fibres can lead to heat rashes so opt for natural fibres instead.